You’ve built the Boolean string. You’ve tweaked the keywords. You’ve added exclusions, wildcards, and proximity operators and you have a paragraph of “OR”s and “NOT”s. But your media monitoring feed is still full of irrelevant mentions, missed context, or worse: you’re not capturing the stories that matter most, making effective media monitoring feel out of reach.

For Communications leaders, Boolean logic is often the foundation of media monitoring software. But in a world of overloaded news cycles, homonyms, acronyms, and increasingly nuanced brand narratives, Boolean-only media monitoring tools fall short, especially for those tasked with protecting and promoting complex brands.

The Limits of Boolean: When Logic Meets Reality

Boolean logic assumes that words alone are enough to define your brand coverage. But the reality of language and by extension, media, is far messier.

Take Amazon. Are we talking about the company? The rainforest? A person referring to a delivery from “an Amazon seller”? A Boolean string can try to rule these out, but it’s a never-ending game of whack-a-mole.

Or consider Apple. A recipe blog for that mentions “Delicious Apple Pie ” might sneak into your media coverage report, altering your idea of coverage count. Even for a company with an unmistakable name like Disney, not accounting for a nickname or shorthand like “The Mouse House” could mean a deep-dive profile of the company’s executive in Fast Company goes uncaptured because it wasn’t accounted for in the string.

And of course, a Boolean string can’t always distinguish between a brand name and an adjective. Brand names like Chewy pose challenges. Booleans may bring in pet food reviews of “Chewy Treats” that may or may not be relevant depending on the context.

These are everyday examples of why Boolean-only tools struggle to deliver the accurate media monitoring that modern communicators need.

Why It Matters: Measurement Starts with Monitoring

You can’t measure what you can’t reliably monitor.

When irrelevant mentions slip into your reporting—or critical stories are missed—it not only skews volume, it could send you in the entirely wrong direction, distorting sentiment, misrepresenting key message pull-through, and undermining your ability to show impact. You end up with incomplete dashboards, flawed benchmarks, and possibly even lost credibility with leadership.

Put simply: bad media monitoring leads to bad media measurement.

AI-Powered Human Intelligence

A human-supported AI approach saves you the time and resources your team would have to spend cleaning up after imperfect Boolean-only tools, applying human judgment to quickly and accurately filter media coverage, identifying the most relevant stories and surfacing the insights behind them.

This means you can:

• Confidently capture every relevant mention—even the ones Boolean logic would miss
• Eliminate false positives that pollute your reporting
• Identify and measure message pull-through with precision
• Understand tone and context that automation often overlooks
• Feed accurate data into your dashboards, attribution models, and strategic decisions

With a human + AI model, you don’t have to choose between scale and accuracy. You get both.

Want to Get Beyond Boolean Strings?

If you’re tired of building Boolean strings that never quite get it right or are frustrated by media reports that don’t reflect your reality, then it’s time for a better solution.

PublicRelay can help you monitor with confidence, measure with precision, and connect communications to business outcomes. Contact us.

The tariffs media cycle is at an all-time high, with coverage increasing 39% in the first quarter of 2025 alone compared to the entirety of 2024. This surge presents both risks and opportunities for companies across industries. While some brands face reputational challenges, others are leveraging the moment to showcase economic expertise and commitment to domestic investments.

Understanding how different sectors are being covered in the media can help communications leaders craft more effective messaging strategies. This blog will breakdown the following charts and explore how key industries are navigating the tariffs conversation:

Finance & Insurance: Seizing Thought Leadership Opportunities

Finance and insurance firms have found a silver lining in the tariff discussions, benefiting from media interest in their market insights. Coverage has been positive for firms providing economic forecasts, investment strategies, and financial products designed to hedge against trade volatility. This sector’s proactive approach in addressing tariff implications underscores the power of positioning expertise as a media asset.

Tech & Pharma: The ‘Made in America’ Advantage

Technology and pharmaceutical companies are tapping into the growing interest in domestic manufacturing. The media has responded favorably to companies highlighting investments in U.S. production, with Big Tech firms receiving positive attention for securing tariff exemptions on key components like semiconductors. However, companies must balance these narratives carefully. Overstating ‘Made in America’ claims without tangible action could invite scrutiny from skeptical audiences.

