Press releases 1. Press releases/news releases (1) Short, 1–2 pages Sent to media – wire services, daily newspapers, magazines, radio or TV stations Uses:

Slides:



Advertisements
Similar presentations
School Publicity Training Workshop School Publicity Training Workshop Hosted by Susan Hale, Communications Department
Advertisements

Writing a press release Aims of the session Is it really news? Essential components of a press release Writing a press release Sending a press release.
Writing a News Release #2 Objectives State the purpose of a news release Be able to write an effective news release Text Books today. No initial reading.
FFA Agricultural Communications Career Development Event Department of Agricultural Education & Communications Texas Tech University.
PR for Charities How to make the most impact with your press releases for your branding and your recruitment.
CIM Power of Marketing 30 Sept 2008 Writing press releases that get NOTICED Presented by Ellen Carroll.
HOW TO WRITE A PRESS RELEASE PRESENTER: SALLY DUSTING-LAIRD.
Sandra Peterson ProHealth Care Spokesperson & Media Relations.
Guide to Writing a Press Release and Developing a Publicity Kit Iulia Leilua October 2008.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION ENGB213
FIVE EASY AND INEXPENSIVE WAYS TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS Elaine Regus ERPR 1.
News Releases. Objectives State the purpose of a news release Describe the writing style and format used in a news release Describe the way a news release.
Chapter 5.  The basic news release is considered the backbone of almost every publicity plan.  But there are obstacles and challenges to getting the.
“The News Media and PR Practitioners” Chapter 19.
Public Relations What is Public Relations? Public relations (PR) works to create a positive image of your organization in the media.
HOW IS THE NEWS PRESENTED? ANALYSIS OF ARTICLE LAYOUT Copyright © Digital Explorer 2010 This resource may be reproduced for educational purposes only.
ESAP2 Communication Day June 18, 2015 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
How to Write a Press Release. What is a Press Release? A factual announcement sent to the media to be used as a news item. Sent by businesses, organizations,
What is a Press Release? A press release is a short document that provides information about your organization’s events and activities to a newspaper,
Visit The World’s First Guaranteed Results Marketing Firm Topic: What’s Hot, What’s Not, and What’s Dead!
Public Relations Writing
Catch and Release The art of the successful News Release.
Lecturer: Roxanne Bloomfield Chevanese Y. Campbell.
1 The Press Pack. What is a press pack? A package of tools vital for individuals or organizations planning to work with the media. It is particularly.
Media Relations An Introduction Lands Advisory Board Tewanee Consulting Group.
Chapter 8 Story Organization.
Working Effectively with the Media – Part 1 Gary Beaumont, University of Illinois Sara Brewster, Easter Seals Inc. Deborah Danuser, National AgrAbility.
Getting Publicity For Your Astronomy Club Dave Finley Public Information Officer National Radio Astronomy Observatory Socorro, NM.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION ENGB213
Using the Media. Direct strategy, not a “media strategy” Media is not a method for winning Media alone will not determine outcome.
Marketing Your Extension Services and Programs 1 “Marketing for Smarties” 101.
Public Relations Writing Who do I Write for and What is my Venue?
News Releases This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or.
Using media for advocacy Mainstream media. Media Radio Television Newspapers Magazines Internet.
Features of Report Genre writing
CREATING FAVORABLE IMPRESSIONS Publicity/Public Relations and Press Releases.
Paul Mundy and Bob Huggan 1 Press releases.
Press Releases Writing and Implementation. Elements of a Successful PR Headline Opening Paragraph Body Closing Paragraph Excerpt from Dr. Randall Hansen’s.
Chapter 12.  Web/Online  When preparing news for web consider… ▪ Announce the news as soon as possible ▪ Update in increments ▪ Tell when there is more.
Media Relations Jeanne Comerford Public Affairs Specialist USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Press & PR Catrin Taylor, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales.
MARKETING AND BRAND MANAGEMENT GETTING YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS.
NEWS RELEASES Comm 260W. Writing a News Release 1. Identify the point you are trying to make – the theme. 2. For whom are you writing – who is the audience?
REPORT Valentina Widya.S.
HOW TO WRITE & READ NEWS REPORTS. LEARNING GOALS To identify the parts of a news report To identify bias To identify writing style To identify audience.
The Press Release Purpose
“Asean Risk Communication Training for Trainers” Workshop ROLE OF MEDIA IN ASSISTING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS by Yong Soo Heong, Editor- in-Chief, BERNAMA.
News Writing News writing is also called journalistic writing.
WRITING A PRESS RELEASE FIRSTLY, IS IT NEWSWORTHY? Imagine the biggest and most frequently used button on a news desk's keyboard... Ask yourself, will.
English III—October 21, 2015 Daily Warm-up: Read the article “The Role of Newspapers in a Democratic Society,” and then write at least two paragraphs on.
What is a Press Release? WHAT? A written announcement delivered to the media A press release can… – Generate a feature story – Announce events, promotions,
What is the point of a Press Release? The goal of a press release is to drum up interest in your company, product, or project. Ideally, a press release.
Feature stories and newsletters 4-6 October 2010 Kathmandu, Nepal.
Writing A Press Release. What is a Press Release? A press release is a short document that provides information about your organization’s events and activities.
Jorge Alday Introduction to Media Communications 41 st Union World Conference on Lung Health Berlin - November 2010.
1A1 English 13 th January 2015 Media Studies: How a newspaper is created.
WELCOME! Communication Camp NDSU Agriculture Communication WiFi Connect to NDSU Limited Open browser Enter Full name Password is 7n7K4X6g.
Put It in February 16, “Put it in the Beak” means… “Put it in your website’s “news feed or calendar.”
TONY KROLL GCDF LEAD CAREER & COLLEGE TRANSITION SPECIALIST HORRY COUNTY SCHOOLS ADULT & COMMUNITY EDUCATION VICTORIA K. RIPLEY, GCDF, MA, EDM DIRECTOR,
Media Relations Insa Ben Said Dia. CONTENTS How to write a press release 1 Why being concerned about Media Relations as Unionists? Invitations to the.
Using the media London campaigners session
News Releases, Media Alerts, and Pitch Letters
Health Behavior and Policy Review
What is a “press release”?
What is a “press release”?
Skills for change Hot off the press! How to get media coverage.
THINK Public Relations
Getting the Word Out: How to Write a News Release
By Heather DiPietro with some revisions by Mrs. Bomeisl
How to write an effective press release: workshop plan
Presentation transcript:

