Influencer Insights: Media Moves and Intel for the Week of September 14

To keep up with today’s media landscape, public relations professionals need to know not only who is going where, but also how to communicate more effectively with those journalists, bloggers and influencers making moves.

This week’s Influencer Insights include five of the most significant newsroom changes, plus a behind-the-scenes look at Google News Lab with Daniel Sieberg, their head of media outreach.

Want even more media moves? Check out the latest issue of the PR Newswire Media Moves newsletter or follow @PRNMedia for daily updates.

1. CNN: Politico’s Media Columnist Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) is switching up and becoming the senior reporter of media and politics @CNNPolitics and @CNNMoney. In less than four years at Politico, Dylan built up a media news following and Twitter presence with more than 40,000 followers. Dylan previously worked as a reporter at AdWeek. His new role will allow him to be at the intersection of media and politics in the upcoming presidential election.

2. Los Angeles Times: The Tribune Co. has named Baltimore Sun Publisher Tim Ryan as the new publisher/CEO of @LATimes. Ryan was also named publisher/CEO of San Diego Union-Tribune. Tim is replacing Austin Beutner who is moving on from the company. Tim has a wealth of experience in the newspaper business. He has worked at The Morning Call, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Chicago Tribune.

3. The Weather Channel: The “Wake Up With Al” morning show on @weatherchannel has been canceled after six years. Host Al Roker (@alroker) is moving on, but will continue his daily weather news @TODAYshow. Also being canceled at the end of October is “AMHQ With Sam Champion”. Sam Champion (@SamChampion) will remain with the channel and is looking to produce specialized weather shows. The Weather Channel is in the process of curbing its New York productions and focusing on content produced from Atlanta. New York-based Stephanie Abrams is moving to Atlanta to continue on with morning programs.

4. The Seattle Times: Former Wall Street Journal Energy Reporter Daniel Gilbert (@wsjgilbert) is moving from Houston to join @SeattleTimes as a reporter. Daniel is a former Pulitzer Prize Winner. He won the Public Service Pulitzer for his series on Virginia natural gas royalties that weren’t paid to land owners while working at the Bristol Herald-Courier in 2010.

5. Farm Journal: Susan Skiles Luke (@SusanSkilesLuke) is the new editor at @FarmJournal. She will also serve as editorial director for content covering all the media produced at Farm Journal Media. Farm Journal Media produces the national TV shows “U.S. Farm Report,” ”AgDay,” and national publications: Dairy Today, Beef Today and Top Producer.

Influencer Intel of the Week: We recently sat down with Daniel Sieberg, head of media outreach at Google News Lab, to discuss how their online network aims to connect journalists with programs, data and other resources that aid in reporting. Read Beyond Bylines’ Q&A to find out how this program ties in with Google’s mission to support quality journalism.

Targeting journalists and influencers who cover your specific niche will help you connect with audiences more likely to be interested in your news. Learn how to reach the right media with our guide Driving Audience Awareness by Targeting Your Press Release.

Kevin Frey is a senior audience researcher for the Mid-Atlantic region.