2020 Year in Review: Top 10 Beyond PR Blog Articles

2020 has been a year of embracing challenges for the communications industry. PR pros have had to pivot, diversify and tap on virtual platforms in the face of the evolving COVID-19 situation. Naturally, 7 of the top 10 most-viewed articles on PR Newswire’s Beyond PR blog this year are associated with COVID-19 and how it has impacted the PR world.

Throughout the year, we have been producing blog articles on how the pandemic has impacted everything from writing press releases, charting out comms plans, organizing events to planning for crisis recovery.

Some of the articles also extracted key takeaways and learning points shared by PR and media industry experts who spoke at our series of webinars this year. The webinars delved into a broad range of topics from PR measurement, newsroom practices to crisis communications.

Take a look back at our Top 10 blog articles that have received the most views this year.

#10: 4 Media Pitching Tips for Better Tech PR in 2021

We compiled the top takeaways from our 2020 Tech Media Pitching Kit, which offers brands advice on how to pitch to tech reporters in the new normal and equips PR professionals on key trends, events and topics within the tech industry.

#9: Trending Topics From the COVID-19 Media Coverage in Malaysia

In April, the Malaysian government extended its Movement Control Order, which further impacted businesses and livelihoods. We find out from 4 business journalists in Malaysia on the key news topics and trends that have emerged and what they are keen on reporting.

 #8: Coronavirus Response: Communications Updates in Key APAC Markets

As the COVID-19 situation escalated in late February, we rounded up how companies across APAC are reacting to the news and the public health advisories in various key markets.

 #7: 4 Trends to Consider in Your Communications Plans

We gleaned highlights from the 2019 Global Comms Report by Cision, our parent company and PRWeek to share recent communications trends that PR pros should consider when navigating their comms plans.

#6:  Covering COVID-19: Hong Kong Journalists Share How Press Releases Can Get Media Coverage?

To help brands secure media coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic, we spoke to journalists from Hong Kong media outlets such as Sing Tao Daily, Ming Pao, Human Resources Magazine and Localiiz to find out how the crisis has shaped editorial directions and how press releases can be crafted to get attention from journalists.

#5: Event Cancellations: PR Pros Share What’s Next for Communicators?

This year’s Mobile World Congress was the first major event that had to be cancelled in February due to COVID-19 concerns. We got PR pros to weigh in on how companies should respond to cancellation of prominent exhibitions and events.

#4:  4 Ways to Improve the Pick-Up Rate of Press Releases

Victor Peng, a news anchor at TVBS, one of Taiwan’s top news channels, shares the news production process at the television network and how journalists, like him, select and get information from press releases for their news bulletins.

#3: Developing Communications Plans for Crisis Recovery and Beyond

In May, the road to COVID-19 recovery started to take shape as some governments in APAC implemented measures to kickstart economic activity. John Kerr, CEO of Edelman Singapore shared 4 areas of opportunity that communicators should consider when they shape their crisis recovery plans, while Riley Heng, Country Manager, Australia and Head of Marketing at MetroResidences talked about how her company is planning for recovery.

#2: Writing Press Releases in Times of Crisis

PR Newswire’s Senior Editor Nathan Brown conducted an online workshop on ‘Writing Press Releases in Times of Crisis’ in June. The session was held in response to the high volume of pandemic-related press releases that PR Newswire distributed from brands across APAC. We share the key takeaways from the workshop here.

#1:  Coronavirus Response: An APAC Communications Round-up

No surprises here – our most popular blog post in 2020 is linked to COVID-19. During the early stage of the pandemic in February, we quickly compiled the types of news that companies were communicating based on the press releases that distributed on PR Newswire. Key topics include communicating operational changes and corporate social responsibility initiatives on donating medical supplies and food to front-line medical workers.

For more articles on best practices and industry insights in the PR & Comms world,

Visit PR Newswire’s Beyond PR Blog here

This article is written by Kenneth Goh, Senior Marketing Executive at PR Newswire. A former journalist, he relishes keeping track of breaking news as much as telling stories with trends and data. Connect with him via Linkedin.