JournoLink

16/10/2026

PR Stunt of the week: Red Bull Stratos Space Jump (2012)

Red Bull took "gives you wings" literally when Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner ascended to the stratosphere in a helium balloon and free-fell from 128,000 feet back to Earth.

Breaking the sound barrier and multiple world records live on YouTube, the stunt captivated millions globally, cementing Red Bull’s position as the ultimate extreme sports lifestyle brand.

15/10/2026

Struggling to figure out what’s actually worth sending a press release about?

Too many businesses pitch pitch-less announcements—like internal website redesigns or routine product tweaks—and wonder why journalists ignore them.

If you’re a UK business looking for media coverage in 2026, here are 3 press release angles that regional, trade, and national journalists actually care about:

1. Proprietary Industry Data & Trends
Journalists love hard numbers. Pull insights from your own customer data or run a quick survey.
👉 Example: "68% of Midlands SMBs are scaling back office space in favor of hybrid work."

2. Community Impact & Local Jobs
Local news outlets prioritise local economic stories. Announce new apprenticeships, regional hiring drives, or charity partnerships.
👉 Example: "Bristol Tech Firm Creates 25 New Apprenticeships for Local School Leavers."

3. Expert Commentary on New UK Policy / Legislation
When regulations, tax rules, or market shifts happen, jump on the news within 24–48 hours to offer expert reaction.
👉 Example: "UK Logistics Expert Warns of Supply Chain Impact Ahead of New Customs Rules."

💡 Takeaway: Journalists don't want a sales pitch. They want a story, a stat, or a solution.

14/10/2026

The strongest B2B brands don’t choose between Paid and Earned—they build a feedback loop.

We’ve all seen the data: Organic reach on most platforms has tightened, and the cost-per-lead (CPL) continues to climb. In this environment, understanding the "Control vs. Credibility" trade-off is critical for any CMO or Founder.

• Paid Media
Control. You pick the message, the timing, and the audience.

• Earned Media
Credibility. The audience picks the message, the timing, and the truth.

Earned media—mentions in industry reports, employee advocacy, and organic customer testimonials—is our due diligence layer. In 2026, buyers don't just click an ad; they check the comments and search for "unbiased" reviews.

The most successful strategies right now use Paid Media to amplify Earned Media.

13/10/2026

The 80/20 Rule of Content & PR

The biggest mistake brands make with content isn't posting too little — it's talking about themselves too much.

In modern PR and communications, the most successful brands follow the 80/20 rule:

• 80% Value & Insights: Educate, entertain, or solve a problem for your audience without asking for anything in return.

• 20% Promotion: Share your product launches, service updates, or direct sales pitches.

When you lead with value, you build authority and trust. That way, when the 20% promotional moment arrives, your audience is actually listening.

12/10/2026

It's the week for Pooh, Brexit and Chocolate. What a confection.

MPs return on Monday 12 October, with the debate over closer ties to Europe — or even “Breturn” — likely to rumble on. Businesses with views on trade, recruitment or red tape should get them out now. Journalists need real-world evidence, not just politicians grandstanding and arguing over the past.

AI and its regulation will also remain in the headlines as Europe and America wrestle over who gets to set the rules. If AI is changing your business, tell the media how — preferably with something more concrete than “it’s a game-changer”. Don't forget the impacts on skills needed to utilise AI, and its impacts on the economics of your business, and yes, even on personal sovereignty.

Wednesday 14 October marks 100 years since the first Winnie-the-Pooh book was published. Publishers, bookshops, toy-makers and businesses with a suitably bear-shaped story: there’s still time to pitch a little nostalgia. Tell us which character is yours or your children’s favourite and why.

And food businesses, take note: Chocolate Week runs from 12–18 October. Chocolatiers, bakers and retailers should be tempting journalists with their best — or most bonkers — creations.

