The News Finds You: The Changing Rules of Audience Building

In this episode of Inside Media Relations, Jack Murray and Richard Chambers explore how PR and journalism are adapting as audiences increasingly discover news through social media rather than traditional channels. As journalists build direct relationships with their audiences and personal brands become more influential, the conversation examines what this shift means for media relations, storytelling and the future of news. Jack is joined by Richard Chambers, News Correspondent at Virgin Media News, to discuss audience building, creator journalism and the changing habits of news consumers; and Dylan Kerrigan, Senior Research Executive at MediaHQ, who shares how understanding regular media features can help PR professionals secure more consistent coverage. Drawing on first-hand experience, the episode explores how journalists are rethinking content for digital platforms, why authenticity matters more than ever, and how PR teams can improve their pitching by understanding not just the journalist, but the format they're pitching into. It also looks at the opportunities created when media organisations and communications professionals embrace new ways of reaching audiences. At the centre of the discussion is a simple question: if the news no longer waits for audiences to come to it, how should journalists and PR professionals rethink the way they create, package and share stories?