Our interview with PR Andy Barr is on how to leverage Reactive PR in a Changing Media World and how to win PR and comms in the next 12 months, I sit down with PR veteran Andy Barr to uncover what actually works in the shifting media landscape of 2026. With over 30 years of experience, Andy shares his "no-nonsense" approach to building brands through reactive media, handling high-stakes crisis communications, and navigating the new era of AI-driven misinformation.Key Takeaways:
- Reactive Newsjacking: Why it remains the fastest way to build a brand today.
- The Power of Reddit: How online communities have replaced traditional press associations for immediate impact.
- Crisis Management: The exact playbook for handling a PR disaster, from knowing when to stay quiet to why you should "meet your haters".
- Modern PR Stack: Why employee-generated content (EGC) and founder-led channels on TikTok and LinkedIn are outperforming traditional press.
- The AI Battle: How to protect your brand's reputation against AI misinformation and "alpha geek" communication styles.
The Most Important Moments
00:00 - Meet Andy Barr: 30 Years of PR
01:30 - What Works In PR Right Now?
03:21 - How To Run Reactive Newsjacking
05:57 - How To Cut Through The PR Noise
10:38 - When To Work With Press Versus Going Direct
13:49 - When To Leverage Founder Led Channels
18:04 - When Saying Nothing Is The Best Tactic
18:19 - The Crisis Comms Playbook
22:32 - Why You Must Go And Meet Your Haters
28:40 - The Rise Of AI Misinformation & Manipulated PR
36:39 - How To Fix OpenAI’s ReputationConnect with Andy Barr:Search "PR Andy Barr" on any platform to find his actionable advice - Andy on LinkedIn / andy-barr-ab77291 and TikTok Or here