Auto & Aerospace: Facing Supply Chain & Cost Pressures

For auto and aerospace companies, tariffs have primarily driven negative coverage centered on rising manufacturing costs and potential operational delays. These industries rely heavily on global supply chains, making them vulnerable to cost fluctuations. The media is closely watching how these companies navigate higher expenses, with a shift in focus likely if price hikes begin impacting consumers directly. Companies in these sectors may benefit from transparency in their supply chain adaptation strategies, positioning themselves as resilient leaders amid economic uncertainty.

Agriculture & Energy: Bracing for Consumer Price Scrutiny

Tariffs on agricultural goods and energy imports, particularly from Canada, have heightened concerns over consumer price increases. While media coverage currently focuses on investor sentiment and company performance, this may shift as higher costs trickle down to consumers. Communications teams in these industries should be prepared for intensified scrutiny and develop messaging that addresses both market challenges and proactive company responses.

Reputational Risks & Internal Communications Challenges

Beyond external media coverage, tariffs are also creating internal communications challenges. Employees at global companies are increasingly worried about workforce reductions due to trade policy changes. Though labor-related narratives are not yet dominant in media coverage, when they do arise, they spark significant social media reactions. Transparent internal communications can help mitigate employee concerns and prevent negative narratives from escalating externally.

Key Takeaways for Communications Leaders

• Resilience is Key: Supply chain-dependent sectors must communicate operational stability to mitigate reputational risk. Be transparent around solutions to consumer price fears.
• Seize the Moment: Companies less affected by tariffs can stand out by showcasing expertise navigating through trade volatility or amplifying their commitment to US investments.
• The Narrative will Shift: If tariffs have staying power, expect the media to shift to scrutiny of company resilience plans or speculations of consumer price gouging. Positive sentiment will be earned through messaging that aligns with stakeholder concerns.

With tariff discussions continuing to dominate headlines, strategic and sector-specific messaging will be critical in shaping how companies are perceived. Communications leaders who stay ahead of the evolving media landscape can turn challenges into opportunities, strengthening their brands even in a volatile trade environment.

To learn more about where we source our data and even request a full report walkthrough, contact us.

The High Stakes of Data Breach Crises

Few corporate crises have as lasting an impact on stakeholder trust as a data breach. According to PublicRelay’s benchmark data, the reputational impact of a data breach is 9x greater than other governance crises, which is a staggering difference that highlights how sensitive consumers, investors, and regulators are to cybersecurity failures.

And it’s not just a short-term hit. The media fallout from a data breach lingers for over half a year, with companies struggling to regain control of the narrative. Unlike other crises that may fade from public attention, lawsuits, regulatory scrutiny, and newly uncovered details often extend the media cycle, making it difficult to move forward. Effective crisis communication for data breaches is essential to mitigating reputational damage and maintaining customer confidence.

Because of your industry or company size, you may think there is limited risk for a breach, but according to Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report, “threat actors appear to care less about an organization’s size, industry vertical or geographical location than one might think. Today’s cybercriminal is a bit of a pragmatist and largely subscribes to the ‘I’ll be happy to steal whatever you have on hand’ view.” This means no organization is safe, and it’s likely better to be safe than sorry when it comes to preparing response plans.

What to Expect in the Aftermath of a Data Breach

Companies experiencing a data breach should prepare for a long and difficult reputational recovery. The media landscape following a breach remains overwhelmingly negative, with all cases analyzed in our benchmark showing sustained negative media tone scores post-crisis. This means that even well-handled responses tend to face an uphill battle in reshaping public perception.

Beyond negative press coverage, organizations must also anticipate significant legal and regulatory challenges. Data breaches frequently trigger lawsuits, regulatory investigations, and compliance reviews, all of which can stretch on for months or even years. Each new legal development risks reigniting media attention, keeping the crisis alive long after the initial incident.

Finally, a data breach directly impacts the trust of customers, employees, and investors. Stakeholders who once relied on a company’s security measures may now question its ability to protect sensitive information. Without a proactive effort to rebuild credibility, businesses risk long-term reputational damage that could impact customer retention, employee morale, and investor confidence.

Best Practices for Communicating During a Data Breach

The right communications strategy can make the difference between a temporary setback and long-term reputational damage. Here’s how to navigate the crisis effectively:

1. Act Fast. Be Transparent

When a data breach occurs, the worst mistake a company can make is delaying communication. Stakeholders expect to hear directly from the company involved, rather than through media reports or leaked information. Organizations must acknowledge the breach as soon as possible, even if full details are not yet available. This initial response should provide a clear overview of what is known, what steps are being taken, and what affected parties should do to protect themselves.

