Programs and Events

The Press Circle: Meet the Media Recap

In August, the PRSA Rochester Young Professionals Committee and fellow PR professionals joined local Journalists from various news outlets for an interactive networking roundtable. Attendees rotated through small-group conversations that led to meaningful insights and connections. Here are a few takeaways from the session:

Patience in Pitching:

In one group conversation, D&C Editor Mike Killian shared his perspective on strengthening the PR/Journalist relationship. He said his inbox is absolutely loaded with pitches, and sometimes building that relationship is really about being patient and consistently pitching great stories until the timing aligns and they get to know you as a PR professional. 

Expanded My Network:

A PR professional new to Rochester had no media contacts but left the event with new LinkedIn connections and journalist relationships, increasing her comfort with pitching stories because she could put a face to a name.

Pitching Strategies:

Many of the media members expressed a desire for more raw, human-impact stories. That perspective helped several PR professionals rethink their pitching strategies to pinpoint where stories are coming from and evaluate whether the story is a good fit. 

Upcoming Event: AI Visibility Webinar 

When: Thursday, October 8, 12-1 p.m. 

Customers are shifting away from using Google to search for your business and are now asking ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and AI search tools which businesses to trust, hire and recommend.  

To learn more about this transition, join us for a session with Dave Burnett of AOK Marketing to gain insight into how AI systems form answers about companies, why credible media placements and trusted sources matter, and how PR + SEO now combine into AEO/GEO: Answer/Generative Engine Optimization. 

Sign up today!

Save the Date: Mark your calendars for two events later this fall!

PRSA Annual Business Meeting

PRSA Rochester Holiday Party 

Back to top

Membership

We’re always open to new members. See five reasons you should become a member, and go here to join. 

Back to top

Get involved with PRSA

None of this happens without our volunteers. Thank you to all our members and committees. If you’d like to connect more deeply with Rochester’s PR community and make an impact on our organization, reach out about getting involved: [email protected]. 

Back to top