Are PR and AI new BFFs?
(Spoiler: YES!)
If you’ve been wondering where your brand fits into the digital landscape of 2026, I have some news that might surprise you. Public Relations and Artificial Intelligence aren’t just co-existing—they have officially reached BFF status. We’re talking “Best Friends with Benefits” levels of connection.
We used to think of PR as just getting a nice article. But today? That article is the fuel that powers the AI search engines your customers use every single hour. That article has turned into ammunition.
When major news outlets like The New York Times, Forbes, or CNN publish a story about you, AI models—from ChatGPT to Gemini—devour that data. They trust these high-authority sources more than your own website.
So, if you want AI to recommend you as the “best solution” or “top expert” when someone asks a question, you need to be in the news. It is that simple.
Here is how to make sure you are positioned to be found in 2026.
How to Feed the AI Beast (Actionable Tips)
You can’t just pitch a fluff piece and expect results. The AI algorithms are smart, and the journalists feeding them are smarter. Here is how we get you into the mix:
1. Visuals: Bring Your Story to Life
The media world runs on visuals. Journalists need eye-catching graphics, charts, and images to tell compelling stories—sometimes even more than they need words. Make it easy to say yes by organizing sensational visuals that highlight your message and set you apart.
- Action: Curate high-quality graphics, infographics, photos, or videos before you pitch. Include a shareable link so editors can access everything in one place. (Side note and shameless plug – great visuals are the first “V” in my 3 V’s to Victory formula in my marketing book “Life’s a Pitch”)
2. Attach Hard Data to Your Story
Opinions are great, but numbers are newsworthy. Journalists (and AI) love definitive proof. Conduct a small survey or pull internal data that highlights a surprising trend in your industry.
- Action: Don’t just say “people love coffee.” Say, “Our data shows 65% of Gen Z is switching to mushroom coffee for focus.”
3. Leverage Third-Party Experts
You are the expert on your business, however bringing in an outside voice validates your claims. It makes your story less promotional and more educational.
- Action: Partner up with others. Buddying up with an academic or an industry analyst to provide a quote that supports your pitch and gives access to other experts makes your story more desirable to short staffed news teams.
4. Ride the Cultural Wave
Is there a massive cultural conversation happening right now? Find the authentic connection between your brand and that topic.
- Action: If the world is talking about digital burnout, position your product or service as the specific antidote to that modern problem. Don’t be afraid of showing additional stats to back up the cultural wave like TikTok views to a specific few hashtags. The more you back up your cultural claims, the better off you are.
5. Tap Into Timeliness
Timing can be everything in PR. News outlets want stories that connect to current events, seasonal trends, or industry moments.
- Action: Tie your pitch to a holiday, industry report release, or breaking news to make your story timely and relevant. Work far ahead of anticipated dates so journalists have time to consider your story.
Why They Might Say “No” (And How to Fix It)
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, a pitch falls flat. It’s not personal—it’s usually strategic. Here are three reasons news outlets might pass on your story:
- It’s Not Newsworthy: Launching a website isn’t news; it’s business as usual. Solving a major problem for your customers is news.
- You Look Like a Copycat: If you sound exactly like your biggest competitor, the journalist has already written that story. You need a unique angle or a contrarian view.
- It’s Not Relevant to the Outlet: You wouldn’t pitch a local bakery opening to a national tech magazine. Customizing your pitch to the specific audience of the outlet is non-negotiable.
Let’s Write Your Headlines Together
Navigating this new “BFF” relationship between PR and AI can feel overwhelming, and you don’t have to do it alone.
At Black Ink PR, we specialize in crafting stories that human journalists love and AI algorithms respect. If you are ready to impact the news cycle and influence search results, let’s talk.
