PR Newswire has appointed former Indian Express journalist Gairika Mitra to head its newly launched Managed Services division — a strategic initiative designed to help brands amplify their communication in a smarter, more data-driven way.In her new role, Mitra will oversee efforts to help organisations go beyond just issuing press releases, focusing instead on building content that performs better across search engines, answer engines, and AI-powered discovery platforms.This enhanced approach will be powered by PR Newswire Amplify, a distribution solution built on Google’s Gemini framework, aimed at optimising how brand stories surface online.Before this, Mitra worked with The Indian Express and began her career interning with Network18’s CNN-IBN.

A new report from PR Newswire reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly significant role in press release creation and distribution. The 2024 State of the Press Release Report, released today, highlights how communications professionals are leveraging AI to enhance their storytelling and reach broader audiences.According to the report, nearly 26% of strategic communicators are already using generative AI to draft press releases, and over 40% are considering its adoption in the future. This trend underscores the growing recognition of AI as a valuable tool for streamlining the press release process and improving content quality.Other key findings from the report include:  A significant increase in the use of multimedia elements, such as videos and infographics, to enhance press release engagement.  A 15% year-over-year growth in mentions of "AI" within press releases, reflecting the technology's rising prominence.  Continued reliance on press releases as a cornerstone of communications strategies, with 93% of professionals planning to send the same or more releases in the coming year."Our highly anticipated State of the Press Release Report continues to serve as a unique resource for public relations professionals from across the industry," said Matt Brown, President of PR Newswire. "The report provides detailed, data-driven insights reflecting the perspectives of many of the industry's leading communicators, and provides a direct view into evolving trends, strategies and best practices in the press release space."