AI prompt library targets PR cost and speed for teams in emerging markets
The Rundown Studio, co-founded by former CNN anchor Zain Verjee, has launched an AI-powered prompt library built for communications teams that need newsroom-level outputs without agency retainers. The platform packages newsroom-tested frameworks so teams can execute faster and cut spend. It launched with free and paid tiers.
The pitch is simple: direct access to structured workflows for media, corporate communications, and investor updates-no middle layer, no inflated billable hours. For teams across Africa, that can be the difference between getting coverage this week or going quiet for a quarter.
The cost problem PR teams face
Traditional PR remains expensive across many African markets. Small businesses routinely pay around $1,500 per month for basic retainers. Established firms spend between $5,000 and $15,000, while larger international campaigns can pass $20,000 monthly.
These rates, combined with staffing gaps inside agencies, leave startups, nonprofits, and growth-stage companies without consistent professional support. The Rundown Studio is stepping into that gap with a cheaper, structured alternative.
What the tool includes
- 12 specialised tools for corporate communications teams, newsrooms, and investors
- Tier 1 media pitch builders calibrated for newsroom standards
- Press release workflows aligned to editorial expectations
- Full 30-minute television script generators
- Best-practice frameworks for teams working across African markets
- Analysis that checks source material against current news cycles to shape angle and timing
The tools were built by former journalists from organisations including BBC, CNN, and Sky News, translating editorial logic into repeatable workflows.
How the founders frame it
"This addresses a fundamental market failure," Verjee said. "Communications teams in Nairobi, Lagos, and Accra have the same deadline pressures as teams in New York or London, but they do not have the same access to world-class expertise. Traditional agencies charge enterprise rates for work that can now be systematised through frameworks that keep humans in control."
She added that the tools support professionals rather than replace them: "These are not generic AI prompts. They are workflows built from 20 years of combined newsroom and corporate communications experience, designed specifically for the resource constraints and cultural contexts of emerging markets."
Cofounder and product strategist Thomas Brasington said the product challenges the billable-hours model. "We are testing whether you can deliver the strategic thinking of a senior communications consultant through structured frameworks, with the professional still making every final decision."
Pricing and access
The platform launched with both free and paid tiers, letting teams test core workflows before scaling across campaigns and regions. For lean teams, that lowers the barrier to high-quality outputs without long-term commitments.
Who benefits
- Startups, nonprofits, and growth-stage companies without large agency budgets
- In-house comms teams standardising processes across Nairobi, Lagos, Accra, and beyond
- Newsrooms looking to accelerate script and pitch development
- Investors needing clear memos, portfolio updates, and media narratives
Practical ways to use it this quarter
- Turn a founder letter or data drop into a newsroom-standard press release
- Build a Tier 1 pitch with angle, hook, timing, and target outlets in one pass
- Draft a 30-minute TV script for executive interviews or product launches
- Localise messaging for East, West, and Southern Africa without losing the core narrative
- Run a quality check against newsroom expectations before you hit send
Backstory and credibility
This release follows The Rundown Studio's earlier work: The Newsroom Blueprint-an AI verification handbook developed with security and intelligence researcher Candyce Kelshall and the Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies-and the Embedded podcast series featuring LinkedIn executive Aneesh Raman and Mastercard AI counsel Rashida Richardson.
What this means for PR and comms teams
Frameworks like these cut the busywork and keep judgment where it belongs-with you. If they deliver as promised, you get faster briefs, tighter angles, and cleaner outputs while maintaining editorial standards. Less time formatting, more time shaping the story and building relationships.
Upskill your team on prompts and workflows
If your team wants structured training on prompts and AI workflows, explore curated options here: Prompt courses.
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