The Cochrane Library publicity programme— promoting Cochrane evidence worldwide

Article type
Authors
Urquhart B1, Beal J1
1Wiley, Chichester, UK
Abstract
Background: Press releases highlighting selected new and updated Reviews are an important part of the monthly marketing strategy for The Cochrane Library. Reviews published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews are often reported by journalists and bloggers, and coverage is increasingly international.

Objectives: The objective of Wiley’s publicity strategy is to raise the international profile of The Cochrane Library through professional and consumer media, and to increase usage.

Methods: A number of new and updated reviews are selected for publicity from each monthly issue of The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The resulting coverage is analysed by region, and we also look for a corresponding increase in usage for the articles that are most widely reported.

Results: In 2012 Wiley issued press releases on 33 Cochrane Reviews, generating 4268 stories in the media. Cochrane stories were covered in over 2400 media outlets in over 80 countries. Of the media outlets which covered Cochrane stories, 18 ran 10 or more pieces (0.73%), 89 ran 5 or more pieces (3.6%), and 390 ran 3 or more stories (15.7%). 9.7% of stories were in a language other than English, from 15 different languages in total. The US was the country with the most coverage, reporting 2176 stories. Increasingly our press releases are highlighted and reported via social media in addition to traditional and broadcast media, especially on blogs and Twitter.

Conclusions: Media coverage of new and updated Cochrane Reviews raises the international profile of The Cochrane Library in both professional and consumer media, and increases the usage of Cochrane Reviews. With the move to ‘when ready’ publication of CDSR in 2013 it will be important to ensure that relevant Reviews continue to be highlighted in traditional and social media.