The Ultimate PR Q&A: Reddit Edition

Key insights:

• Good mentorship doesn’t just happen. It’s something you cultivate. 

• In an age of misinformation, clarity and empathy build more trust than speed.

• Quality beats quantity when it comes to pitches. Journalists value relevance and relationships.

• PR ROI involves connecting visibility and credibility to clear business goals.

• PR isn’t dying. It’s evolving. Now is a good time to master digital, analytical and storytelling skills to build a successful career.
  
  

Reddit’s r/PublicRelations is where PR pros vent, swap advice and get real. 

If you’ve ever scrolled through the subreddit, you’ll know it’s equal parts venting session, career advice hotline and crisis-comms confessional. From “How do I prove PR ROI?” to “Is anyone actually happy in agency life?”, the questions are raw, funny and painfully relatable.

In this article, we unpack some of the PR FAQs we’ve spotted on Reddit and what the data tells us in return.

1. What’s the best piece of feedback you’ve ever received?

This thread reminded the community just how much growth in PR comes from the people around you. Some advice hits you early in your career and quietly rewires how you work. Redditors shared the kind of lessons that stuck. 

“You may, in fact, know everything. But you shouldn’t sound like it.”

“Stop writing for your client. Start writing for their audience.”

“Ask yourself: who cares, and why now?”

“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”

Our research shows that three in four professionals say mentorship matters, and 91% of those with mentors report being happy in their job. The best mentors and managers do more than edit your PR copy; they sharpen your judgment. 

Still, good mentorship doesn’t just happen. It’s something you cultivate. 

Research from Harvard Business Review and the Center for Creative Leadership suggests that the most effective mentees take an active role: 

• They identify people whose values and thinking they admire.

• They reach out with curiosity, not flattery, and ask a thoughtful question about the person’s work or send a genuine request for advice on a specific challenge.

• They don’t rely on one person, but build a “personal board of advisors” who helps them grow in different ways (e.g., strategic thinking, writing, client relationships or leadership).
  
  

2. What’s the worst PR advice you got?

The subreddit delivered plenty: 

“Let’s respond with our messaging.” 

“Tell our side before it gets worse.” 

“Just call the journalist again.” 

One user wrote, “Calling used to work, but now you build trust through consistency, not urgency.”

In the age of misinformation, speed without clarity is noise. Over a third of journalists identify dis- and misinformation as the top challenge they face, and 61% of people believe business leaders deliberately mislead people with false or exaggerated claims. 

That’s why “responding with your messaging” or “getting your side out first” can backfire fast. Audiences spot defensiveness faster than dishonesty, and once trust erodes, no amount of messaging can fix it.

Instead of trying to fill the silence, take ownership of the moment. The best teams regroup before they react. They wait for the facts, align internally and lead with empathy. 

3. Is getting coverage just… harder?

It’s not your imagination. It really is tough to get brand mentions. As one Redditor put it: “Fewer reporters. Fewer publications. More PR people. It ebbs and flows, but it’s definitely tougher.” 

Another added, “Yeah, it feels like the landscape has shifted. Fewer reporters and more competition make it tough.”

They’re right. Newsrooms are smaller, inboxes fuller and every pitch competes with hundreds of others. Many journalists receive more than six pitches per day, but only 3% say those pitches align with their coverage. 86% will ignore anything that doesn’t.

That means quality trumps quantity. Keep pitches under 200 words (preferred by 62% of journalists) and make your subject line useful. And before you send out an email blast, remember that 86% prefer a one-to-one email.

It’s also critical to build relationships year-round, not just when you’ve got news. Follow the reporters you admire, comment on their work and send them stories that genuinely serve their readers. 

4. So... what’s the ROI on PR?

No surprise this question tops every PR Q&A list. It’s the conversation every comms pro has wrestled with. 

One commenter summed it up bluntly: “PR ROI isn’t something you can plug into a spreadsheet.” Another added, “Measuring PR ROI can be tricky since it’s not always about direct sales.”

They’re not alone in this struggle. More than one-third of PR pros find it difficult to track their efforts, and about half admit they’re only “somewhat confident” in the metrics they report. 

What you can do is show a meaningful impact:

• Split your metrics into two categories: Visibility (reach, impressions, backlinks, share of voice) and credibility (quality of coverage, sentiment, domain authority, journalist reputation).

