TOW 8: NewsU The Lead Lab November 29, 2010

This week I took the NewsU The Lead Lab.  Throughout college I have taken various journalism  classes where I have learned the basic of writing stories.  This course was an excellent refresher as well as a source of new information.

The part of the course I found most beneficial was the section about creating good leads.  Leads are very important because they are what starts out your article and draws the reader in. If you have a bad lead you could potentially lose many readers. One tip to follow is the “read aloud” rule. You should focus on the following elements when following this rule:

• Can you say it in a single breath?
• Do you stumble over the words?
• Does it sound like something you’d tell a friend over the phone?
• Does it put you to sleep or confuse you?

By answering all these questions, you can determine if you have a good, persuasive lead or if it needs to be revised.

While taking this Lead Lab I also learned the “Seven Hot Spots.”  They are:

• Who
• What
• When
• When
• Where
• How
• Why
• So What

The best part of the course is the ability to work at your own pace.  Students can spend as much or as less time on certain areas of the lab.  It also had graphics that kept students interested and allowed those who took it to get feed back about their leads.

TOW 6: How Newsworthy is your News? November 8, 2010

This week we were asked “What makes a story newsworthy?”  Personally I believe it all depends on the audience.  However, I have found several sources that have different sources that list specifics of what to look for in a story.  In our textbook, Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques 6th Edition, Chapter 4 is all about Finding and Making News.  The authors list important things that make news:

1. Timeliness
2. Prominence
3. Proximity
4. Significance
5. Unusualness
6. Human Interest
7. Conflict
8. Newness

Because I have already written a blog entry about this chapter I will be explaining a different list of qualities as described by About.com, in the article “What Makes Something Newsworthy” written by Tony Rogers.

• Impact or Consequences.  The greater the impact the story has, the more newsworthy it is.  Events that have an impact on your readers, that have real consequences for their lives, are bound to be newsworthy.
• Conflict. As human beings we’re naturally interested in conflict.
• Loss of Life/Property Destruction. If it bleeds, it leads.  What that means is that any story involving a loss of human life (whether a shooting to a fire)  is bound to be newsworthy.  Likewise, nearly any story that inc9olces property destruction on a large enough scale is also newsworthy.
• Proximity. How close an event is geographically located to readers. 
  
• Promninence. If people in story are famous or prominent, the story becomes more newsworthy.
• Timeliness. News needs to be about what’s happening this day, this hour, this minute.
• Novelty. “When a dog bites a man, no one cares.  When the man bites back – now that’s a news story.”  The idea, of course, is that any deviation from the normal, expected course of events is something novel.

Both lists have things in common and things that differ.  But overall the most important points to remember when writing a story are timeliness, prominence, proximity, conflict, and unusualness/novelty.

TOW 5: Give Credit When Credit is Due. November 8, 2010

Plagiarism is defined as a piece of writing that has been copied from someone else and is presented as being your own work.  Beginning in middle school we were taught that plagiarism is bad and if you do plagiarize you will fail the paper or maybe even the class.  But have you ever received  tips  on how to avoid plagiarism?  This week we were asked to research different methods of how to avoid that horrible “P” word in our writing.

MyCollegeSuccessStory.com recently posted an article by Katharine Hansen, Ph.D listing the top ten ways to avoid plagiarism in your writing. Here are some of the tips that they mentioned:

• Plan your writing assignments and avoid procrastination. I think this is one of the most important things.  I know far too many college students are affected by the “procrastination bug” and that it is very typical to pull an all-nighter at “club Henderson” the night before a big paper is due.  Hansen explains that when students are in a bind they become careless about citing others work at crunch time.  So begin planning your papers weeks or maybe even months before the actual due date.
• Know what plagiarism is. Hansen says that you must credit any source that you quote directly.  You must place the source’s words in quotation marks and insert a citation in the style your professor requires.
• If you question whether or how a source needs to be cited, ask your professor. Although information that is “common knowledge” does not need to be cited but if you are writing about a discipline with which you are not familiar, you may not have a good grasp of which information is “common knowledge” within that field.  It is best to remember when in doubt, ask.
• Begin constructing your bibliography early. As soon as you begin gathering source materials, you can start your bibliography.  I always like to keep a copy of all my sources in a notebook so I will have quick reference to them as well as the information for citing.
• Don’t succumb to the argument that “everyone’s doing it.” Even though, plagiarism and other forms of cheating are widespread on college campuses.  It’s not worth the risk of failing or getting kicked out of college for it.  Also, cheating/plagiarism charges show up on your record and future employees may be turned off.

