tales from the beat episode 145 dave cantin group vp robin parton pateRobin Parton Pate has decades of experience in marketing and media with stints at CNN and HGTV and now Vice President of Marketing at Dave Cantin Group which advises auto dealers and dealership groups on mergers and acquisitions. In a fast-paced episode, Robin discusses with host/journalist Ed Garsten the evolution of recognizing news stories, pitching them, the role of AI. Includes mention of Robin's relationship with the late Dolly Parton. Episode was recorded July 27, 2026, four weeks before Ms. Parton's passing.TTAC Creator Ed Garsten hosts " Tales from the Beat," a podcast about the automotive and media worlds. A veteran reporter and public relations operative, Garsten worked for CNN, The Associated Press, The Detroit News, Chrysler's PR department and Franco Public Relations. He is currently a senior contributor for Forbes.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe TTAC Creators Series tells stories and amplifies creators from all corners of the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, modified builds and more.An AI-summarized transcript and edited by a staffer is below.[Image: YouTube Screenshot]Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.SummaryThe transcript is from Episode 145 of "Tales from the Beat," hosted by Ed Garsten, featuring Robin Parton Pate, vice president of marketing at the Dave Cantin Group. The discussion focuses on how credibility has become a competitive advantage in marketing, particularly as traditional media, PR and emerging AI-driven "answer engines" reshape how companies communicate.AdvertisementAdvertisementKey pointsDave Cantin Group's role: Pate explains that the company is an automotive mergers-and-acquisitions advisory firm. It works with major U.S. automotive brands on mergers, acquisitions and other strategic initiatives designed to maximize their business platforms.Pate's background: She brings more than two decades of experience spanning media, technology and business strategy, including time at CNN. Her experience on both the media and business sides informs her approach to marketing and communications.Credibility is becoming more important: A central argument of the conversation is that companies can no longer rely simply on polished marketing messages. Audiences increasingly want information they can trust, making credibility, transparency and third-party validation important marketing assets.The changing media landscape: The conversation examines how the traditional relationship between journalists and PR professionals has evolved. News organizations face pressures involving shrinking staffs, changing audience habits and the rise of alternative information sources.AI and "answer engines": The opening theme - moving "from the newsroom to the answer engine" - reflects the growing importance of generative AI in how people find information. Instead of visiting multiple websites or reading individual news stories, consumers increasingly ask AI systems for direct answers. That creates a new challenge for brands: being credible enough that their information is recognized and surfaced by these systems.PR and marketing are converging: The discussion suggests that the old separation between earned media, public relations, marketing and corporate communications is becoming less distinct. Successful organizations need a consistent, credible story across all of these channels.The value of earned media: Independent coverage remains particularly valuable because audiences tend to view third-party validation as more trustworthy than advertising or company-generated claims. The transcript emphasizes that credibility cannot simply be purchased through media spending.Automotive industry implications: Because the automotive business involves complex products, major financial transactions and rapidly changing technology, the industry has a particularly strong need for credible communication. Companies must explain complicated subjects in ways that consumers, investors, journalists and other stakeholders can understand.Overall takeawayThe transcript argues that trust is becoming a form of marketing currency. As consumers encounter an overwhelming amount of branded content - and increasingly use AI rather than traditional search to find information - companies need more than visibility. They need a reputation for providing accurate, authoritative and trustworthy information.AdvertisementAdvertisementFor PR and marketing professionals, the implication is significant: the goal is shifting from simply getting a message distributed to establishing the credibility that makes the message worth finding, believing and repeating.