Communication Tips for Remote Workers
In an industry defined by speed, volume, and constant change, one habit still separates the best communicators from the rest: disciplined reading.
The news cycle is the fastest it has ever been. Attention spans are shrinking. Information is processed in shorter bursts, at a higher velocity, across more platforms than at any point in history.
That’s exactly why the most valuable advice for early-career communicators and marketers is simple:
Read more than your peers.
It will give you an advantage that no tool, platform, or AI system can replicate.
Why Reading Matters More Than Ever
Research consistently shows that people are consuming more information in less time. Headlines, summaries, short videos, and notifications dominate how news is experienced.
But professional communication doesn’t reward surface knowledge. It rewards understanding.
Muck Rack’s State of Journalism 2025 report found that when journalists ignore a pitch, 86% of the time it’s because it isn’t relevant to their beat.
That’s not a writing problem. That’s a reading problem.
As more outlets, platforms, and verticals emerge, reporters are becoming increasingly specialized. This is healthy for the media ecosystem, but it raises the bar for communicators.
You can’t pitch well if you don’t deeply understand:
- Who covers this topic
- How they frame it
- What they care about
- What they have already written
And that understanding starts with reading.
Curation Beats Casual Browsing
Reading well is not the same as clicking around a homepage.
Pulling up the front page of The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal and skimming a few headlines is not enough.
Effective reading is curated.
Platforms like X, BlueSky, and Substack make it possible to:
- Follow specific journalists
- Track beats in real time
- Monitor how stories evolve across outlets
This allows you to build a personalized newsfeed around your industry, your clients, and your target reporters.
Curation turns reading from a habit into a strategy.
Why AI Summaries Are Not a Substitute
It’s tempting to rely on AI summaries, headlines, or short reaction videos.
They save time. They feel efficient.
But they don’t build understanding.
If you’re not reading the full story, you’re missing:
- Nuance
- Context
- Framing choices
- What was emphasized or left out
Editing AI research is not reading. Reacting to headlines is not reading.
If you’re not actually reading, you’re not actually learning.
Building the Habit Early
For senior communicators, giving this advice isn’t enough. You have to help junior teams build the habit.
Yes, calendars are full. Yes, remote work blurs boundaries.
But the most effective professionals protect time each morning for reading a curated newsfeed.
Not as a luxury. As part of the job.
Reading is not downtime. It is preparation.
The Truth About “Newsjacking”
There’s a popular term in the industry: newsjacking.
The idea is simple: offer experts as sources on breaking news and earn easy coverage.
In reality, these moments are some of the most competitive opportunities in communications.
With:
- Smaller newsrooms
- Faster cycles
- Fewer reporters covering more ground
Only the people who are already ahead of the story win.
If you’re only reacting to what clients and executives send you, you’re already late.
Timing is everything in PR. Reading is how you control timing.
Read More, Move Faster, Win More
If you’re not reading more than your competition, you will always be behind the news cycle.
Your commentary will be late. Your pitches will miss. Your insights will sound generic.
It seems simple.
But too many people in PR and communications are not reading enough.
And the ones who do are quietly building an advantage that compounds every year.