Transparency is key, but speculation should be avoided. Stick to confirmed facts and ensure that all statements are consistent across channels. This prevents confusion and reduces the likelihood of misinformation spreading. When companies are honest about what happened and what they’re doing to fix it, they demonstrate accountability and begin rebuilding trust.

After its data breach in 2013, which affected up to 110 million customers, Target faced criticism from stakeholders for knowing about the breach but not relaying the news until four days later. Though compared to other incidents, this is a relatively quick response, the fact that the news was broken by the cybersecurity blogger Brian Krebbs before any official announcement came from the retailer did not help perspective. Backlash was compounded by what was deemed inadequate communications with customers post-announcement. Customer services lines were flooded, “and a website banner informing customers of the breach was too small to see.” (Forbes).

2. Prepare for Extended Media Attention

Unlike other crises that fade quickly, data breaches tend to have a long media tail. The initial announcement is just the beginning. New details often emerge in the following weeks and months, reigniting coverage. Companies must be prepared for this prolonged cycle and should proactively provide updates rather than waiting for media inquiries.

A strong media strategy involves controlling the narrative by consistently reinforcing what the company is doing to enhance security. Regular updates on security improvements and internal investigations help shift the focus from the breach itself to the company’s commitment to preventing future incidents. Additionally, senior leadership should take an active role in public communication, demonstrating that cybersecurity is a top priority at the highest levels of the organization.

3. Use Cybersecurity Thought Leadership to Rebuild Trust

One of the most effective ways to recover from a data breach is to position the company as a leader in cybersecurity. Organizations that took this approach in past crises saw the strongest reputational recovery in our benchmark analysis. This means going beyond simply fixing the problem. Companies must actively engage in cybersecurity conversations, advocate for stronger protections, and showcase their commitment to data security.

Announcing an internal investigation is a critical first step. When companies publicly commit to identifying the root cause of the breach and implementing corrective measures, it reassures stakeholders that they are taking the issue seriously. However, it’s just as important to publicize new policies and security enhancements that demonstrate long-term improvements. Whether through blog posts, executive interviews, or industry panel discussions, organizations should make cybersecurity a central part of their messaging.

Finally, engaging in thought leadership by participating in cybersecurity forums, collaborating with experts, and contributing to discussions on data protection can help reposition a company as a proactive player in the security space. This shifts the narrative from one of crisis response to one of innovation and leadership.

4. Strengthen Your Cybersecurity Reputation Before a Crisis Hits

The best way to manage a data breach crisis is to build a strong cybersecurity reputation before one occurs. Companies that had existing credibility in this space experienced less severe reputational damage and faster recovery in our benchmark data.

Proactively communicating security efforts is essential. Organizations should regularly highlight their commitment to data protection through corporate communications, media engagements, and industry partnerships. This establishes a foundation of trust that can serve as a buffer in the event of a breach.

Additionally, building relationships with journalists and media outlets covering cybersecurity ensures that a company is seen as a credible source. This can be particularly valuable during a crisis, as having existing media connections can help ensure accurate reporting and prevent the spread of misinformation.

Your Response Matters

A data breach doesn’t have to define your company’s reputation, but your response will. The organizations that recover strongest are those that act swiftly, take accountability, and use the crisis as a catalyst to reaffirm their commitment to cybersecurity.

Last week, The Conference Board hosted Corporate Communications: Driving the Business Forward, bringing together top industry leaders to discuss the evolving role of communications in today’s business landscape. Below are some of the most compelling insights that emerged from the event.

The Business-First CCO: What CEOs Expect from Communications

The event’s opening session set the tone with a clear message: “CEOs are looking for CCOs who are business partners first, communications experts second.”

Denise Dahlhoff of The Conference Board bolstered this with data, and the theme was echoed by Thrivent’s CCO Greg McCullough and CEO Terry Rasmussen. Today’s most valued communicators:

• Possess strong business acumen
• Align messaging with corporate goals
• Prioritize outcomes over outputs
• Deliver and measure business impact

Throughout the conference, speakers reinforced this shift from traditional PR roles to strategic advisory positions:

• Jessica Kleiman (Lennar): Communications plays a critical role in talent acquisition, particularly for companies facing large-scale hiring needs.
• Golin: Their analysis found that CEOs with high media visibility in transformation and growth narratives boost corporate reputation, providing a key opportunity for CCOs.
• Katie Hill (NFL): The NFL is broadening its media reach, tracking not just sports media but also diverse outlets and influencers to engage new audiences.

