Which of the following is not a form of earned media?

• A. Media relations
• B. Influencer promotions and advocacy efforts
• C. Blogger relations
• D. Ambassador endorsements

Answer: (B)

Earned media is publicity gained without paying for placement. It relies on third parties—journalists, bloggers, or genuine advocates—choosing to cover or endorse your story because they see value in it, not because you paid for it. Media relations exemplifies this because a journalist may run a story after a targeted pitch, and blogger relations can yield a review or mention based on perceived merit. Ambassador endorsements also tend to be earned when a trusted figure speaks on your behalf due to alignment and trust, not because they were compensated.

Influencer promotions and advocacy efforts, on the other hand, are typically structured as paid arrangements. Influencers are often compensated or receive incentives to promote a product or brand, which places those placements in the paid media category rather than earned. If an influencer posts without any compensation, that could blur the line into earned, but standard practice is paid, which is why this option is not considered earned media.