Pop the confetti and blow up those balloons because media update is turning nine!
To celebrate the big day, we are listing our top nine favourite and most memorable PR pieces of the last year.
Find out if your favourite made the list, or if you missed out on some great pieces.
Each member of the media update team has shared two favourite pieces, and there is an extra overall team favourite at the end.
So, without further ado ….
Grab a slice of cake and get ready, because media update is celebrating our ninth birthday.
Saads Abrahams — Content Creator
Pretty much every profession has its stressful moments, and in PR — when you are managing your
own reputation
and the reputation of others — the stress is very real.
This piece is a personal favourite because it has nothing to do with industry insights and everything to do with how PRs can take care of their mental health — and prioritise their well-being.
It's definitely important to read up on how to slow down, rather than how to keep up with the rat race!
What topic is more relevant than
diversity and inclusion?
In PR, it will always be necessary in today's ecosystem for any PR professional to succeed.
I truly enjoyed writing this piece; it became a favourite because the topics that may be controversial for some are the reason that they need to be put out there in the first place: Everyone should be broadening their horizons, and PRs are no exception!
Alrika Moller — Content Creator
Over the last year or so, AI has been quite the
hot topic. I picked this piece because it was extremely
relevant to all the AI
conversations being had at the time.
It also looks at some great ways PRs can incorporate AI into their daily tasks to make their lives easier.
I hope it helped!
Some pieces are just
so much fun to write — this one was
no exception! Taking a deep dive into the celebrity PR moments of 2023 was something I never imagined doing, but the process ended up providing some great PR tips that every brand or celeb should learn.
Emma Schumann — Proofreader
Storytelling is a
universal language and should never be underestimated —
especially when it comes to PR and building a brand narrative.
I chose this piece because it reveals how stories will forever have the power to ignite an emotional connection between people and brands alike.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did!
There are
many lessons PRs —
and everyone else — can learn from Marilyn Monroe's films: strategic thinking, attention to detail, adapting to change and, of course, creativity.
This piece is a favourite because it unpacks the things that we keep trying to perfect in both our professional and personal lives, and who better than the iconic Marilyn to inspire us and learn from?
Even when things go wrong, we can still look glamorous.
Robyn du Preez — Deputy Editor
CSI, greenwashing and ESG were
popular topics around mid-2023.
This was a definition piece of a PR career specifically tailored to address these needs. It was more than just relevant; it marks a season when the world at large picked up a trend that hit home for everybody: saving the very earth we walk on.
Leaning back into the
ESG and sustainability conversation, it was
delightful to see a focus on
broadening concepts within this space.
Bands, businesses and organisations were all being called on by consumers to adopt more
authentic and sustainable approaches to solutions and practices. This meant there was a need to
standardise a benchmark; and so the regulation, goals and policy reviews began.
media update pick
In case you didn't know, 2023 was pretty
Brabie-themed.
That is why this piece is so memorable. During the big Barbie Movie craze, people were giving the film — and the brand — a lot of attention.
This piece takes a look at Barbie's history
when it comes to PR and highlights some great moments that
PRs can learn from. It was also a very topical piece since everybody was
thinking pink at the time.
Do you have a favourite piece that we missed? Let us know in the comment section below.
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*Image courtesy of Canva