In sum, Communications isn’t just about storytelling; it’s about driving measurable business success.

Reputation as a Business Asset

In a standout session, Allyson Park (Walmart) and Beatriz Perez (Coca-Cola) broke down why reputation should be treated as a business asset:

• 25% of a company’s market capitalization is tied to reputation.
• Reputation is shaped not just by messaging but by corporate actions. What you say yes and no to matters.
• When a new CEO arrives, redefining corporate purpose is a key moment for communicators to add value.

One major shift: Internal audiences—employees and customers—are now the priority over media relationships. Companies are focusing on building credibility internally, knowing that reputation starts from within.

AI’s Growing Role in Communications

Of course, AI was a hot topic throughout the event. Speakers shared real-world AI applications, from generating podcasts and short videos in real-time to monitoring outdated messaging, highlighting its potential but also its limitations. Points included:

• Use AI for efficiencies – fact-checking, summarizing news, and automating repetitive tasks.
• Lean on SMEs (subject matter experts) for nuance, judgment, and context.
• AI accelerates workflows, but it can’t replace human intuition, especially in areas like crisis comms and reputation management.

In sum, general agreement was that, while it can do incredible things on its own, AI should enhance human expertise, not replace it.

Navigating Corporate Engagement in Cultural & Political Issues

Panelists addressed the increasingly complex role of corporations in social issues. Key insights included:

• Companies are rethinking their approach to ESG & DEI messaging. They’re not pulling back entirely, but focusing on alignment between mission and business.
• Paul Dyer (/prompt) & Claudine Patel (Opella) shared that being culturally relevant is now a business imperative. They stated that the best approach was to follow societal trends, not marketing fads.
• Anna Frable (Novo Nordisk): Novo Nordisk’s efforts to elevate the conversation around obesity align with its business goals, making advocacy feel natural rather than forced.

Takeaway: Corporate activism isn’t disappearing, but companies are being more intentional about when, where, and how they engage.

The Communications-Marketing Partnership is Stronger Than Ever

Several sessions explored the increasing convergence of Communications and Marketing.

• Rob Jekielek (The Harris Poll): A unified PESO (Paid-Earned-Shared-Owned) approach is more effective than focusing on SEO.
• Data-driven storytelling is becoming the norm, requiring closer collaboration between comms and marketing teams.

What’s this mean for Communications leaders? You should be embracing cross-functional collaboration to maximize impact.

Final Thoughts

The Conference Board’s event highlighted a fundamental shift in the communications function: CCOs are no longer just storytellers. They are business strategists.

Communications teams that can demonstrate business impact, align with corporate goals, and leverage AI effectively will be best positioned for success. If you’re a communications leader looking to drive real business impact, these takeaways are just the beginning.

Let’s continue the conversation.

This post was written by Jim Key, VP of Enterprise Solutions at PublicRelay and attendee of TCB’s Corporate Communications event.

For quick-service restaurants (QSRs), the battle for consumer attention has never been more competitive or more price-driven. The past two years have ushered in a new normal in fast food, where value messaging dominates the media narrative and continues to shape brand strategy as we progress into 2025.

PublicRelay’s analysis of media coverage from 10+ QSRs shows a 500%+ increase in QSR messaging focused on value since early 2023. The trend isn’t just a response to inflation; it’s a fundamental shift in how brands communicate their offerings, defend their market share, and shape consumer expectations.

The Data Behind the Value War

QSRs are locked in an escalating cycle of promotional battles, as seen in recent media trends:

• May 2024 Surge: McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal launch ignited a sustained three-month media spike, forcing competitors like Burger King and Wendy’s to introduce rival promotions.
• Seasonal Fluctuations: Holiday campaigns momentarily pushed deal messaging aside in late 2023, while seasonal events (e.g., Lent specials) caused a brief dip in March 2024.

With each major promotion, competitive ripple effects extend media coverage beyond the initial campaign, proving that in today’s QSR landscape, value is a conversation that brands must continually engage in.

Why Value-Driven QSR Messaging is Non-Negotiable

Beyond media hype, economic pressures are making affordability a top priority for both consumers and brands:

• Inflation & Price Sensitivity: Fast food prices have surged 60% since 2014, far outpacing general inflation. Customers are more price-conscious than ever.
• Margin Squeeze: Labor costs have risen 22% since 2019, making cost-effective promotions essential to maintaining profitability.
• The Grocery Threat: Supermarkets now hold a 310-basis-point price advantage over QSRs, meaning fast food must prove its value beyond just price points.

