Public Relations

Think Wienermobile: The Evolution of Clickbait News

John Bradley "JJ" Jackson

18 Jul 2009 • 1 min read

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile made headlines years ago when it accidentally crashed into someone’s home. It wasn’t exactly world-shaking news — but it was splashed across the Yahoo! homepage, which, at the time, was one of the most visited websites in the world.

Fast forward to today, and not much has changed. Except now, it’s not Yahoo! but TikTok, X, or Instagram driving what people see as “news.” The formula remains the same: speed, sensationalism, and short attention spans. If the facts don’t hold up, the post is quietly deleted and replaced with something equally absurd or ironic.

I can’t help but think about Walter Cronkite, the iconic news anchor who passed away the same week the Wienermobile story ran. He would have been appalled by how entertainment and outrage now masquerade as journalism.

For marketers, the lesson is clear: if you want attention, your story must stand out. A plain press release about your new product launch or office expansion won’t cut it. The media and the public crave something quirky, unexpected, or emotionally charged.

That doesn’t mean compromising truth or integrity. It means crafting a narrative that compels people to care. Lead with curiosity. Write headlines that pop. Add a touch of human interest or irony.

If your story doesn’t grab attention in three seconds, it’s lost in the scroll.

So when you think about publicity today think Wienermobile.