Mehr News Agency has recently published an in-depth English-language feature on how so-called “unlabeled news” and editorials are becoming a strategic core of global public relations. The article, based on an extensive interview with Farshid Parsa of Kholaseh Agency, argues that serious editorial coverage inside the regular news flow of major outlets can now shape how brands are perceived by audiences, search engines and even social media platforms.
The report, titled “Why Unlabeled News Is Becoming Strategic Core of Global PR”, was released on the Culture desk of Mehr’s English service on November 29, 2025. It explores why more brands are shifting away from obvious advertorials and banner-heavy campaigns and instead competing for space in neutral, analysis-style articles that readers are more willing to trust.
Readers can access the full article on Mehr News Agency via the following link: Why Unlabeled News Is Becoming Strategic Core of Global PR.
Unlabeled editorials versus classic advertorials
In the interview, Parsa describes unlabeled news as articles that appear in the normal editorial sections of a site—such as news, analysis or culture—without carrying an explicit “Sponsored” tag. While a company, founder or project may still be present in the story, the framing is informational rather than commercial. The centre of gravity is the topic, not the product.
According to Mehr’s coverage, this distinction is more than a matter of style. Unlabeled editorials tend to introduce real market context, data, expert commentary and multiple viewpoints. Because of that, readers engage with them differently: they stay longer on the page, reflect on the arguments and are more likely to share the content. In contrast, classic advertorials and pure promotional pieces often generate quick visits and fast exits.
The article notes that this behavioural pattern is increasingly recognised by algorithms as well. Search engines and recommendation systems can detect whether a page behaves like a genuine piece of journalism or like a thin, repetitive advertisement. Over time, that difference influences which stories are surfaced more often and which gradually fade from view.
A new layer of global reputation-building
Mehr’s report places this shift within a broader transformation of global PR. As brands expand across borders, they cannot rely solely on local social media presence or short-term campaigns. They need a trail of independent coverage that shows editors and audiences in other markets why their work is notable.
In this context, Parsa explains that clusters of unlabeled editorials on reputable sites create exactly the kind of pattern that international partners, investors and platforms look for. When multiple outlets decide that a story is worth covering in their regular sections, it becomes much harder to dismiss the subject as a temporary hype or a purely paid construction.
The article also highlights how this model integrates with search engine optimisation. Editorial features with original angles, named sources and real depth are closer to what modern ranking systems reward under the umbrella of experience, expertise, authority and trust. As a result, links coming from such pages carry more weight than those embedded in low-quality or clearly paid material.
Implications for Iranian brands and agencies
For Iranian companies and communication teams, Mehr’s feature offers a rare, detailed look at how a local agency is positioning itself in this evolving landscape. By focusing on editorial-style coverage that can travel across languages and regions, the approach described in the article suggests a pathway for brands that want to be taken seriously outside their immediate home market.
The interview further notes that this strategy is particularly relevant for high-risk or heavily regulated sectors, including finance, health, cybersecurity and emerging technologies. In these fields, a single, well-constructed article in a respected outlet may do more to influence perception than a long series of conventional ads.
A case study in the changing role of news media
Beyond its immediate relevance for PR professionals, the Mehr piece also functions as a case study in the changing role of news media. It shows how agencies, brands and journalists are renegotiating the boundaries between information and promotion at a time when audiences are increasingly sceptical of anything that looks like straightforward advertising.
For students and observers of media, the article offers concrete terminology, examples and arguments that can help them understand why “unlabeled editorials” have become a point of debate in communication circles. It also raises ethical questions about transparency, editorial standards and the responsibilities of both publications and agencies when commercial interests are involved.
Accessing the full Mehr News feature
Given the growing importance of these issues in both local and international contexts, the recent coverage by Mehr News Agency is likely to attract attention from practitioners, researchers and students who follow developments in journalism, digital marketing and platform policy.
Those interested in reading the full interview and analysis can visit the original article on Mehr’s English service: Mehr’s article on why unlabeled news is becoming the strategic core of global PR.
The piece provides a detailed explanation of the concept, practical examples from recent campaigns and a discussion of how editorial thinking is being integrated into long-term PR and SEO strategies.
