Influencing opens its media database to PR professionals

Influencing has opened its media database to professional PR practitioners under a new initiative called Open Intelligence.

The initiative also moves newswire publishing and call-outs to an open model. These services are generally only available elsewhere as paid products.

Influencing says the change lets PR agencies and in-house teams put budget and resources into other work. Commercial media databases typically cost more than $4,000 a year, and can reach tens of thousands of dollars for larger teams and agencies.

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Influencing CEO Phil Sim said the offer is available to reputable PR agencies and corporate PR teams.

"We don't ask for a credit card, we ask for your credentials," Sim said.

"Influencing is a professional network, and those PR teams and practitioners who add value to our network can apply for the Open Intelligence plan.”

He added the aim is to raise the standard of media interactions by giving PR professionals access to journalists’ preferences and interests.

"You don't have to spend too much time scrolling through your LinkedIn feed to realise that journalists still get frustrated with PRs who don't understand the information and contact they're interested in," Sim said.

“A journalist can now update their preferences on their Influencing profile, and know that it is can be accessed by any PR professional. They're really shouldn't be any excuse for getting it wrong.”

Influencing is a platform for journalists, PR professionals and experts. As on LinkedIn, users manage their own profiles to help the people they work with engage more efficiently.

Journalists get access to the PRWire newswire, a database of experts and PR contacts, and a free interview transcription tool.

Sim said Influencing will make money from workflow tools, including announcement distribution and media coverage reporting, and from access to its international content.

"Influencing has been built to be global. We have formally launched our India service, will be rolling through South East Asia over the rest of this year before having full global coverage early next year."