Can You Reverse Engineer Earned Media Coverage?

Posted on September 26, 2026 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias
Founder of MACIAS PR | Former NBC Executive Producer

I think there must be a new piece of startup advice circulating among venture capitalists. Three different founders approached me this week with essentially the same request: they didn’t want a PR campaign. They wanted one legitimate media placement. And they all used the same terminology – they wanted to “reverse engineer” it.

Three unrelated founders making nearly the same request in one week makes me wonder whether someone in the VC ecosystem is telling startups that this is how they should approach public relations.

I understand the logic. Startups have limited budgets. Founders are constantly being told to preserve runway. One article in Forbes, Fortune or another recognizable publication seems like a discrete investment with a tangible result. Secure the logo, put it on the website, share the article with investors and customers, and move on.

There’s just one problem. Earned media doesn’t work that way.

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What Pinterest’s First Investor Taught Me About Entrepreneurship Over Dinner

Posted on September 25, 2026 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias
Founder of MACIAS PR | Former NBC Executive Producer

Brian Cohen was Pinterest’s first investor. I was fortunate to attend a private dinner with him when he shared some advice with entrepreneurs in the room. It was impromptu so I had to take notes on what I had in front of me.

I’ve heard a lot of speeches about entrepreneurship over the years. Most follow a familiar script: work hard, believe in yourself, build a great team and never give up. Brian’s advice was different.

It was blunt and at times almost contradictory. Tell people when their ideas suck. Listen carefully to words. Don’t confuse execution with timing. Shoot for outcomes that seem statistically improbable.

Here are the 8 takeaways I took from that dinner.

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Story Approval Process – What Happens Before the Reporter Calls

Posted on May 14, 2026 by Mark Macias

Understanding the story approval process is a critical component to securing media coverage. The best PR agencies understand how a story is nearly guaranteed if you can get over this last hurdle.

By Mark Macias
Founder of MACIAS PR | Former NBC Executive Producer

This is another area where many executives misunderstand the media.

By the time a national reporter calls you, there’s a good chance the story already received some level of editorial approval. It could be an informal or formal approval with an editor, or just a simple directive from an Executive Producer to pursue the angle.

This reassurance saves the reporter time from chasing angles that might never get approval. This process is especially prominent at the national level.

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