One if By Land, Two if By Blog

Google has come out swinging, defending their stance in the DOJ search data matter. However, they did not issue a press release. Rather they went with a blog post by Nicole Wong, Associate General Counsel. AP takes notice. I think the tide has turned. The press release is dying. Someone ought to do a study tracking daily press release volumes. I bet they're decreasing in favor of blogging.

Technorati Tags: Press Releases, Google

Comments

[Jeremy Pepper]

And, I bet they are increasing as there are so many new wire services to use out there, and more companies to send out releases, and it is still an SOP for companies.

BTW, what percentage of a PR firm's daily billings are for writing press releases? A good number? You think you can get any firm to abandon that process to get a company to blog?

[Mike Driehorst]

"Someone ought to do a study tracking daily press release volumes. I bet they're decreasing in favor of blogging."

I seriously doubt it. Someday, yes. Now, no.

That's simply because the vast majority of companies don't blog, much less have heard of a blog. Even if you quantify by looking at relatively large, consumer-focused companies: blogs still are not the norm; not even a serious consideration.

Just look at the online news room companies have. The majority are lame. No downloadable images for print; no quick access to media contacts; no searchable news release archives; etc., etc.
Mike

[Dino Baskovic]

I wouldn't go so far as to say that the press release is dying; tired, perhaps, but not expired. And, let's not forget that the same rookie flack that fires off poorly-written releases will do so with blogs all the same. Furthermore, Google issues press release on its blog because it can, not because it should. THe old rules may need rewriting, but otherwise still apply.

[James Clark]

With all of the new online release services such as PR Leap and PRWeb, I would say the new release is changing from a press release to what we call a Search Release. For us, we look at search engines as the media, and by distributing search releases we are able to maintain a presence in the search media. Unfortunately PR firms can use the press release as a crutch to providing a media relations service. Fact is, most releases are just corporate cleansed speak. The blog is where intelligent and interested journalist are going to go to seek out subject matter expertise, not reading official press releases.

[Dee Rambeau]

same tired argument Steve. As if wishing it makes it so. Until the blog is rendered compliant by the SEC, news releases are very much alive. My sources tell me that volume is in fact up...not flat...not down, but up.

[Eric Hansen]

I see a very thin line between the online press room and a blog (especially the corporate blog). This may increasingly become a case of "six of one, half a dozen of another."