The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI has  been one of the biggest news stories to break this week and it has me thinking about how much coverage the pope actually receives in mainstream media. It seems there's always a report about his latest travels or his opinion regarding a controversial topic.

The Pew Research Center posted a report earlier today titled, "Pope Benedict Over the Years: News Coverage by the Numbers." They've been tracking how much coverage Pope Benedict XVI has received since 2007 and it has some very interesting findings. A partial transcript of the report is below with a link to the full story and graphs included.

Pope Benedict Over the Years: News Coverage by the Numbers

Pope Benedict XVI, the spiritual leader of some 1 billion Catholics worldwide, announced on February 11 that he will retire from his post by the end of the month, citing weakness and age. It will make him the first pope to resign in 600 years.
Perhaps the most visible religious figure in the world, Pope Benedict has attracted a significant share of news coverage over the years. Since Pew Research Center began tracking the U.S. news media in 2007, the pope has been by far the central figure in mainstream religion coverage.[i]

A new analysis of 2,700 religion stories in newspapers, websites, cable and broadcast news programs and audio outlets over a five-year period finds that:
When covering religion, the U.S. media gave Pope Benedict far more attention than any other figure. The pope was the main newsmaker in 32% of all religion stories studied from July 2007 through May, 2012. That is nearly three times as much as the No. 2 religion newsmaker, Barack Obama (12%).

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***To all journalists***

If you're currently covering the pope's resignation and are looking for an expert, click here for a roundup of experts that may be able to help.

Whether you're a reporter, blogger, author or other content creator, ProfNet can help you with your search for expert sources. You can send a query to tens of thousands of experts and PR agents, search the more than 60,000 profiles on ProfNet Connect, or get timely experts and story ideas by email -- all for free! Need help getting started? Email us at profnet@profnet.com 

Media News Highlight shares articles and stories from the worlds of media and journalism that may be of interest to professionals who work in said industries and newsrooms across the country.

We hope these links will help you stay aware of what’s happening in these fields and also provide some advice to help you.
Please feel free to share your own relevant links in the comments section after the entry.

10 Things Every Journalist Should Know in 2013 (via mediabistro by Vicki Salemi)

"When we read this post on Journalism.co.uk, we couldn’t agree more."

10 ways young journalists can make themselves more marketable  (via Poynter by Mallary Jean Tenore)

"While many recent changes in journalism have led to budget cuts and layoffs, others have created new opportunities — to tell stories in nontraditional ways, develop different skills, and guide the industry in promising directions."

3 Tech Trends That Show Journalism of the Future (via 10,000 WORDS by Lauren Hockenson)

"CES is the ultimate in tech tools for all kinds of people, and with the level of hardware that the 2013 installment has already showcased in just its first day, there’s plenty to drool over."

Nightline" Maintains Ratings Dominance In New Time Slot (via The Huffington Post)

"ABC's late night news program "Nightline" maintained its ratings dominance on Wednesday when it premiered in its new time slot."

Chinese journalists choose quiet defiance, not mass strike, to protest censorship (via The Washington Post by Keith B. Richburg)

"A threatened journalism strike in China to protest government censorship appeared to have been averted Thursday, as the reform-minded Southern Weekly newspaper appeared on newsstands and in mailboxes as scheduled."

Commentary: Are newspaper editorials passe'? (via The Sacramento Bee by Stuart Leavenworth)

"Here's a sad fact as we near the end of 2012: The editorial director of an influential California news organization, one that says it is dedicated to producing 'stories that hold those in power accountable,' believes there should be fewer voices dedicated to that cause."

Op-Ed: Trends in journalism to look for in 2013 (via Digital Journal by Richard Milnes)

"Thanks to the Internet, just about anybody can be a journalist, photographer and publisher. This is one of the most obvious factors at play in the changing world of journalism."

Al Jazeera in America (via Columbia Journalism Review by Vivian Salama)

"Al Jazeera Media Network, the Qatar-based channel once described by the George W. Bush administration as a “terror network,” announced on January 2 that it acquired Current TV, launched by former Vice President Al Gore and entrepreneur Joel Hyatt in 2005, in a deal reportedly worth $500 million."

Furloughs, job cuts coming to Fort Worth Star-Telegram (via Poynter by Andrew Beaujon)

"A memo to employees sent on behalf of Publisher Gary Wortel lays out the bad news..."

Is crowdfunding the future of media funding? (via Columbia Journalism Review by Ann Friedman)

"New year, new funding model! Or… not. For all the hype about crowdfunding, I think it’s basically a fancy new name for “selling subscriptions.” After all, subscribers pay up front for a product they haven’t seen, based solely on their faith in the institution and editors creating it. That said, I think there are a few things journo-entrepreneurs can do to make crowdfunding work for them."

ProfNet, a service of PR Newswire, has helped journalists and experts connect since 1992. Writers can search the ProfNet Connect database of more than 50,000 profiles; send a ProfNet query by email to thousands of subscribers around the globe; or get timely experts and story ideas by email.

