Blogs: the new press releases in 2008

These are some of the major trends which define Romania’s PR market in 2008, according to the second edition of an event organized by the Evensys company, the PR Forum, attended by important communication specialists in Romania.

“Seventy-three journalists in the US use blogs as a communication tool. Therefore, PR does not stand a chance of developing as an industry, as only 30 percent of PR specialists use blogging at present,” said Loredana Visa, PR Manager for Avon Canada.

Loredana Visa believes that the year 2008 will help to develop a status for bloggers and their introduction into the communication system which, until now, has been based only on the relationship between journalists and PR. This year, one of the market objectives and that of PR specialists should be the implementation of a system to measure blog audiences and the influence these have on the public. “Today, PR uses language accessible to all, not only the press, but also the public. Blogs in 2008 are called the new press releases,” added Loredana Visa.

The Romanian PR market in 2007 was estimated to be worth €20 million, and is expected to rise 15-20 percent in 2008.