Qwoted hosted its Winter Media Mixer at our New York headquarters, gathering journalists, PR teams, and industry experts from across the tri-state area for a night centered on connection.
People arrived from major brands like Audible, Fiverr, Soetheby’s, along with journalists and editors from Reuters, Business Insider, Morning Brew, and agency friends from Burson, Ketchum, Golin, Finn Partners, and more.
Our CEO, Dan Simon, opened the evening by sharing a message from Clayton Weimers of Reporters Without Borders (RSF). He said, “Press freedom is not just about the rights of individual journalists, but about every individual’s right to access information.” This set the tone of connectivity for the night and guided many of the conversations that followed.
People shared what they are working on and their thoughts about where the industry is heading. Especially given all the changes to the media industry this year, they reflected on what kept them inspired throughout 2025 and the challenges that remain as we head into the new year.
Here were a few of the top themes and takeaways across conversations at the mixer:
- Reporters are being asked to do more than ever in a rapidly shifting media landscape. Shrinking time and shrinking teams are having a real impact on the people who work every day to keep information accessible to the public.
- Similarly, publicists have to cover more ground than ever with more pitches across more clients in different industries, all while maintaining media trust.
- The rise of AI is creating additional vetting challenges for journalists, who now have to spend extra time confirming the authenticity of sources and pitches.
- Navigating competing priorities and deadlines was mentioned by both journalists and PR professionals. Journalists shared their need to vet sources quickly, while publicists lamented the need to pitch fast before an opportunity closes.
Connection sits at the heart of Qwoted’s mission because it supports the same values around access and press freedom that guided conversations throughout the night. We appreciate the moments we can meet face-to-face and see people find more confidence and excitement about where to start their next story.
We look forward to seeing you all again in the new year! Make sure to follow Qwoted on LinkedIn to stay connected with our community and future events. If you work in media, we also have a Qwoted for Media page where we share industry news, interviews, job opportunities, and updates across Qwoted’s network, along with resources that support the work you do each day.
See you in 2026!