The following piece is from The News Treadmill and was written by Rebecca Aguilar, a multiple Emmy award-winning freelance reporter based in Dallas who has 31 years in the business, including 27 in television news.  She’s currently the VP of Online for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the VP of Membership for the Fort Worth Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. 

It's a motivating article full of tips that will hopefully remind you why you became a journalist and why you love being in the news business.

As we start a new year, let’s take a moment as reporters to reflect back on all the stories we’ve  covered in 2012. We can’t predict what’s to come for each one of us in 2013.  What’s important is to continue having passion for journalism.

Don’t punch in and punch out when you get to work. Get involved, find good stories, tell a good story, flush out corruption, profile a good Samaritan, and take time for yourself.

Tips That Will Work For You

To get you started for 2013, I’ve put together some tips to keep you ahead of the game.   Print it out, memorize it, share it with other reporters.  Remember journalism is not about a paycheck….it’s about an experience.

1. Find more sources. You need them to find the stories that no one else is reporting.
2. Revisit a story that got a lot of play in 2012. Is there a good follow-up?
3. Work with your assignment editor not against him/her. Pitch more of your own stories.
4. Volunteer to work on weekends when the weekend reporter is on vacation. Great time to do that story you just can get done on a weekday.
5. Explore a part of your city or county where you don’t have any contacts.

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If you haven't checked out the blogs section of ProfNet Connect lately, you're missing out on some wonderful posts. Here's a recap of some of the top posts for Oct. 27-Nov. 9:

A Natural Disaster Should Never be PR’s Gain

"Is it appropriate to use natural disasters for PR campaigns? Never. A tweet today from Stuart Elliot of The New York Times reminded me of my blog post, 'When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up,' which I wrote last year. It’s about when it might be appropriate to use tragedy for PR campaigns. The answer is virtually never. Elliot’s tweet reminds us that even business as usual is too soon for those who are still reeling from the impact of Hurricane Sandy." Beth Monaghan, principal and co-founder of InkHouse Media + Marketing, reminds us that pitch rules change in the wake of a natural disaster.

Tips for keeping deadlines

Here are a few tips for organizing and meeting deadlines from Rhonda Bennett, west coast audience researcher at PR Newswire.

To Disclose or Not Disclose: FTC Disclosure Guidelines for Bloggers

"If you bring up Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations in front of writers, especially bloggers, a lot of 'opinion' and hearsay come up." Victoria Harres, director of audience development at PR Newswire shares exactly what the FTC requires of bloggers.

November MEDIAware

MEDIAware, PR Newswire's Audience Research Department newsletter, featuring media news and job changes in the last month, is now available and written by Kevin Frey, senior media researcher at PR Newswire.

Six Secrets to Landing a Content Marketing Gig

"So, how do you get the edge in an interview? Content marketing specialists share their secrets." Maria Perez, director of news operations at ProfNet has the details.

#ConnectChat: The Freelancer Economy

"Working as a journalist has never been easy and getting the training to pursue a career in journalism is more necessary than ever to become part of an industry that's becoming more difficult to break into. Our next #ConnectChat, "The Freelancer Economy," will feature Bill Momary (@Ebyline), CEO and co-founder of Ebyline. Bill will discuss how Ebyline works and other topics such as the importance of quality journalism, how brands are turning to journalists to help write about their brands and many issues affecting freelance journalists." I will be hosting this next chat.

My final thoughts on the mobile election

"As I prepared to place my vote, I reflected on both candidates’ use of mobile and how it could affect the outcome of the election. First, I would like to say I am a pretty positive guy. I like to see the glass half full, so it is difficult for me to write about how badly the presidential candidates missed out on the opportunity to use mobile to win the election." Alex Campbell, co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Vibes Media discusses how both candidates failed to use mobile in the recent Presidential election.

Authenticity and Transparency in Politics?

"One day from the 2012 presidential election, nothing seems normal – much of the East Coast is recovering from Sandy, the New York Marathon was canceled, and somehow, Mayor Bloomberg has endorsed Obama. Unfortunately, the only thing that does seem normal is the maddeningly familiar onslaught of unfair, slanted and negative political ads." Beth Monaghan writes about an observation many may try to put out of their minds as the Presidential election comes to an end.

60 Days to Pay - Has Medicare Reached the Point of No Return

"In February the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) clarified an oft quoted existing rule: Providers must return overpayments to Medicare within 60 days “after the date on which the overpayment was identified,” or in the alternative, “the date any corresponding cost report is due, if applicable.”[1]  For providers of any size, failure to report and return Medicare overpayments pursuant to these temporal requirements may result in potential liability under the Federal False Claims Act[2], resulting in substantial monetary penalties and the risk of being denied future claims for reimbursement." Craig B. Garner, Esq., talks about false claims and fraud in the Medicare system.