The website also provides a list of other websites to check out for more tips:
Plagiarism.com: Frequently Asked Questions
Avoiding Plagiarism

Chapter 14: Writing E-mail, Memos, and Proposals November 7, 2010

Chapter 14: Writing E-mail, Memos, and Proposals

The challenge of Managing Communication Overload

• Completeness.  Whether you are writing a 10-line memo or a 32-page annual report, you must be certain that it contains the information needed to serve its purpose.
• Conciseness. Less is better.  Conciseness means brevity. Your objective is to be as brief as possible, because people don’t have the time or the patience to read through long messages.
• Correctness.  you must be accurate in everything you write.
• Courtesy. There are personal communications.  Personal names are used extensively, and both senders and receivers have considerable interest in the material.

Responsibility.  Be prudent and think about how your communication will be perceived by the recipient.  A letter or e-mail is highly visible record of what you say, so be careful about setting the right tone.

Email

Purpose: According to a survey of communicators in Fortune 500 corporations, e-mail (1) reduces the cost of employee communications (2) increases the distribution of messages to more employees, (3) flattens the corporate hierarchy, and (4) speeds decision making.

Memorandums

Purpose: A memo can serve almost any communication purpose.  It can ask for information, supply information, confirm a verbal exchange, ask for a meeting, schedule or cancel a meeting, remind, report, praise, caution, state a policy, or perform any other function that requires a written message.

Letters

Purpose: A letter may be used to give information, to ask for information, to motivate, to answer complaints, to soothe or arouse, to warn, to admit, or to deny.  It is a substitute for personal conversation, although it is not as friendly as face-to-face conversation.

Proposals

Purpose: The purpose of a proposal is to get something accomplished– to persuade management to approve and authorize some important action that will have a long-lasting effect on an organization or its people.  By putting it in writing, you let management know exactly what is proposed, what decisions are called for, and what the consequences may be. 

All information in this post can be found in Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques 6th Edition

Chapter 12: Tapping the Web and New Media November 7, 2010

Chapter 12: Tapping the Web and New Media

The World Wide Web

The exponential growth of the World Wide Web is due, in large part, to its unique characteristics.  Here are some major characteristics of the Web that enable public relations people to do a better job of distributing a variety of messages:

• You can update information quickly, without having to reprint brochures and other materials.
• It allows interactivity; viewers can ask questions about products or services, download information of value to them, and let the organization know what they think.
• Online readers can dig deeper into subjects that interest them by linking to information provided on other sites, other articles, and sources.
• A great amount of material can be posted.
• It is cost-efficient method of disseminating information on a global basis to the public and journalists.
• you can reach niche markets and audiences without messages being filtered through traditional mass media gatekeepers (editors)
• The media and other users can access details about your organization 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world.

The rise of Social Media

The first generation of the Internet, often called Web 1.0, was primarily based on information being transmitted from supplier to receiver.  Although websites still serve that function, the second generation of the Internet (Web 2.0) has become an interactive model, and Web users now have multiple tools to talk to each other in real time.

Most important Web 2.0 Sites:

1. Del.icio.us.  A social bookmarking Web service for storing, sharing, and discovering Web bookmarks.
2. MySpace.  An interactive social networking website offering a user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music, and videos internationally.
3. Facebook.  A social networking site launched in 2004; it has the highest number of users among college-focused sites.
4. Twitter.  A social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to send “updates”(text based posts, up to 140 characters) via instant messaging or e-mail to the Twitter website.
5. Blogger. A blog-publishing system created by Pyra Labs, which was purchased by Googly in 2003.
6. Technorati. An internet search engine for searching blogs.
7. YouTube. Video-sharing website where users can upload, view, and share video clips.
8. Flickr. A photo sharing website and Web services suite that features an online community platform.
9. Wikipedia.  A multimedia, Web-based, free-content encyclopedia project operated by the Wikipedia Foundation.
10. Digg. A community-based popularity website with an emphasis on technology and science articles.
11. Second Life. An internet-based virtual world that enables users to interact with each other through avatars.

All information in this post can be found in Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques 6th Edition

Chapter 10: Distributing News to the Media November 7, 2010

Chapter 10: Distributing News to the Media

Media Databases- Media databases vary in format and scope.  However a common denominator is that they usually provide such essential information as (1) names of publications and broadcast stations, (2) mailing addresses, (3) telephone and fax numbers, (4) e-mail addresses, and (5) names of key editors and reporters.

Editorial Calendars- Certain issues have a special editorial focus.  Special issues are used to attract advertising, but news stories and features on the subject are also needed.

Tip Sheets- These are weekly newsletters that report on recent changes in news personnel and their new assignments, hwo to contact them, and what kinds of material they are looking for.

