Any Publicity Good Publicity

Comments debate how controversy and negative press generate media attention and buzz, often invoking the adage that there's no such thing as bad publicity.

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Keywords

AM HN GPT4 FH PR NBA ROI NASA IIRC attention press media publicity coverage buzz controversy attract news pr

Sample Comments

WayneDB Jun 9, 2012 View on HN

Maybe it's a marketing thing. Controversy breeds attention.

Cheer2171 Sep 17, 2025 View on HN

Because there are people who believe "There's no such thing as bad press."This story got to the front page of HN on the name, after all.

Zadoc Dec 15, 2011 View on HN

That out to be good for media attention.

a_nop Jul 25, 2023 View on HN

Getting press and attention, as seen here, for better or worse.

theptip Jun 28, 2023 View on HN

They are getting way more press this way? Doesn’t seem counterproductive at all to me.

devmonk Nov 12, 2010 View on HN

It might be argued that the point now is to attract attention and buzz, rather than hide it as they claim to be doing.

rpgbr Aug 13, 2023 View on HN

This isn't the kind of attention a (allegedly) journalism outlet benefits from.

heartbreak Jun 13, 2016 View on HN

Attracts attention in the press.

lostgame Apr 20, 2016 View on HN

Not sure why this is down voted.It's an important point that this whole problem with media is the old axiom 'any publicity is good publicity.' If that wasn't true, I think the media would be hella more accurate.

webmaven Mar 30, 2021 View on HN

That seems like it would generate publicity, all right.