In this environment, QSR messaging that reinforces value-driven storytelling is essential—not just for sales, but for sustaining brand relevance.

What This Means for Communications Leaders

For PR and communications teams, value messaging is a strategic necessity. Here’s what QSR communicators need to keep in mind:

• Short-Term Wins vs. Long-Term Strategy: Promotions create temporary media spikes, but brands must balance them with broader positioning that reinforces long-term brand equity.
• Echo Effects Drive Media Longevity: Competitive responses extend deal-driven media cycles. Smart brands capitalize on this momentum by keeping value narratives fresh.
• Digital Loyalty Is the New Value Play: App-exclusive deals are becoming a critical tool for reinforcing value perception while strengthening customer retention.

The Future of QSR Messaging

Expect value-driven narratives to peak in summer months and taper off during holiday seasons as brands shift focus to festive campaigns. Ensure value messaging remains compelling and sustainable beyond short-term promotions. For communicators, this is a test of agility. How will brands balance short-term promotional buzz with a long-term value platform that keeps customers engaged?

Connect with us to learn how PublicRelay can help your brand adapt to this value-first landscape.

Media Sentiment

For many communications professionals, media sentiment has become a divisive metric. On one side, some teams have abandoned it altogether, believing it’s too flawed, too time-consuming to clean up, and ultimately not worth the effort. Others continue to use sentiment analysis but acknowledge its imperfections, taking a “good enough” approach and focusing on the broad strokes rather than the details.

But what if sentiment analysis wasn’t just good enough? What if you could trust it? What if it was accurate and precise? What would that change for your strategy and for your ability to drive real business impact?

Sentiment Analysis: More Than Just Positive or Negative

One of the biggest challenges with sentiment analysis is its oversimplification. Most articles, social posts, and media mentions are rarely just “positive” or “negative.” They are layered, nuanced, and often depend on context—a factor that traditional sentiment analysis tools struggle to grasp.

Take the healthcare industry as an example. If an article contains the word “cancer,” many automated tools will automatically tag it as negative. But what if that article is discussing groundbreaking advancements in cancer treatment? The same applies across industries: what is perceived as negative in one context might be positive in another, depending on the publication, audience, and overall framing of the story.

Even within a single topic, sentiment can shift based on the type of publication. A trade publication covering financial regulation may take a different tone than a consumer-facing news outlet reporting on the same policy. Without an accurate way to account for these nuances, sentiment data can be misleading at best, and actively harmful to strategic decision-making at worst.

The Power of Sentiment When You Get It Right

When done correctly, sentiment analysis goes beyond categorization and becomes an actionable intelligence tool. It allows communicators to:

• Understand Stakeholder Perceptions: Different stakeholders (investors, customers, policymakers) perceive media narratives differently. Accurate sentiment analysis ensures that companies understand these differences and can tailor messaging accordingly.
• Capitalize on Trends in Real Time: Instead of reacting blindly to news cycles, communicators can identify opportunities to engage when sentiment is trending favorably, or mitigate risks before they escalate.
• Inform Business Strategy with Data-Backed Insights: Communications should be treated with the same rigor as other business functions. Precise sentiment data allows PR teams to demonstrate value to executives and make strategic decisions based on hard data.

Real-World Success Stories: How Trusted Sentiment Drives Results

1. A Publicly Traded Utility Company: Building Stronger Media Relationships

For a publicly traded electric utility company, positive brand perception is crucial—not just for customers but for investors and regulators as well. With coverage appearing in national, trade, and local outlets, the company needed a way to ensure their brand messaging was resonating across all audiences.

PublicRelay helped the team segment sentiment across publications and unveiled a key insight: most local coverage was favorable, but that wasn’t the case for certain national publications. This insight allowed the company to:

• Leverage historical sentiment data to identify which journalists and publications consistently covered them favorably.
• Build relationships with those reporters to ensure key messaging reached the right audiences.
• Use real-time sentiment tracking to course-correct messaging strategies and seize opportunities in the media landscape.

By integrating sentiment into their daily strategy meetings, the company transformed their approach to media engagement, strengthening their brand while ensuring alignment between local and national messaging.