Selecting a Distribution Channel

1. Email.  Good for suggesting story ideas to journalists and editors, answering media questions and queries, and sending news releases.
2. Online newsrooms.  This is a comprehensive library of information for the journalist. Good for distributing news releases, media kits, features, corporate background information, and high-resolution photos and graphics.
3. Electronic wire services.   Best for distribution of financial news to large newspapers and major broadcast outlets on a nation or international basis where immediate disclosure is needed.
4. Feature placement firms. Good for reaching suburban newspapers and small weeklies.
5. Photo placement firms. Best for distributing high-resolution publicity photos on an international basis.
6. Mail. A common method for distribution of routine materials to local and regional media.
7. Fax. Good for sending media advisories and alerts and late-breaking important news.  Not recommended for mass distribution of news releases.
8. CD-ROMs.  Best used for background material, such as corporate profiles, executive bios, and product information sheets.  Increasingly used in place of printed media kits.

All information in this post can be found in Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques 6th Edition

Chapter 9: Writing for Radio and Television November 7, 2010

Chapter 9: Writing for Radio and Television

Radio News Releases

Format: There are several major differences between a radio release and a news release prepared for print media.  Although the basic identifying information is the same (letterhead, contact, subject), the standard practice is to write a radio release using all uppercase letters in a double-spaced format. Timing is vital, because broadcasters must fit their messages into a rigid time frame that is measured down to the second.

2 lines = 10 seconds (about 25 words)

5 lines = 20 seconds (about 50 words)

8 lines = 30 seconds (about 75 words)

16 lines = 60 seconds (about 150 words)

There are also differences in writing style.  A news release for a newspaper uses standard English grammar and punctuation. In a radio release, a more conversational style is used, and the emphasis is on strong, shore sentences.

Audio News Release

Format- The preferred length for an ANR is 60 seconds, including a soundbite of 20 seconds or less. It is advisable to accompany any sound tape with a complete script of the tape.

Production- Every ANR starts with a carefully written and accurately timed script

Delivery- Once the ANR has been produced, the public relations professional must notify the news department that an ANR is available.  75% of respondents preferred to receive email notifications about ANRS.

Use- Producing ANR’s is somewhat of a bargain compared to producing materials for television. Despite cost-effectiveness, you should still be selective about distribution to stations that have an interest in using such material.

All information in this post can be found in Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques 6th Edition

Chapter 8: Selecting Publicity Photos and Graphics November 7, 2010

Chapter 8: Selecting Publicity Photos and Graphics

Components of a Good Photo

Technical Quality- Professionals use digital cameras, and the traditional process of taking photos on film, developing film, and making prints has practically disappeared.  The key elements of a good photo remain the same.  Photos must have high resolution and sharp detail to be used.

Subject Matter- There is a wide variety of subjects for a publicity photo.  On one level, there are somewhat static photos of a new product or newly promoted executive.  On another level, photos are used to document events such as a groundbreaking or a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Composition- Keeping the photo simple and uncluttered.  The photographer should move into, not way from, the central focus of the picture. Experts have made the following suggestions about composition and clutter:

• Take tight shots with minimal background
• Emphasize detail, not whole scenes
• Don’t use a cluttered background.  Pick up stray things that intrude on the picture
• Try to frame the picture
• Avoid wasted space
• Ask subjects wearing sunglasses to remove them.

Action- Action is important because it projects movement and the idea that something is happening right before the readers eyes.

Scale- The picture should contain some element of known size so that the viewer can understand how big or small the object is.

Camera Angle- Interest can also be achieved through the use of unusual camera angles.

Lighting and Timing- Indoor pictures often require more than a flash on a camera.  Depending on the subject, a photographer may have to use supplemental lighting to remove or enhance shadows to highlight a key element— a person’s face, a product, or some aspect of the background.

Color- color photographs are now the industry standard and used by all kinds of publications as printing technology has become more sophisticated and less expensive.

All information in this post can be found in Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques 6th Edition

Blog Comments October 19, 2010

Cait Bailey- Public Relations Blog

The Spin Crowd- PR Connection

Hey Cait!
I absolutely love the Spin Crowd. I enjoy it because I would like to one day work in a PR firm similar to this one. I think it is also interesting because almost all of the PR specialists are females! This show gives an inside look to viewers who are don’t know exactly what PR is. The group does much more than just “talk to people”, viewers are able to see behind the scenes of what it is like to do everything that we are learning in class!
-Amber Laurin

Lindsey Elizabeth

I Love the “Lolli-Ladies” - PR Connection
October 19^th, 2010

Lindsey,
After reading this post I checked out the “lolliblog” for myself and fell in love! I enjoy learning and reading about companies who are led solely by women. That is one of the main reasons I chose Public Relations as my major! Although I am undecided as to what type of PR I want to do after graduation, I think it would be so much fun to start a PR firm of my own one day with my best friends! Thank you for sharing this!

