Think Like a Journalist: A PR Guide for Emerging Entrepreneurs

Public relations (PR) isn't just for corporations with big budgets and dedicated communications teams. It's one of the most powerful — and most underutilized — tools available to emerging entrepreneurs, and the barrier to entry is lower than most people think.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to present to the Emerging Entrepreneurs cohort at the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, thanks to a referral from the Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization (ECPRO).

The session was designed as a practical, accessible introduction to PR for early-stage business owners — covering everything from building media relationships and crafting a press release, to thinking like a journalist, leveraging AI responsibly, and repurposing every piece of coverage you earn.

As George Orwell famously observed,

"Journalism is printing something that someone does not want printed. Everything else is public relations."

Understanding that tension — and learning to work with it rather than against it — is exactly what separates entrepreneurs and PR professionals who earn meaningful media coverage from those who don't.

A summary of the slides from that presentation is embedded in the post as a free resource for any entrepreneur ready to start building their public presence with intention. Whether you're pitching your first story or simply trying to understand how the media landscape works, this is your starting point.

Questions? I'd love to connect.