University of Kwazulu-Natal

Media Relations Muck Rack Blog

Bonisiwe Shabane
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media relations muck rack blog

When I previously explored how luxury brands were rethinking their relationship with the press, I referenced what New York Times’ Vanessa Friedman had dubbed the “Beyoncé Strategy” — where brands bypass traditional media to... At the time, this seemed like a strategic shift driven by a desire for speed, control, and narrative ownership. But new data from Muck Rack’s 2025 State of Journalism report suggests this pivot reflects a deeper transformation reshaping every aspect of modern media relations strategy. With insights from more than 1,500 journalists worldwide, the report highlights sweeping changes reshaping how luxury brands should approach media outreach. These shifts explain what today’s sophisticated marketers must understand to succeed in this evolving landscape; one where the consumer’s passionate pursuit of luxury is highly supported by genuine press relationships. Just days before the survey’s release, a journalist posted on LinkedIn a scathing email he received after interviewing Lyft’s CEO.

“Learn a thing or two about a thing 2,” the sender wrote, demanding “a deep dive on my LinkedIn profile” while dismissing the journalist’s reporting as “drivel.” He also CC’d the editor-in-chief, accusing the... The sender thought positioning himself as more knowledgeable while attacking the journalist’s competence, invoking big names (Gates and Bezos got name-dropped), and delivering sweeping indictments about entire industries would earn him kudos – literally,... Every journalist has a story of some crackpot who didn’t like their article. I was digitally hounded by one who took personal issues with Hermès and demanded I take down my coverage of the brand, or at the very least, include his outlandish, unsubstantiated claims. When I didn’t, he bought Meta ads to continue harassing me, even reaching out to my clients to discredit me. Nothing came of his actions, of course, except increased traffic to my article.

It turns out Hermès had banned him from their stores. He then launched an ecommerce store selling sandals made with Hermès scarves, in what a legal expert might call copyright infringement. Looking to boost your brand's visibility? Building an effective media relations strategy can not only help to build genuine relationships, it can also make or break your PR campaign. Check out our latest guide to a winning strategy, including: 🏅How to start building your own strategy 🏅Tips for a successful media relations strategy And more! https://lnkd.in/gs_JcCpA #mediarelations #mediarelationsstrategy #publicrelations #prcampaign #brandvisibility

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When I Previously Explored How Luxury Brands Were Rethinking Their

When I previously explored how luxury brands were rethinking their relationship with the press, I referenced what New York Times’ Vanessa Friedman had dubbed the “Beyoncé Strategy” — where brands bypass traditional media to... At the time, this seemed like a strategic shift driven by a desire for speed, control, and narrative ownership. But new data from Muck Rack’s 2025 State of Journalism report...

“Learn A Thing Or Two About A Thing 2,” The

“Learn a thing or two about a thing 2,” the sender wrote, demanding “a deep dive on my LinkedIn profile” while dismissing the journalist’s reporting as “drivel.” He also CC’d the editor-in-chief, accusing the... The sender thought positioning himself as more knowledgeable while attacking the journalist’s competence, invoking big names (Gates and Bezos got name-dropped), and delivering sweeping ind...

It Turns Out Hermès Had Banned Him From Their Stores.

It turns out Hermès had banned him from their stores. He then launched an ecommerce store selling sandals made with Hermès scarves, in what a legal expert might call copyright infringement. Looking to boost your brand's visibility? Building an effective media relations strategy can not only help to build genuine relationships, it can also make or break your PR campaign. Check out our latest guide ...