Stop the Crap: The Truth Behind Those “As Seen In” Logos

Why Real Media Coverage Beats Vanity Logos Every Time—And What You Should Know Before Flexing Those “As Seen In” Claims

Have you seen those polished graphics with a lineup of logos like CNN, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, and The New York Times—all under the phrase “As Seen In”?

Let me give you some PR real talk.

Many of those logos you see? They're not earned media. They’re not interviews, news features, or articles written by a real journalist. They're branded content—aka, a glorified press release published on a partner wire service or obscure newsfeed that allows paid submissions.

Let’s break it down.

“As Seen In”... or Just Seen on a Newswire?

Most of these placements happen when someone submits a press release through a paid distribution service. That release might technically get scraped or mirrored on Yahoo Finance, FOX Business, or a blog-like section of Forbes. But it’s not editorial. It wasn’t requested. And no editor greenlit that content for front-page placement.

To the average person? It looks legit.
To a journalist? It’s fluff.
To an event planner or producer? It’s a red flag if they dig just a little deeper.

Earned Media = The Real Deal

Let me be clear: Earned media means a journalist chose to feature you. It means your story was pitched, vetted, researched, and published because it was timely, relevant, or compelling. You didn’t pay for placement—you earned it through value.

That kind of media gives you credibility. It creates buzz. It builds trust.

It can’t be bought. That’s when you hire a publicist.

Why This Matters for Experts, Authors, and Entrepreneurs

As a publicist and publisher who’s been in the game for 25+ years, I’ve seen too many people waste money on vanity metrics—buying coverage that no one reads, sharing screenshots of sites where their press release was dumped in a dark corner.

Then they wonder why they’re not getting booked. Why their credibility isn’t converting into contracts.

It’s because the market knows the difference.

So What Should You Do Instead?

✅ Work with a publicist who has real media relationships.
✅ Develop a narrative that solves problems, not just promotes a product.
✅ Pitch stories, not bios.
✅ Aim for quality over quantity.
✅ And if you’re going to post those logos—make sure you can prove the story behind them.

Visibility without credibility is just noise.

Let’s stop faking the funk and start building a real platform with integrity, value, and visibility that lasts.

If you're tired of the fluff and want to get actually known—let’s talk: www.pamperrypr.com

#MediaCredibility #PRTruth #EarnedMediaMatters #GetOutThereAndGetKnown #BrandStoryNotBraggingRights #NoMoreEgoMarketing

Above is Alison Vaughn, where we pitched her and she landed on Fox2 News.