• Next, connect those metrics to business goals: Visibility shows who saw it. Credibility shows why it mattered. Use tools like Google Analytics, brand-mention trackers or PR.co’s newsroom analytics to see how earned coverage drives traffic, branded search or conversions.

• Lastly, turn your metrics into a story: Frame results as cause and effect. For example, “This announcement earned 15 pieces of tier-one coverage, boosted referral traffic by X%, and improved positive sentiment by Y%.” 

Our articles on “The best digital PR metrics and tools” and “How to get your marketing and PR budget approved” also break down how to show the C-suite the value you deliver.

5. Is PR a dying industry?

It’s a fair question. When every client seems obsessed with influencers, social reach and viral moments, it’s easy to wonder if traditional PR still has a pulse. But the Redditors’ answers were refreshingly optimistic:

“Absolutely not. As long as businesses exist, PR will be needed. It’s just evolving.”

“PR’s future is assured. It’s just changing. More influencers, less journalists. More AI, less copywriting. More digital, less traditional.”

“It’s alive and kicking. PR focuses on building and maintaining a positive public image through strategic communication, media relations and influencer outreach, which differs from the paid efforts of advertising.”

With the global PR market expected to reach around $133 billion by 2027 and PR specialist employment predicted to grow 6% between 2023 and 2033, it’s clear that demand is on the rise. In the next five years, PR pros who can master AI, media relations, strategic planning, data analytics and multimedia storytelling will stand out most. 

The teams that succeed combine digital strategy, data and story (not spin) to build trust across every platform, from TikTok and LinkedIn to trade press and popular media. Traditional releases haven’t disappeared; they’ve evolved into SEO-friendly, multimedia stories built to share.

So, is PR dying? Not even close. It’s just growing up. It’s faster, smarter and more connected than ever. As the industry evolves, strategic thinkers who can interpret data and tell emotive human stories will become more valuable.

6. What do you think is a “masterclass” example of PR?

This Reddit thread was one of the most uplifting. It was about brands and people who understand timing, transparency and humanity: 

“Hot take, but I have yet to see Taylor Swift make a wrong PR move. I’m convinced she has the best instincts, the top PR team and the sharpest lawyers in the world on her side.”

“I’d often cite Richard Branson as a great example of top-down solid leadership, sensitivity and accountability. Many a time, his reputation or Virgin’s reputation could’ve been damaged beyond repair. But he always did the right thing, rather than just being seen to do the right thing.”

Both examples prove that great PR isn’t about headlines, it’s about habits. Taylor Swift’s team blends timing, transparency and emotional intelligence better than anyone, while Richard Branson shows that accountability builds brand equity faster than any campaign.

They also echo a broader trend: 80% of consumers say trust is the deciding factor when they buy from or support a brand, and 86% say authenticity and honesty matter most when they select brands to support.

The best PR works because it reflects real values and stays honest long after the news cycle moves on.

Final thoughts on the PR Q&As shared on Reddit

The r/PublicRelations subreddit is one of the few places where PR pros talk without filters. The top-upvoted questions tell a clear story: PR isn’t broken, it’s just evolving fast.

If you feel the frustration from these common PR problems, you’re not alone. As these Reddit conversations show, many other pros also struggle to prove ROI, manage crises and build relationships. In fact, it’s what motivated us to build PR.co in the first place.

Keen to claim back your profession, enjoy your role and prove your value to your business leaders? Then our all-in-one platform, designed to make comms workflows easier and more effective, is the perfect place to start. Book a demo call to learn more.

Reddit and PR FAQs

1. What is the r/PublicRelations subreddit?

This is a Reddit community where PR pros trade insights, ask questions and connect over real industry experiences.

2. What are the biggest challenges for PR professionals today?

Many professionals struggle to demonstrate ROI, manage crises, keep up with AI-driven tools and trends, maintain strong journalist relationships and avoid burnout.

3. How can PR.co help PR teams?

Our platform streamlines press-release distribution, newsroom management and reporting to make comms workflows faster, clearer and easier to manage.

4. Is PR still a good career?

Absolutely. PR remains a strong career choice. The industry is growing, diversifying and becoming more data-driven. The key is adaptability. Today’s brands need communicators who can connect with people authentically, think critically and respond to cultural shifts in real time.