This framework is used to explain media placements more clearly to overseas companies buying press release distribution in China. It is not a ranking system and it does not claim that one page type is always better than another. The purpose is to identify what the buyer is actually receiving.
PR Channel methodology
How PR Channel Evaluates Chinese Media Placements
A recognizable media name is not enough. We evaluate the actual publishing environment and the result that can be independently verified.
1. Actual publishing domain
We check where the article is actually hosted. A media brand name and a publishing domain are related, but they are not always the same thing.
2. Page type
Main-site news pages, regional channels, content accounts, special-topic pages, app environments and other publishing formats should not be treated as interchangeable.
3. Public accessibility
Where possible, a placement should be independently accessible through a public URL rather than supported only by a screenshot or report entry.
4. Media relevance
Industry, geography, audience and announcement type matter. A recognizable media name is not automatically relevant to every company announcement.
5. Editorial review
Submission is not the same as publication. Editors or media outlets may accept, edit, delay or reject a release.
6. Publication vs recommendation
A live article does not automatically mean homepage recommendation, app recommendation or algorithmic promotion. These should be described separately.
7. Verification after publication
After publication, the final URL, domain, date and page type should be checked so the buyer can understand the delivered result.
8. Page persistence
Published pages may change or disappear over time. Where a resource has an explicit support period, that period applies; otherwise PR Channel's default support period is one month.
9. Search visibility is separate
A published page may or may not be indexed or ranked by Google, Baidu or another search engine.
10. AI visibility is separate
Publication does not guarantee AI retrieval, citation, recommendation or inclusion in an AI-generated answer.
Why this matters for overseas buyers
Global distribution reports can be useful, but buyers still need to understand the local page-level result. This framework is designed to make the final placement easier to compare, verify and explain internally.