2. A Leading Financial Services Firm: Optimizing Event Strategy

For one financial services company, sentiment analysis played a crucial role in event planning. Each year, the firm attended a major industry conference where they announced new products and initiatives. PublicRelay’s sentiment data revealed another key insight: the most positive media coverage from past conferences was directly tied to product launches.

Armed with this knowledge, the comms team:

• Recommended that leadership align major product announcements with the event to maximize positive sentiment.
• Used past sentiment data to set measurable goals and secure executive buy-in for their media strategy.
• Identified key journalists and outlets that had previously covered them positively, ensuring their announcements reached the right ears.

By trusting accurate, human-verified sentiment analysis, the firm was able to refine its strategy, secure stronger media coverage, and demonstrate ROI to leadership.

Key Takeaway: Sentiment Is a Powerful Tool (If You Can Trust It)

It’s understandable why some communicators have given up on sentiment analysis. Done poorly, it’s noisy, misleading, and more trouble than it’s worth. But when done right—with context-aware analysis and human expertise—it becomes an indispensable asset.

For companies navigating a complex media landscape, sentiment isn’t just about knowing whether coverage is positive or negative. It’s about knowing how to act on that information. It’s about identifying opportunities, mitigating risks, and proving the value of communications at the highest levels of the business.

So instead of asking, “Does sentiment still matter?” the better question is: What could you do if you had sentiment data you could trust?

This blog was written by Medha Chandorkar, VP of Product Management at PublicRelay.

The Shift in Private Equity’s Sustainability Messaging

A distinct shift is underway in private equity communications. PublicRelay’s analysis of media coverage from six leading private equity firms reveals a notable pivot: sustainability investing mentions have dropped from approximately 8% to just 3% of total messaging. Meanwhile, discussions around other growth strategies, such as AI-driven infrastructure, emerging market expansion, and wealth management, have remained steady at 6-8% of the conversation.

This trend reflects a broader recalibration in the way private equity firms communicate their role in sustainable investing. While major players continue to raise billions for climate-focused investments, they have also deployed over $1 trillion into traditional fossil fuels since 2010. The result? A strategic ‘greenhushing’, where firms carefully measure their sustainability communications amid growing political polarization and shifting stakeholder expectations.

Growth Narratives Taking Center Stage

Rather than abandoning sustainability initiatives, private equity firms are embedding them into broader market-driven narratives. Some of the key themes gaining traction include:

• AI & Data Center Infrastructure Expansion – As demand for AI-powered solutions skyrockets, the focus is shifting to the energy and computing infrastructure required to support this growth.
• Emerging Market Investment Opportunities – Capital is flowing into regions poised for rapid economic expansion, with sustainability considerations folded into risk and opportunity assessments.
• Insurance and Risk Management – Climate resilience is becoming a key factor in portfolio diversification, with private equity firms leveraging insurance strategies to mitigate environmental risk.
• Retail Investment and Wealth Management – Firms are emphasizing their ability to democratize investment access, positioning sustainable assets as one of many attractive options for a broader investor base.

The Balancing Act: Sustainability as a Strategic Asset

Private equity firms are not walking away from sustainability; they are reframing it. The focus is shifting toward:

• Market-driven opportunities – Investments that align with clear financial incentives and regulatory tailwinds.
• Demand-side infrastructure plays – Energy-efficient solutions tailored to the needs of high-growth industries.
• Integration within larger growth narratives – Sustainability investments are increasingly framed as essential components of innovation and economic expansion.

The Future Sustainability Communications Playbook

For communicators in private equity and beyond, this shift underscores the need for a more nuanced approach to sustainability messaging. To remain effective, communications and marketing leaders should:

• Balance transparency with strategic restraint – Overpromising on ESG commitments can lead to reputational risks; firms must ensure that their messaging aligns with tangible results.
• Frame sustainability within innovation and market demand narratives – Emphasize how investments in clean energy or sustainable solutions address the evolving needs of industries like AI, logistics, and advanced manufacturing.
• Anchor messaging in financial performance metrics – Demonstrating potential returns and long-term value creation helps counter skepticism and reinforces the business case for sustainability.
• Connect climate initiatives to broader economic drivers – Position sustainability as a core enabler of business growth, rather than a standalone initiative.

The Bottom Line

The winning communications strategy for 2025 is not about abandoning sustainability messaging—it’s about evolving it. Private equity firms (and other sustainability-focused organizations) must integrate climate and ESG investments into a broader, financially compelling narrative that resonates with investors, policymakers, and the public.

