The Inner Circle Round Up: Media News You Can Use November 2019
Welcome to the November edition of the Inner Circle Round Up! We are bracing ourselves for the busy holiday season with some new PR opportunities to make our days a little easier. From publishers and broadcasters expanding their election 2020 offerings to new tech outlets, there is a cornucopia of new opportunities to dig into over the holiday season.
Follow us on Twitter and share any opportunities you came across this month at @ScottCircle.
The Hill: New Hub For Positive Change
The Hill has launched “Changing America,” a new site highlighting the “people, companies and organizations working to generate positive change in the United States.” The site, described as “centrist” and “bipartisan” will be a collection of original and curated content and categorized by five pillars: Respect, Sustainability, Resilience, Enrichment and Well Being. According to the outlet, they hope the platform will empower readers to get involved through emotionally evocative content. Currently, there is a dedicated team of 20 editorial staffers.
The Inner Circle Take: With nonprofit and advocacy clients, it is easy to identify the emotional appeal and the positive change they create, but often difficult to get that message through to reporters. The Hill’s newplatform, “Changing America” could help bridge that gap. And for nonprofits who remain neutral when it comes to party affiliation, the platform’s centrist approach could make this a great option to consider when pitching.
Brut.: Gen Z, Millennial Outlet Launches In The U.S.
Brut., a digital media company, has officially launched in the U.S. Known for their video coverage on social good and social impact, the outlet targets Gen Z and millennial audiences. While Brut. has had an office in U.S. for a few years, they hope to further monetize their U.S. presence through expanding to advertising.
The Inner Circle Take: Many organizations are trying to expand their issues to reach millennial and Gen Z populations, but struggle to find the right venue. Similar to video platforms like NowThis, Brut. could be a target for “explainer” type videos that highlight your social impact issues. Explore some of the video content to see if Brut. could be the right fit for your organization.
McClatchy: New Subscription Service Focusing On The 2020 Elections
“Impact2020” is McClatchy’s new standalone subscription service that will cover the 2020 presidential race. Utilizing McClatchy’s vast local reporting abilities across the country, “Impact2020” aims to target “political obsessives who know the election will not be decided inside the Beltway.” McClatchy will also offer a free daily election newsletter that will feature a curated selection of news from top reporters and news from other local sources. They aim to take a new approach to election reporting, staying away from the polls and focusing on electability and voter sentiment.
The Inner Circle Take: Similar to McClatchy’s new opinion initiative, local stories are being compiled for a national audience. For PR pros, this means more potential eyes on the stories you secure. If you are working on the ground in states around the election, consider reaching out to the local McClatchy reporters covering the election.
Protocol: New Tech Outlet From Politico Owner
“Protocol,” started by Politico owner Robert Allbrition, is a new digital news outlet covering technology. They aim to differentiate themselves by focusing on the people, power and politics of tech. According to the executive editor, “Protocol” will explore ideas like “the existential struggles between tech and legacy businesses. The fight for power within the tech industry. The battles between tech giants and government regulators. International conflicts over trade and technology. The profound questions surrounding tech’s impact on people and the planet.” They currently have a team of more than a dozen journalist and the site is slated to launch in early 2020.
The Inner Circle Take: There is a rise of tech outlets all aiming to differentiate themselves from the slew of already existing outlets. While that may be a problem for the business of tech news, in PR, the more outlets the better. Many nonprofits’ issues revolve around the role of technology so new outlets mean new pitching opportunities.
TBD: New National Nonprofit Outlet For Women
Texas Tribune editor-in-chief Emily Ramshaw and chief audience officer Amanda Zamora plan to launch a new national outlet “aimed at giving women the facts, tools and information they need to be equal participants in democracy and civic life.” They plan to share more information in the new year.
The Inner Circle Take: While many details are still unknown, we are excited about what this new outlet can offer. If you work on women’s issues and advocacy, this outlet should be on your radar in 2020. We will keep you posted on how this new outlet evolves.
Morning Brew: Pop-Up Newsletter On 2020 Elections Launched
“Morning Brew,” a business focused newsletter platform, has just launched a new pop-up newsletter for 2020 election news called “The Turnout.” This weekly newsletter covers the intersection of business and politics and expands their digital offerings. While the newsletter does not have sponsors, Morning Brew will provide free sponsorships to voting and election nonprofits.
The Inner Circle Take: If you work with more corporate organizations that have a political focus or stake in the 2020 elections, consider pitching the editor of “The Turnout.” Generally, newsletters offer a different venue to help get your client or issue to a specific audience. The newsletter could also be a great way to raise awareness about your civic engagement organization through their free sponsorship opportunities.