Apropos Winnie the Pooh, we don't plug businesses on this column but did you know there is a chocolatier in Toronto (Canada) called Acorn Chocolates?. Sadly, they don’t actually make acorn shaped chocolates as far as we know. but we stand to be corrected.

Remember, if your business has a story worth telling, don’t sit on it like a bear guarding its honey. Pitch it.

09/10/2026

Today's PR Stunt: The Great Spaghetti Harvest Hoax (1957)

The BBC’s current affairs programme Panorama aired a famous three-minute April Fools' segment reporting on a bumper "spaghetti harvest" in southern Switzerland.

Narrated with utter seriousness by respected broadcaster Richard Dimbleby, the video showed a Swiss family pulling strings of cooked pasta off trees.

Thousands of viewers called the BBC asking how to grow their own spaghetti trees, to which the BBC reportedly replied, "Place a twig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best."



Here is the video:

In Ticino, Switzerland, a particularly mild winter produced an exceptional spaghetti harvest.

08/10/2026

While paid ads have their place, they come with built-in skepticism. That’s why strategic Public Relations (PR) is often a business’s most underrated growth engine. 🚀

Our latest blog explores why businesses of all sizes should make PR a core part of their growth strategy:

• Earned Trust: Build genuine credibility through third-party editorial endorsement rather than sponsored posts.
• SEO & Visibility: Secure high-authority backlinks that drive organic traffic and boost search rankings.
• Long-Term Value: Unlike ads that stop the moment funding ends, an editorial piece or podcast appearance continues to build brand equity for months or years.
• Thought Leadership: Position your leadership team as go-to industry experts.
• Crisis Resilience: Create a "bank account of goodwill" before challenges arise.

Read the full article to learn how to turn casual observers into loyal customers:
https://press.journolink.com/release/why_public_relations_is_your_businesss_most_underrated_growth_engine_17573

07/10/2026

PR Tip: Focus on Impact

If you want a journalist to actually pick up your press release, you have to ditch the "Salesperson" hat and put on the "Reporter" hat.

Journalists don't care about your company’s ego—they care about impact.

Sales writing: "Our new software is the best in the world!" 😴

Reporter writing: "How this software is solving the industry’s $5M labor gap." 📈

The Golden Rule: Focus on the community or the industry impact. If it’s not news to them, it’s just an ad to the editor.

06/10/2026

Don't wait until you're "big enough." Use PR to get big.

Journalists aren't looking for the biggest budget; they’re looking for the best story.

From £59 + VAT per month, JournoLink is the easiest way to PR. 🚀

Check our Plans: https://journolink.com/prices
Book a Demo: https://calendly.com/journolink-demo/journolink-demo

05/10/2026

PR News Diary: Week commencing 5 October

If you can’t face another week of politics, there’s always chocolate.

First, though, Birmingham. It’s the Conservatives’ turn to hold their party conference, so expect plenty of announcements, arguments and journalists hunting for stories. Businesses with something to say about tax, regulation, the economy or what the Government should be doing differently should be ready to join the conversation.

For those seeking lighter relief, the Birmingham Comedy Festival is also underway. Your business may not be a laughing matter, but a good story can still get a journalist smiling.

It’s also Black History Month. Black-owned businesses have a month-long opportunity to showcase success, innovation, entrepreneurs and the contribution they make to the economy. Don’t just celebrate the month — find a story journalists can use.

Instagram turns 16 on Tuesday. If the platform transformed your business, ruined your productivity or somehow did both, there’s a story there.

And now, think ahead.

Chocolate Week starts October 18th. Chocolatiers, bakers, retailers, restaurants and anyone with a serious cocoa habit should be pitching stories now. Journalists will need time to plan — and, naturally, to arrange the samples.

Meanwhile, the Nobel Prizes are being announced this week.

There’s a Nobel for physics. Literature. Peace.

Sadly, still no Nobel Prize for PR.

So until the Nobel committee comes to its senses, you’ll just have to settle for getting your business story into the news.