By reframing sustainability as an essential component of market-driven growth, communicators can ensure their messaging remains relevant, credible, and impactful in an increasingly complex media landscape.

What is Share of Voice?

Share of Voice (SOV) measures how much attention your brand receives compared to your competitors across various platforms, including social media, traditional news outlets, and other media channels. It’s a metric that PR professionals and communicators often rely on to gauge brand visibility and assess how well they are performing in the marketplace. By counting your brand’s total mentions relative to your industry, you can see what percentage of the total mentions are about your company.

At face value, SOV is a straightforward concept. It provides a snapshot of your brand’s ability to capture public and media attention, making it a valuable starting point for understanding your market presence. Communicators value this because they can see a volume related metric on how they are doing versus competitors. However, relying solely on Share of Voice can be misleading, because at its core it is simply a counting exercise.

The Limits of Share of Voice

While SOV is a useful metric, treating it as a definitive measure of success is a common pitfall. Here are some key reasons why Share of Voice, may not tell the whole story:

1. Sentiment Matters: Imagine your brand commands 50% of the SOV pie. On the surface, this sounds like a win. But what if the majority of your mentions are negative? For example, if your brand is being criticized in news articles or on social media, having a high Share of Voice might highlight a reputational issue rather than a success story. Without analyzing the sentiment behind your media mentions, SOV becomes a blunt instrument, incapable of providing actionable insights.
2. Context is Critical: Not all media mentions are created equal. Coverage in a respected industry journal might carry more weight than a flood of social media chatter. SOV, in isolation, doesn’t account for the context or quality of these mentions.

Turning SOV into a Strategic Tool

To extract real value from Share of Voice metrics, it’s crucial to pair them with deeper analysis. Here are some best practices for using SOV effectively:

1. Prioritize Engagement Metrics: Evaluate how your mentions translate into engagement, such as social media interactions, website visits, or conversions. Pairing SOV with these metrics paints a more complete picture of your success.
2. Focus on Key Message and Reputational Driver SOV: Track whether your brand’s core messages are resonating in your coverage. Are your mentions aligned with the narratives you want to promote or the reputational categories that are most important to your brand? If not, a high SOV may indicate that your message or reputational impact is being lost or misconstrued.
3. Incorporate Sentiment Analysis: Measure the tone of your mentions to determine whether your Share of Voice skews positive, neutral, or negative. Sentiment analysis provides a richer understanding of how your brand is perceived and can help you address reputational challenges proactively.

Conclusion

Share of Voice is an important tool in the PR and communications arsenal, but using it simply as an article counting comparison to competitors doesn’t do anyone much good. Without deeper analysis of areas such as sentiment and context, SOV can lead you astray, masking underlying issues or providing an incomplete view of your brand’s market position. By combining SOV with more nuanced metrics and insights, communicators can turn a blunt instrument into a precision tool, driving meaningful outcomes for their brands.

Understanding Share of Voice’s limitations doesn’t diminish its value but underscores the importance of using it strategically. With the right approach, SOV becomes more than a number. It becomes a pathway to smarter, more impactful communications strategies.

Climate Commitment Reversals & Energy Reputation Management

It’s never been more challenging to navigate the reputational landscape of climate commitments. PR and communications leaders in the energy industry, in particular, are managing intense public and media scrutiny. Every decision about emissions targets or clean energy initiatives can have lasting implications in energy reputation management.

Recent analysis highlights the stark contrast in media sentiment between energy companies that double down on their climate promises and those that walk them back. The data reveals valuable lessons for managing reputational risks in such a high-stakes environment.

Media Fallout According to the Data

PublicRelay analyzed media coverage surrounding energy companies’ low-carbon initiatives, and the results were eye-opening:

• 78% negative media sentiment for companies that reversed their climate commitments.
• 24% positive media sentiment for companies launching new low-carbon initiatives, with only 7% negative coverage.

The disparity is clear: rolling back on climate commitments is a critical failure in energy reputation management. Companies that failed to deliver on their pledges faced significant backlash, especially on social media, where climate advocates and engaged communities amplified criticism.

In contrast, companies that took proactive steps (regardless of whether they had previous commitments) garnered more favorable media sentiment. Even when their clean energy initiatives were coupled with continued oil and gas investments, these companies benefitted from the perception that they were taking meaningful action.

