How the WSJ is keeping jailed reporter Gerhskovich in the conversation

Evan Gershkovich

Ewan Larkin of PRWeek writes about The Wall Street Journal’s strategy around raising awareness of the issues related to jailed reporter Evan Gershkovich.

Larkin writes, “The WSJ has prioritized emphasizing humanity in Gershkovich’s case, raising awareness about who he is as both a journalist and a person, according to a source familiar with the matter.

“As well as making Gershkovich’s content available through a dedicated microsite that is available for anyone to access, the WSJ has also published interviews with the journalist’s family, friends and colleagues. The outlet has also set up a system for people to send letters to Gershkovich and his family.

“Social media is a core component of the WSJ’s messaging strategy, too. The outlet has organized social storms, or designated times where members of its newsroom and others collectively post on social media about Gershkovich, promoting events and developments about the detained reporter’s case.”

Read more here.

Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.