2026 so far: getting in the press and getting in more rooms

Somehow it's October. I blinked, and 2027 is already waving from the end of the street.

So before the year runs off without me, here's a look back. Some PR lessons, some business lessons and a couple of new people in my little business village who've made a big difference.

2026 in short: my clients and I landed coverage on the BBC, Sky News, BBC Radio 5 Live, in the LA Times and The Sun, and plenty more. PR kept changing, mostly because of AI, which means fewer, better stories now matter more than ever. I ran two sold-out Social Rehab workshops with Eleanor from Number75 Design, and our Lincs Small Biz socials brought 32 local business owners together in one room. The big lesson of the year was doing less busywork, and getting the right people in to help.

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What press coverage did my clients get in 2026?

Do I keep a list in my notes app of every newspaper, magazine, TV show and radio station my clients and I have been in this year? You bet I bloody do.

I won't bore you with the whole thing. But I'll allow myself a little name-dropping.

This year's coverage has included the BBC, Sky News, the LA Times, The Sun, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire Live, plus plenty more. Race Against Dementia's work made it into the LA Times, which was a kinda big deal.

Behind all those lovely features was a lot of experimenting. PR now is a very different beast to what it was even a few years ago.

And next on the list? The big red sofa. Watch this space.

How has PR changed in 2026?

Quite a lot, and faster than I've ever seen it.

The news cycle moves quicker. There's more competition for every journalist's attention. And AI has thrown a massive spanner in the works, both in how pitches get written and in how people find businesses.

Here's what I've seen work this year.

Fewer, better stories, each shaped for one journalist, beat sending the same pitch to everyone. With so many pitches now written by AI, the ones that sound like a person stand out more than ever.

And press coverage matters beyond the article itself now. When people ask ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini for a recommendation, 84% of what those tools cite is earned media, like press coverage (Muck Rack, What Is AI Reading?, May 2026).

So my biggest piece of PR advice for 2027? Look at what's working now, not what worked five years ago, and change your approach to match.

What did I learn from running the Social Rehab workshops?

That social media isn't the only way to get your business seen, and plenty of people are glad to hear it.

This year I ran two in-person Social Rehab workshops in Lincolnshire with my partner in crime, Eleanor from Number75 Design.

The idea was simple. Social media isn't the be-all and end-all when it comes to getting your business seen. There are other ways to be visible, and press is one of the best.

Both workshops sold out, and they went down a treat.

It's also made me want to run a lot more workshops in 2027.

Why do business owners want to meet in person?

Because running a business can be lonely, and a room full of people who get it helps. Our latest Lincs Small Biz social brought 32 brilliant business owners together in Lincolnshire.

It proved something pretty important. Business owners want to meet other business owners, over a coffee, some delish pastries and a good old natter.

That's what Lincs Small Biz, the community I co-founded, is for. We'll be running more socials, more workshops and more excuses to get together in 2027.

If you're looking for business events in Lincolnshire, you can find our upcoming dates here.

Why does every business owner need a business village?

Because doing more doesn't always mean doing more yourself.

One of the best additions to my business village this year has been Naomi, my accountant.

Before Naomi, the numbers side of my business was something I muddled through and worried about far too much. Now I make better decisions, and I no longer lose afternoons down financial rabbit holes.

It was a good reminder that sometimes the smartest move is getting the right person in to take something off your plate. That leaves more time for the work you're good at. For me, that's finding stories and getting them in front of journalists.

Business is a lot better with good people around you. Going into 2027, the plan is to keep growing the village.

What's next for 2027?

More rooms.

I want to spend more time in rooms helping people find and shape their stories. That means more workshops, more speaking and The Pitch Sessions, my new monthly group for founders who want to pitch with someone in their corner.

And one reminder, if you're looking back on your own year.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking you should be doing more. Look at what's working, notice what's draining your time, and get help where you need it.

Then give yourself some credit for how far you've come. You're doing a cracking job.

Questions people ask

How has PR changed in 2026?

The news cycle is faster, journalists get more pitches than ever, and AI has changed both how pitches are written and how people find businesses. Short, personal pitches sent to one well-chosen journalist work better than mass emails, and press coverage now also feeds the answers AI tools give.

Where can I meet other business owners in Lincolnshire?

Lincs Small Biz runs in-person socials and workshops for business owners across Lincolnshire. Upcoming events are listed on the Lincs Small Biz events page.

What's the best PR advice for 2027?

Focus on fewer, better stories, each shaped for one journalist who covers your topic. Write your pitch like a person, start with local and trade press, and remember that press coverage now helps you get recommended by AI tools as well as read by people.

Is getting in the press on your 2027 list?

Then let's have a chinwag. Book a free 20-minute call, tell me what you'd love to happen next year, and I'll tell you where I'd start.

Book a call.

PS. If you'd rather do your own PR, my PR guides and templates are a good place to start. For behind-the-scenes PR tips, follow me on Instagram.

Or if you'd rather pitch with a group around you, join the waitlist for The Pitch Sessions.

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Becky here, running on flat whites and a non-negotiable 3pm Diet Coke. I'm Becky Newmarch, a PR consultant for founders and brands in the UK, and co-founder of Lincs Small Biz. I find the stories hiding in your business and get them to the journalists who'll run them.