Jewish Book Fairs and Festivals for Jewish Authors

"Book festivals and fairs are held year round all over the world. As a book marketing specialist, I am the first to impress on authors the new and powerful marketing avenues open to all authors on the Internet – from websites and book trailers to social networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. While these are excellent tools when used properly, authors should never overlook opportunities to meet the reading public face-to-face." Scott Lorenz, president of Westwind Communications provides some events that all Jewish authors should consider attending.

ProfNet, a service of PR Newswire, has helped journalists and experts connect since 1992. Writers can search the ProfNet Connect database of more than 50,000 profiles; send a ProfNet query by email to thousands of subscribers around the globe; or get timely experts and story ideas by email.

If you haven't checked out the blogs section of ProfNet Connect lately, you're missing out on some wonderful posts. Here's a recap of some of the top posts for the week of Oct. 13:

#ConnectChat: Educating Tomorrow's Journalists

"Working as a journalist has never been easy and getting the training to pursue a career in journalism is more necessary than ever to become part of an industry that's becoming more difficult to break into. Our next #ConnectChat, "Educating Tomorrow's Journalists," will feature Kevin Lerner (@klerner), an affiliate assistant professor at Marist College and doctoral candidate in journalism and media studies at Rutgers University." Please join me as I host this chat next week.

Blog Notes: Random Edition

"As you might imagine, I read a lot of blogs. It’s literally my job to find and promote the best blogs out there. And while most of the blogs I profile fit nicely into one category or another, oftentimes there is an overflow of quality sites that don’t necessarily fit into one bundle. That's not to say they’re not worth reading -- they are worth it -- but, for whatever reason, they haven’t been profiled here … yet." Thomas Hynes, manager of blogger relations at PR Newswire has this week's roundup.

Upcoming PR/Media Events

We regularly update our ProfNet Connect calendar to include upcoming events we think will be of interest to PR and media professionals. Following is a summary of the events taking place over the next week or so that I found earlier this week.

'Dear Blogger' and Other Pitch Mistakes PR Pros Make

"'My time is worth something,” said fashion and celebrity blogger Cynthia Smoot, aka @OhSoCynthia, at last month's Social Media Club of Dallas monthly meeting. A PR person in the audience had asked the panel if bloggers always expect to get something for free. Every head in the room turned in unison to see who was at the microphone. I think I also heard a gasp from somewhere."
Victoria Harres, director of audience development at PR Newswire writes a recap of this lively event.

Inside PR Newswire: Account Manager Natalie Bering

"Natalie Bering doesn’t remember the first picture she ever took, but she knows when she fell in love with photography. It was her fourth grade field trip to Washington, D.C. She took loads of pictures with her new disc camera and not a single shot turned out. But that’s all it took." Christine Cube, media relations manager at PR Newswire takes us inside the life of colleague Natalie Bering.

Observations from Dreamforce 2012

"I was at Salesforce’s Dreamforce conference yesterday with 95,000 of my closest friends. Seriously, that’s how many people registered for this event. It’s an impressive display of organizational prowess and the Salesforce team puts on a great show. The keynote yesterday morning featured lots of slick videos and loud music. It also included appearances by Tony Robbins, The Cake Boss and MC Hammer (and the evening was capped off by the Red Hot Chili Peppers). Thankfully the keynote also included some thoughts on technology." Luke Burns, partner at Ascent Venture Partners shares some takeaways from this event.

4 Keys to the Successful Digital PR Pitch

"I’m active on LinkedIn, and it’s not unusual for me to hear from a recruiter every now and then. Last week, one sent me a note about an interesting-sounding job. While I had zero interest in the gig, I know others in my social networks might be interested. So, instead of ignoring this message, I responded to the recruiter, asking if she had any publicly available information so I could share it with my network." Sarah Skerik, vice president of social media at PR Newswire tells us about the importance of communicating correctly to get your information out to the right people.

Media News Highlight

"Media News Highlight shares articles and stories from the worlds of media and journalism that may be of interest to professionals who work in said industries and newsrooms across the country. We hope these links will help you stay aware of what’s happening in these fields and also provide some advice to help you." If you see a story you think belongs here, please send me a message via ProfNet Connect.

Young Turks in the Enterprise

"There was a widely circulated news item recently that tried to explain the mindset of this year’s college freshmen, noting that, for them, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Kurt Cobain have always been dead.  (Message to this generation: please do yourself a favor and delete a few LMFAO and Lady Gaga tunes from your iPod in favor of selections off Nirvana’s Bleach or In Utero)."
Geoffrey Oblak general partner at Ascent Venture Partners compares the differences between us older folk and today's younger generation in regards to technology in the business world.

US elections and selective airport security

"The upcoming US presidential elections and the Republican National Convention approval of a platform calling on privatizing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have placed into stark contrast two opposing points of view of how airport security should be organized, maintained and operated." Alan Kirschenbaum, professor at Technion Israel Institute of Technology discusses how we envision airport security in the future.

ProfNet, a service of PR Newswire, has helped journalists and experts connect since 1992. Writers can search the ProfNet Connect database of more than 50,000 profiles; send a ProfNet query by email to thousands of subscribers around the globe; or get timely experts and story ideas by email.