earned media

Definition

Publicity gained through promotional efforts other than paid advertising, like press coverage, social shares, or word-of-mouth. It's called 'earned' because you can't buy it—you have to trick journalists into caring about your product launch.

Example Usage

Our product launch generated $2M in earned media value from tech blog coverage, though 'value' is a generous term for exposure we can't actually measure.

Origin

Public relations terminology distinguishing from paid and owned media

Fun Fact

PR firms calculate 'earned media value' by pretending press mentions are equivalent to paid ads at rate card prices, which is like valuing a friend's recommendation at the cost of a Super Bowl commercial.

Source: Public relations and media measurement terminology

Related Terms

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Impressions

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curated

The pretentious way of saying 'I picked these things' that makes your personal choices sound like a museum exhibition. Originally meant for actual curators managing art collections, now it's slapped on everything from Spotify playlists to food truck festivals. It's taste and selectivity rebranded as expertise, turning your morning routine into a 'curated experience.'

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media planning

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