MSNBC, Helen A.S. Popkin

Facebook Announces ‘Simplified’ Privacy Settings

I am a Facebook user and have been for the past five years. Facebook has evolved and changed several times during these years. I think this is due, just as the creator stated, to the growth of users and their expectations. Once a method of communication for college students away from family and friends, Facebook has become a major tool in many companies marketing strategy.

I completely agree with 3rdpartyadvocate, if users do not want to take the time to establish a set of privacy standards for themselves, I do not think the Facebook team should be punished. And as for the national quit Facebook day… I do not foresee Facebook losing many users. Plans for quitting Facebook have been created several times and each have failed.

Victoria’s PR Thoughts

Gap got a new look… Not

I was also disappointed with the change of the logo. I spent the summer in Paris and I have to admit when I saw the GAP sign I felt right back at home! I have grown up with the original GAP logo and it is imprinted in my brain. Although, I do understand the reasoning behind changing it, It was time for a new look. I don’t think by changing the logo GAP will lose or gain any customers. If anything they will benefit from having their name in the news. –Amber

The World of Public Relations-Brianna Wagenbrenner

Let’s Here it For the Girls

Brianna,
I still have yet to see SATC2, but I have watched every episode of the TV series and I have seen the first movie. I have always been a big fan of the series and the characters. This is one of the first TV shows I have watched where the lead cast is all females. Every female can relate to at least one of the main characters. I think that Carrie has always been faced with the need to conform by society. Her relationship with “Big” has always been a controversy among viewers. When it comes to the view of women in other cultures, American women are by far extremely lucky. We are given the same opportunities for education as males, and we are no longer expected to stay at home and take care of children. The fact that over 70% of PR professionals are females is also incredible. I am happy to have picked a career where no matter what my gender is I will be able to succeed. -Amber

Christa Jenkins Blog- The Future Fashion

Eco-Fashion Going Green
I am also excited that the Fashion industry is following in the footsteps of other industries and becoming eco-friendly. Going green and being green has become such an important part of our generation. It feels good to know that we are doing our part to save the world just from our grocery bags, the buildings we study in, and now finally the clothing we wear. I think it is also important that the news release highlighted the fact that the quality of craftsmanship isn’t going to change. I look forward to seeing the growth of this project. –Amber

Matt Wilson- Ragan.com

Meaningless Phrases People Use Everyday

After reading this article, I realized that I use several of these phrases daily.  I also found that more often than not celebrities and journalists use these phrases too much.  It makes you realizes the lack of common sense we the American people lack.

Wild Apricot Blog-Make Your Own Infographic

I am a PR student and was asked to create an infographic for an on campus client.  When I first started the assignment I knew nothing about infographics.  With the growing popularity of social media sites, I think that infographics will soon be a necessary accompaniment to news stories.  Thank you so much for sharing this information.

Novella Okoro’s Blog-TOW 3

I found this post to be very informative. It is interesting that George Washington began the first PR department as a pet project, and to see how much it has grown since then. I personally think that starting out in a PR firm would be most beneficial to me because I am still unsure of what type of companies I want to work with. I do however agree that the lack of full-time job offers would be frustrating. I also think that the best part about PR departments is that you are able to learn from people who have been with company longer, and that you are able to begin your career in an intimate setting. –Amber

Natlye Baldwin- Humorous Print Ads

Natlye, I always find myself remembering products that feature humor in their advertisements. I always watch the super bowl for the commercials and I always enjoy the funny one’s the most, which more often than not are the beer advertisements. I get extremely annoyed by some commercials whose intention is to use humor and fails too. Even though some of these get stuck in my head including the Brawny Paper Towel commercial that features “Stand by Me”, or the Swiffer commercials with the mop. Finding the right balance of humor and information can be a tough job for companies and those who succeed often reap the most rewards. –Amber

Socializedpr- Advice to a Young PR-Professional

I am currently a PR student at Georgia Southern and will be graduating this spring.  I found these tips to be extremely helpful and wish that I would have been able to gain this type of information while still in high school.  I agree that creating a blog is a good starting point, for one of my classes we are required to keep a blog throughout the semester.  Blogs also provide an area to post writing sample that you have completed either while in class or internships that you can share on your resume.  I also think that separating your personal and professional life is important for any career.  Another good site to network with PR professionals and students is PROpenMic.com.  Thank you again for the great info!

