Did That Reporter Just Lift Copy from a Press Release? Churnalism Website Helps You Find Out

Every day thousands of press releases and pitches are sent out across the globe by PR professionals to journalists, all in the hope that the journalists “pick up” the information and use it in a story. Of course, this being PRNewser, one may wonder why we’re even briefly outlining this standard PR practice.

Here’s why: a new website, “Churnalism,” seeks to expose when news outlets lift copy straight from press releases into their stories. Created by the Media Standards Trust, Churnalism will scan content from the UK national press, the BBC and Sky News online.