The Risk of Overpromising

Backtracking on climate commitments may be worse than making no commitments at all.
Energy companies with bold climate goals but inconsistent follow-through became easy targets for criticism. The gap between promises and actions undermines trust and disrupts effective energy reputation management, leading to questions about a company’s reliability and sincerity.

Conversely, firms without ambitious commitments but actively investing in low-carbon projects avoided this backlash. Their measured approach—taking meaningful actions without overpromising—helped them stay under the radar of critics and maintain trust.
Key Implications for PR Leaders:

1. Consistency is Non-Negotiable: Reversing commitments erodes credibility.
2. Proactive Communication Matters: Highlight progress on sustainability initiatives, no matter how small, to build positive momentum.
3. Crisis Mitigation Requires Speed: Companies that quickly address climate-related criticisms can minimize reputational damage.

Learn how PublicRelay’s data-driven insights can help communicators in the energy sector in navigate these challenges and more. 

The Healthcare Narrative Post-Assassination

Recent PublicRelay data underscores the shifting landscape for healthcare communicators. While media coverage of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s tragic death has diminished, it has sparked a broader, more significant narrative about systemic healthcare issues in America.

This unfolding story presents both challenges and opportunities for healthcare communications leaders as they navigate heightened public scrutiny, political involvement, and the potential for regulatory action.

The Numbers: What Media Coverage Reveals

• 47% of healthcare media coverage focuses on claim denials.
• 27% highlights healthcare affordability.
• Only 11% mentions other healthcare companies (for now).

Although the current focus is on a select few issues and companies, the conversation is rapidly broadening.

A Political Powder Keg

Politicians from across the spectrum are driving the narrative, with 32% of left-leaning mentions and 21% of right-leaning mentions dominating the conversation. President-elect Donald Trump has even weighed in. This bipartisan attention reflects a growing national policy debate fueled by individual frustrations and systemic healthcare failures.

Under the Trump administration’s deregulatory focus, this conversation is likely to intensify. Companies face the dual threat of public backlash and regulatory scrutiny if they are perceived as neglecting patient needs or engaging in harmful lobbying practices.

What Healthcare Communicators Need to Know

To navigate this complex environment, healthcare communications leaders must address these critical areas:

1. Patient Narratives Are the Dominant Story

The media conversation is increasingly driven by patient stories. Claim denials, AI-driven healthcare decisions, and unexpected policy changes are emerging as the most compelling narratives. Healthcare brands’ stakeholders include millions on social media sharing healthcare horror stories. These stories humanize systemic issues, turning abstract concerns into relatable, emotional calls for action. Healthcare communicators must be prepared to address these stories with transparency and empathy.

2. Sector-Wide Exposure Is Expanding

Currently, only 11% of media coverage mentions other healthcare companies, but this is expected to grow. As the spotlight expands, even companies not currently in the crosshairs may find themselves scrutinized. Proactive monitoring and analysis are essential to mitigate reputational risks.

3. Political and Regulatory Risks Are Increasing

Companies may face backlash for lobbying efforts that appear to prioritize profits over patients. Moreover, short-term fixes, such as cost-cutting initiatives or increased transparency, may not satisfy public and media demands for systemic change. Healthcare communicators must collaborate closely with policy and operations teams to advocate for meaningful, sustainable reforms.

4. Public Trust Hinges on Authentic Action

Trust is the foundation of healthcare brands. In a landscape dominated by patient dissatisfaction and political pressure, companies must take authentic, proactive steps to address systemic challenges. This means going beyond surface-level initiatives to implement strategies that genuinely improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

The healthcare industry is at a pivotal moment. As the trial of Luigi Mangione unfolds, the sector could face even greater scrutiny. This trial, and others like it, may bring previously unexamined practices and policies into the public eye, sparking further debate about systemic healthcare issues.

For healthcare communicators, the path forward involves:

Collaborating on Systemic Solutions: Working with stakeholders to develop long-term strategies that address root causes rather than symptoms.

Engaging Patient-Centric Strategies: Proactively sharing success stories and initiatives that directly address patient concerns.

Enhancing Transparency: Demonstrating how the company is addressing affordability, claim denials, and other key concerns.

The Bottom Line

Healthcare communicators have an opportunity to position their brands as leaders in addressing systemic challenges while maintaining trust with both shareholders and the public. By prioritizing patient-centric narratives, understanding sector-wide trends, and advocating for meaningful change, they can help guide their organizations through this volatile and highly scrutinized landscape.

Learn how PublicRelay’s data-driven insights can support healthcare communicators in navigating these challenges.