What is a press clipping?
A press clipping is one collected publication in which your organization appears: a newspaper article, online story, or broadcast fragment. The name dates from the era of articles cut out of papers. Together, clippings form the tangible proof of your media attention and the basis of every PR report.
Written by Timon Hendriks · Last updated on 12 July 2026
How it works in practice
Clipping services once literally cut articles from newspapers and mailed them; today media monitoring collects clippings automatically from print, online, radio, and TV. For each clipping you record where and when it ran, the outlet's reach, the tone, and whether your core message survived into the piece.
Store clippings in a structured way, because they serve more purposes than the report alone. A folder of strong publications persuades new customers ("as featured in"), helps pitch follow-up stories to other outlets, and shows internally what PR concretely delivers. Mind copyright when reusing: republishing a full article on your site usually requires the publisher's permission.
Example
A Newport shipyard collects every publication after launching a new model: the article in the regional paper, two pieces in sailing magazines, and a segment on the regional station. The office manager bundles the clippings with reach and tone into one overview for the board and posts quotes from the articles, with attribution, on the website under "in the news".
Common mistake
Collecting clippings without reading anything from them. A stack of publications is not a result; the value appears when you record reach, tone, and message per clipping and look for the patterns.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a press clipping and a brand mention?
A clipping is the collected publication itself, as a document or fragment. A brand mention is the naming of your brand within it. One clipping can hold several mentions, of you and of others.
Can you publish press clippings on your website?
Not wholesale: articles carry the publisher's copyright. Quoting with attribution and linking to the original is fine; full republication needs permission or a license.