Telco’s 2021 vision: The impact of covid-19 on marketing and media relations – from the journalists that matter

Over the past 18 months, the mix of covid-19, global lockdowns and the rapid switch to digital everything/everywhere/any time, has forced businesses to adopt different approaches to reach their target audiences. This has included the telecoms industry, a sector Babel has long represented, and the media that cover it.

We therefore set out to examine how the landscape has impacted telecoms journalists during the first half of 2021, how the decision to move Mobile World Congress has impacted news cycles, and – crucially – how PRs can best engage with the media in our current climate.

To understand this, we sat down with some of the most influential journalists in the space: Scott Bicheno, editorial director at Telecoms.com; Iain Morris, news editor at Light Reading; Keith Dyer, founder and editor of The Mobile Network; and Harry Baldock, news editor at Total Telecom.

They shared a host of interesting insights and shone a light on how the last 18 months of lockdowns have impacted PR and journalist dynamics. The full-length report is now available to download here.

Our interviewees cover a wide range of topics, including:

• How audiences choose to consume media
• The changing means of engaging influencers and stakeholders in the telco sector
• The rise of virtual events
• The future of traditional and hybrid tradeshows
• The topics and trends driving the news agenda
• How brands can tailor their messaging to earn media coverage

With years of experience in the telco and tech sectors, Babel has built up a solid – and growing – network of media contacts. This report is just one example of how we work side by side with our media peers, in order to add value to the news agenda and deliver value for our clients.

If you’re interested in finding out about how we can support your brand with an effective PR strategy, please do get in touch.