Press releases 1

Press releases/news releases (1) Short, 1–2 pages Sent to media – wire services, daily newspapers, magazines, radio or TV stations Uses:  Report on recent activity  Announce future event  Announce something new in org that may interest people and influence them 2

Press releases/news releases (2) Provide basic facts –who, what, when, where, why, and how Brief, accurate  Editors and reporters don’t want to dig for information Should read like newspaper story  Most important info in paragraph 1  Supporting details later Editors cut bottom of story to make it fit space available, so important info at end may disappear Don’t start with Director’s name  Most editors will change this  Changes increase risk of errors 3

Inverted pyramid The lead: the most important information: 5 Ws and H Other important information Further details Headline The body   Or hereEditor may cut here

Inverted pyramid Necessary information The lead: the most important information: 5 Ws and H Other important information Further details Headline Identity paragraph Contact details Photographs Supporting data The body Possible additions

Wineglass Necessary information The lead: the most important information: 5 Ws and H Other important information Further details Headline Identity paragraph Contact details Photographs Supporting data The body Possible additions New insight (“kicker”, “sting in the tail”)

Focus on an individual Diamond (or other strong close) Broaden to describe larger issue he/she illustrates Conclude by returning to individual

The headline Title of story Attracts editors’ and readers’ attention Makes it easy to determine content Styles:  Informational More money for mango research  Teasing Mangoes make the world go round  Cute More money for mangoes from minister 8

The lead First 1-2 sentences of story Sums up the story Short, but not too short Tells you what story covers, what reader will find in it News stories: informational leads  5 Ws & H: who, what, where, when, why, how? Feature stories: teasing leads 9

The lead Old style  Today, the Minister of Agriculture, at a national conference on agricultural policy issues, announced that the country’s annual budget for horticultural research would be increased this year by 30 percent over that for last year. News up front  There will be 30 percent more money for horticultural research next year, said Maurice Minnis, Minister of Agriculture, at a national conference on agricultural policy issues this morning. The money will be used to develop new fruit and vegetable production technologies. 10

The lead There will be 30 percent more money for horticultural research next year, said Maurice Minnis, Minister of Agriculture, at a national conference on agricultural policy issues this morning. The money will be used to develop new fruit and vegetable production technologies. 11 When Who Where What Why/how

Jargon Avoid scientific, technical or development jargon  Aim language at educated 14-year-old  Rewrite jargon in plain language, then get it approved by specialist Technical terms  Gender  Millennium Goals  Well known to development professionals, but not to media editor or audience 12

Quotes Don’t use quotes to provide information  “We have opened a loan window of Rs 124 crore, aimed at small farmers. Interest rates are 3 percent and repayment can be in instalments.” Do use quotes to provide insights and opinion  “We expect farmers to be queuing up for these new loans. They can borrow small amounts at low interest and repay in instalments.” 13

Quotes Say who said it, and say who they are  “Beekeeping is a fantastic hobby”, says Udo Gensowski, chairman of the Bechen Beekeeping Association. “Bees are fascinating creatures, they are an important part of nature, and they make great honey.” 14

Getting quotes Listen for catchy sound bites Note down (or record) immediately what the person says Check with them if it is OK to use the quote Don’t make quotes up! Except perhaps for staff of your institute:  If you make up a quote, check it with the person you are quoting 15

Identity paragraph Standard identity paragraph  Describes your organization and what it does  Include in every press release 16

Contact information Website Names of people who can provide more information  Often the public relations officer + 1 technical specialist addresses, phone numbers Must be available in the evening 17

Softcopies Ask media contacts  How they want to get releases: , hardcopy, fax…  What is best address Put on website Photos  Provide at high enough resolution for print use (3 megapixels) 18

ing press releases Subject line: catchy title  PRESS RELEASE: “Bees making honey for Prime Minister” Put Press release or Story idea in the Subject line or at the top of the body Put the brief in the body of the text, not as an attachment Create a template with your organization’s logo, identity paragraph and contact details 19

Hardcopies, faxes Double-space hard-copies Page 1  Print on your org’s letterhead  Include org name, mailing address, tel. no., area code, name of contact person  “For immediate release” or “For use after 3 July 2007” If more than 1 page  - more - at bottom of page 1  Put org name or subject of release at the top of page 2  - end - at bottom of page 2 If attach photos, provide captions 20

More information The Guardian: How to write an effective press release  write-press-release write-press-release Huffington Post: 8 tips for writing a great press release  tips_b_ html?ir=India&adsSiteOverride=in tips_b_ html?ir=India&adsSiteOverride=in Entrepreneur: How to write a press release that gets noticed  Inc.: How to write a press release  The Marketing Donut: A complete guide to writing an effective press release  complete-guide-to-writing-an-effective-press-release complete-guide-to-writing-an-effective-press-release Hubspot Blogs: How to write a press release  blog.hubspot.com/marketing/press-release-template-ht 21