Burrelles: The Evolution and Legacy of a Media Monitoring Pioneer
For over a century, the landscape of media monitoring—the process of tracking mentions of brands, individuals, or topics across various news channels—was significantly shaped by Burrelles. From its humble beginnings as a manual press clipping bureau to its transformation into a digital analytics powerhouse, the company served as a critical bridge between organizations and the press.
Headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, and led by CEO Charles Waggoner and Chairman Robert C. Waggoner, Burrelles established itself as one of the premier media monitoring providers in the United States, maintaining a wide network of offices across the country.
Key Facts
- Founded: 1888 by Frank Burrelle and Robert Luce.
- Core Service: Specialized in media monitoring and press clipping.
- Major Milestone: Became the sole provider of print coverage in 2012 after acquiring Cision's U.S. print operations.
- Final Transition: Exited the media monitoring industry in 2024, transferring clients to Agility PR Solutions.
The Journey from Print to Digital
The Era of Press Clippings
The company's roots trace back to 1888, when Frank Burrelle established Burrelle's Press Clipping Bureau in New York City, while Robert Luce simultaneously founded Luce Press Clippings in Boston. These early services focused on manually cutting articles from newspapers to provide clients with physical records of their media presence.
The company expanded its reach steadily throughout the mid-20th century. By 1935, Burrelle's achieved national newspaper coverage, followed by the addition of magazine coverage in 1940. In 1951, the French family, operating as Southwest Clippings, purchased Luce Press Clippings from Harvard.
Technological Adaptation and Expansion
As the media landscape evolved, so did the company. In 1960, the firm rebranded as Burrelle's Information Services. The 1970s marked a pivotal shift as the company expanded its monitoring capabilities to include broadcast and wire service coverage.
The 1980s and 90s saw the introduction of faster delivery methods. In 1984, the company launched Express, utilizing fax machines to deliver daily headlines and news summaries to executives. This was followed in 1994 by NewsAlert, the company's first foray into online media monitoring.
The Merger and Modernization
In 2003, Burrelle's Information Service and Luce Press Clippings merged to form Burrelles Luce. This union consolidated their expertise and paved the way for digital innovation, including the 2007 launch of the BurrellesLuce 2.0 web portal.
By 2010, the company introduced BurrellesLuce WorkFlow (later known as MYNEWSDASH), a comprehensive portal for media outreach, monitoring, and analytics. A major industry shift occurred in 2012 when Burrelles Luce acquired the U.S. print monitoring operations of Cision, making it the only service provider at the time to offer comprehensive print coverage.
The Final Chapter
In 2019, the company rebranded simply as Burrelles and expanded its portfolio of products and services to meet the demands of the modern digital era. However, in 2024, Burrelles announced its complete exit from the media monitoring industry. In a final farewell post, the company confirmed that all existing clients were transferred to Agility PR Solutions.
| Year | Event/Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1888 | Founded by Frank Burrelle (NYC) and Robert Luce (Boston) |
| 1935-1940 | Achieved national newspaper and magazine coverage |
| 1970 | Expanded to broadcast and wire service coverage |
| 1994 | Launched NewsAlert online monitoring |
| 2003 | Burrelle's and Luce Press Clippings merged as Burrelles Luce |
| 2012 | Acquired Cision's U.S. print monitoring operations |
| 2019 | Rebranded as Burrelles |
| 2024 | Exited media monitoring; clients moved to Agility PR Solutions |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Burrelles?
The company was founded in 1888 by Frank Burrelle in New York City and Robert Luce in Boston.
What was the significance of the 2012 Cision acquisition?
By acquiring Cision's U.S. print monitoring operations, Burrelles Luce became the only media monitoring service providing print coverage at that time.
What was MYNEWSDASH?
Originally introduced as BurrellesLuce WorkFlow in 2010, MYNEWSDASH was a service portal used for media outreach, monitoring, and analytics.
What happened to Burrelles in 2024?
Burrelles announced its total exit from the media monitoring industry, and all of its existing clients were transferred to Agility PR Solutions.
How did Burrelles deliver news before the internet?
In addition to physical press clippings, the company launched a service called Express in 1984, which sent headlines and summaries to executives via fax machine.