The Inner Circle Round Up: Media News You Can Use September 2018
As fall weather slowly sets in, we’re back with the September edition of the Inner Circle Round Up with a curated selection of new ideas and media opportunities. Have you seen any PR opportunities we may have missed? Tweet at us (@scottcircle) and let us know!
What’s New (and New-ish)
Progress News Network: A new media organization on Facebook
Launched by a group of media professionals, Progress News Network is a new media outlet that features a daily newscast on Facebook. With the spread of fake news, the show aims to be a trusted voice on Facebook, reaching left leaning 35-40+ year-olds. The network plans on exploring deeper issues that are often ignored, helping audiences discern fact from opinion.
The Inner Circle Take: Progress News Network could prove to be a great opportunity to share your client’s take on the news of the day, especially if you’re trying to influence a progressive audience.
Hill.TV: New Online TV Platform
The Hill, a publication that reaches policy influencers, introduced a new digital TV platform, Hill.TV, earlier this summer - another example of a print/online publication following the trend of expanding to digital video streaming. The platform was rolled out with a new show called “Rising” that will analyze the issues of the day with DC insiders. Hosted by former MSNBC host, Krystal Ball and syndicated radio host, Buck Sexton, the show hopes to “set the day’s political agenda by breaking exclusive news” and interviewing political newsmakers from the President and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to entrepreneur Dan Abrams.
The Inner Circle Take: While Hill.TV mainly features high-profile political guests, the show has a lot of potential for PR professionals. If you want to reach policymakers, change legislation, and bring attention to your organization’s issue, Hill.TV could be an opportunity to get your client to influence the political agenda.
Buzzfeed News “What’s Left?”: a new political podcast
Buzzfeed News Opinion launched a new interview focused podcast aimed at highlighting “new forces shaping our world.” Shying away from horse race politics, host Sarah Leonard will interview thinkers, writers, politicians, and activists about so-called “radical” ideas. Recent topics included identity politics and the rise of Democratic Socialists, featuring a diverse group of people with guests like Rashida Tlaib and Dr. Willie Parker.
The Inner Circle Take: A podcast about important political movements and forces that wants to hear from a wide range of people, not just big names? I bet you have a client for that. Interview series like this are a great way to go in-depth on issues that mainstream outlets may not be covering. Start following the podcast here and if you have a compelling, out of the box angle, try pitching them.
The Weekender: OZY’s new newsletter
OZY has rolled out The Weekender, a new newsletter that outlines new experiences and places to explore on the weekend, featuring sections like “What to Watch,” “What to Hear” and “What to Eat.” The newsletter joins a number of successful others like “The Presidential Daily Brief” and “The Special Briefing,” that boast over 4 million subscribers.
The Inner Circle Take: Newsletters are a great opportunity for PR pros to get a client’s new research, event or milestone mentioned as they reach a huge subscriber base and are tailored to their audience. OZY’s new newsletter, not to mention their others, provides just this opportunity.