Kikolani.com- 125 Fearless Female Bloggers

What a wonderful bunch of women!  I am a PR student who will be graduating in the Spring.  I had to keep a blog for PR Writing this semester and have had trouble getting the hang out it.  I took the time to read the bio’s of several of these women who are leaving their footprint in the virtual world… and am extremely impressed!  Keep up the good work and thank you again!

Alicia’s Blog- Final Project: SMNR

Alicia, I decided to actually create a SMNR for my final project and found your post to be extremely helpful! I know that as a consumer I enjoy websites/stories and information that is visually appealing and interesting to me. I think it is important for people to remember that no one wants to just stare at a computer screen full of text! Thank you again for posting this important information. –Amber

Alicia’s Blog-R Connections: GSU Botanical Gardens Rhythm and Brews

I wish I would have read this post a couple weeks ago… This sounds like so much fun. It is also an excellent opportunity for members of the Statesboro community to check out one of Georgia Southern’s most beautiful amenities. I hope they decide to have another one next year! Thanks for this information! –Amber

Inside from the Mind of Mr.Tarplin- Larry’s Down for the Cause

Byron, this post is awesome! It is so good to hear about athletes giving back. My boyfriend watches NFL every weekend and I am forced to enjoy it most weekends. I thought the pink gloves, helmets, and other equipment was extremely neat, its not to often you get to see grown men parading around in pink anything… haha I am interested in finding out how much Fitzgerald ended up donating. I think one important thing to remember is that just because it is no longer October or Breast Cancer Awareness month, people are still struggling with this disease and should deserve our time year round! -Amber

Athletes or Super Humans? October 19, 2010

PRdaily.com recently posted a link to an article in The Wall Street Journal highlighting the top five over the top press conferences in the sports world.  Delivering news bombshells has become something of a competition in its own right for pro athletes and their handlers, increasingly desperate for ways to capture the attention with announcements ranging from momentous to mortifying. Here are the top 5:

1. Michael Jordan, Oct. 6th, 1993

Jordan’s announcement that he was retiring.

”I hope I don’t see too many of you guys in the future,” he said jokingly, flanked by his then-wife, Juanita, NBA commissioner David Stern and Bulls brass, including coach Phil Jackson. But he did surprise fans at the conference by suggesting he might “un-retire,” which of course he did, two years later, after a detour through minor-league baseball. He would lead the Bulls to three more titles in the late ’90s.

Magic Johnson, Nov. 7th, 1991

Johnson’s revelation that he had tested positive for HIV and was retiring from professional basketball.

Mr. Johnson, 32 years old at the time, had led the Lakers to five NBA championships in 12 seasons and had missed the first three games of the season with what was described as the flu. The build-up to this announcement was zero: He said he learned he had tested positive for the virus only the day before the conference. Mr. Johnson would also unretire for that season’s All-Star Game and again in 1996, playing 32 games for the Lakers.

Wayne Gretzkey, Aug. 9th, 1988

Gretzskey’s announcement of  his move to the Los Angeles Kings.

Mr. Gretzky, who requested a trade from the Edmonton Oilers after nine seasons and four Stanley Cups, lost his composure midway through the conference, stood up and walked away from the microphones after referring to himself in the third person.

Kobe Bryant, July 18th, 2003

To proclaim his innocence after being charged with assaulting a 19-year-old woman who worked the front desk at a resort where he was staying while in Colorado for knee surgery.

“I’m a human being, I’m a man like everybody else,” said the Lakers star, accompanied by his wife, Vanessa, admitting to adultery but adding that he didn’t force the woman “to do anything against her will.” The case against Mr. Bryant was dismissed in 2004 because the woman was unwilling to testify.

Brett Favre, March 6th, 2008

No one knew for sure what Mr. Favre would say at his news conference in March 2008, as the 38-year-old had just come off one of his best years in the NFL, finishing second in league MVP voting and leading a young Green Bay Packers team to the NFC Championship Game. Confusing fans more, the Packers had reported weeks earlier on their official website that Mr. Favre would retire, but removed the announcement minutes later.

At the conference, a teary Mr. Favre said he didn’t think he had “anything left to give,” but reconsidered a few months later and decided to play another season with the New York Jets. He announced his retirement again in 2009…before signing that summer with the Minnesota Vikings.

Professional athletes have surprised us in the past with announcements of retirement, illness, and regret.  Most recently the world was in shock with the announcement that Tiger Wood’s cheated on his wife and mother of his two children.  Pro athletes continue to behave like the super heros we treat them as.  Hopefully in the future we will see more inspiring, and eventful press conferences.