Public Relations

PR SERVICES IN
Durham.

PR is persuasion in public. It's reputation, trust and narrative — all rolled into one. At CannyWorks, we craft stories that the media actually wants to publish.

The Daily News
VOL. 1 • 2025

CANNYWORKS CLIENT GOES VIRAL AGAIN

"This is exactly the kind of story our readers have been waiting for. Authentic, timely, and perfectly pitched."

Editor, National Press

What We Do

We position your story where influence lives. Click cards for details.

Media Strategy

Narrative development that cuts through the noise.

Press Releases

Stories that journalists actually want to open.

Media Lists

Tailored databases of relevant contacts.

Thought Leadership

Op-eds and editorial placement for founders.

Outreach

Building long-term relationships, not spamming.

Broadcast

TV and radio coordination and prep.

Why It Works

PR Experience (10+ Years)
Deep Journalist Insight
Full Marketing Integration
SEO & Link-Building Synergy
Fast Reactive Comms

The Reach

The TimesForbesBBC NewsTechCrunchThe GuardianWiredVogue BusinessThe TimesForbesBBC NewsTechCrunchThe GuardianWiredVogue Business

Whether you’re launching a new service, tackling a crisis, scaling nationally or entering new markets.

PR & Communications Durham 2026 | Strategic Storytelling for Innovation

The New Media Landscape: Durham in 2026

As we navigate 2026, the media landscape in Durham has fundamentally evolved. The Durham Innovation District (DID) attracts global attention, while the city's UNESCO World Heritage status provides unmatched cultural credibility. Your PR strategy must bridge these worlds—positioning your brand at the intersection of ancient heritage and cutting-edge innovation.

At Canny Works, we provide 2026-ready PR & Communications in Durham. We understand the "Triple Helix" economy (University-Council-Business) and help you navigate the complex stakeholder landscape—from BBC North East to professional influencers and the emerging AI-powered news aggregators.

Why 2026 PR Requires "Citable Authority"

  • Answer Engine PR: Crafting press releases structured for AI extraction—ensuring your news is cited by Google SGE, Perplexity, and ChatGPT.
  • The Professional Advocate Network: Moving beyond traditional journalists to Durham's 'Professional Influencers'—researchers, business leaders, and cultural voices.
  • The Durham Story Integration: Aligning your narrative with the county-wide place-branding initiative celebrating beauty, enterprise, and ambition.

Our 2026 PR & Communications Suite

Media Relations & Press Outreach

Building relationships with Northern Echo, BBC Radio Newcastle, and the North East business press. AI-citable press kits for maximum distribution.

Executive Thought Leadership

Positioning your leaders as 'Top Voices' in the Innovation District—op-eds, conference speaking, and LinkedIn advocacy.

Stakeholder Communications

Managing dialogue with Durham County Council, NECA, and the University. Devolution-literate comms for public sector engagement.

ESG & Impact Communications

Crafting Net Zero stories for the County Durham Pound initiative—transparent sustainability narratives that win regional contracts.

Sector Expertise

  • Science & Innovation: Research announcements and IP launches at NETPark
  • Tourism & Culture: Heritage storytelling for the UNESCO site and Kynren
  • Professional Services: Corporate reputation building for Aykley Heads firms

Why Local Matters

  • Media Relationships: We know the journalists and editors
  • Triple Helix Access: Connections to University and Council
  • Regional Voice: Authentic 'Canny' tone that resonates

Your Story, Durham's Stage

Durham is a city where history and innovation coexist in magnificent tension. In 2026, your PR must capture this duality—ancient stones and supercomputers, heritage and horizon.

At Canny Works, we craft narratives that position your brand at the heart of the Durham story. Let's make it "Canny."

Media Mechanics

Is PR just 'Getting in the Paper'?

No. Modern PR is Digital Authority. Getting a link from a high-DR (Domain Rating) site like The Guardian or BBC is the single most powerful SEO signal you can send to Google. We combine traditional storytelling with technical SEO link-building strategies.

Crisis Management?

We offer 24/7 'Red Phone' Support. When a crisis hits, silence is an admission of guilt. We control the narrative, draft the holding statements, and manage the media scrum so you can focus on fixing the operational issue. Speed is the only currency that matters in a crisis.

Can you guarantee coverage?

No agency can ethicaly guarantee coverage unless it's 'Sponsored Content' (Adverts). What we guarantee is Newsworthiness. We extract the stories from your business that journalists actually want to write about, rather than sending spam press releases that get deleted.

Serving PR Communications Across the UK