In this episode, Matt Dzugan joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how PR pros can use data, AI, and smarter tools to improve media outreach.
Tune in to learn more!
Our Guest:
Our episode guest is Matt Dzugan, senior director of data at Muck Rack. As a software engineer, he contributes to building tools that help journalists and PR professionals collaborate more effectively. With a strong background in full-stack development, he focuses on creating scalable, user-friendly solutions in the media tech space.
Five things you’ll learn from this episode:
1. How to use PR software to streamline journalist research and pitching
2. Why understanding journalist preferences improves outreach effectiveness
3. What data points matter most when evaluating earned media success
4. How Muck Rack supports PR teams through integrations and automation
5. Trends in AI, media relations, and PR measurement that pros should watch
Quotables
“We’re building tools that PR pros actually use and value every day.” — @mattdzugan
“Better media outreach starts with better journalist insights.” — @JasonMudd9
“PR is evolving fast. You need the right tools to keep up.” — @mattdzugan
“Good PR tech doesn’t replace relationships — it enhances them.” — @mattdzugan
If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a professional colleague or friend. You may also share your experience with others, buy me a coffee, or leaving us a quick podcast review.
About Matt Dzugan
Matt Dzugan is a senior software engineer at Muck Rack, where he helps develop tools that empower journalists and PR professionals to collaborate more effectively. With a background in full-stack development, he brings a thoughtful, systems-oriented approach to building reliable, scalable software that meets the media industry’s evolving needs. His work spans from backend architecture to user-facing features, all designed to enhance the transparency, speed, and efficiency of media workflows.
Beyond writing clean, maintainable code, Matt is known for his collaborative mindset and dedication to continuous improvement. He actively engages with cross-functional teams to ensure that engineering decisions align with product goals, and he’s always looking for ways to optimize performance and user experience. At Muck Rack, Matt plays a key role in helping the company scale its platform to support a growing user base while staying true to its mission of supporting a free and sustainable press.
Guest’s contact info and resources:
Matt Dzugan on X (@mattdzugan)
Muck Rack’s website
Additional Resources:
- On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.
- On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
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