Archive for March 2010
Chapter 9
Reading chapter 9, in Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques by Dennis L. Wilcox helped me learn how to write my PSA for class.
I always assumed PSAs were free. But, in the chapter I learned the that PSAs spots are sold for a discount of the price that the spot would normally sell for.
I also didn’t know that a soundbite was defined as that little story/opinion of a customer or expert on a given product or place. I always thought a soundbite was the whole ANR itself.
Don’t expect to send your PSA to a station and get it played right away. Allow for a 5-6 week window for the station to put it in the rotation. The best time to submit a PSA is in January because according to experts this is usually a time when there is a lull in advertising. In contrast, the text says that those submit PSAs should stay away from the Christmas time. This time has lots of paid advertising and little room for PSAs. Sadly, the book also says that most PSAs are aired after midnight. Not many PSAs are aired during the time period in which the station can air profitable advertising.
I didn’t realize a 30 second ANR was written with such few words. About 75 words is used to write a 30 second ANR. The book also recommends reading the ANR out loud to see how it flows. I thought this was important because no one wants a ANR that is boring. You want an announcer best suited to fit your ANR.
Add a comment March 31, 2010
Chapter 8
Chapter 8 in Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques by Dennis L. Wilcox was about PHOTOS!!! My favorite!! I was a photographer for my high school yearbook for two years, so the information in this chapter was very familiar to me already.
Photos are very important. The chapter says that research shows that “more people ‘read’ photographs than read articles.” If a photo is included with a news story, it is noticed more than the article itself. My yearbook teacher always said “the best zoom is your own two feet” and book agrees. The book recommends that a photographer should move in closer rather than far away when focusing on the intended subject. Although usually, one would want a photo with very little background because it can be distracting; sometimes the background accentuates the photo/subject and helps tell the story.
Remember that cropping and retouching photo extensively can be unethical.
Captions, man oh man do I despise captions. Some important things the chapter mentions that one needs to remember about captions:
- Cover Who, What, Where, When Why, and How. Provide additional information for the photo.
- Write it as though the photo is happening in the present moment. Present tense.
- Usually two to four lines long.
*Usually the most important person is the first person on the left side of the picture, therefore they should be mentioned first.
Add a comment March 29, 2010
Chapter 7
While reading chapter 7 in Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques by Dennis L. Wilcox, I learned a lot about op-eds and personality profiles.
Prior to reading the chapter, I didn’t understand the necessity and point of a personality profile. I learned that PR personnel help the journalist writing the profile in order “to ‘sell’ the idea of a profile, make the executive available, provide back ground information, and arrange photo shoots.” The profile does necessarily have to be n someone high in the company or organization. In many cases it is about someone new to the group. It could also be a hard-working, contributing member who the PR professional think should be recognized. In the chapter, Ragan Communications lists several ways to make sure the personality profile is a success:
* Give the “essence.” Make sure to tell the audience why this person is interesting.
* Take some chances. Show the person through your eyes; give the audience your interpretation.
* Get a different view. Make sure to include the subject’s perspective too.
* Don’t write in chronological order.
* Make your subject reflect upon themselves. Include opinion of themselves.
* Don’t focus on work alone. Include their life outside the job.
DESCRIBE, DESCRIBE, DESCRIBE.
I didn’t realize op-eds could be used for public relations purpose. According to the text, op-ed pieces provide an excellent opportunity for individuals and organizations to reach an audience of readers who tend to be opinion leaders or “influentials.”
There were several important tips for writing an op-ed list in the book:
* Concentrate on presenting one main idea or theme.
* Make your viewpoint/opinion clear in the beginning.
* 20% of your piece should be opinion and 80% factual.
* Do not ramble or deviate from the stated opinion/theme. (This is something I have a hard time doing when blogging)
* Make it about a relevant issue, situation, or news event. Do not cover something that no one will be interested in.
Add a comment March 10, 2010
Leads TOW #8
First of all, I did not really enjoy this NewsU course. I thought it was boring, but in the end I realized I did learn some important things.
Things I learned:
- I learned that leads are much more in depth than what I originally thought.
- I learned important things about revising leads.
-Read aloud and keep in mind these things: can you say it in a single breath? Do you stumble over words? Does it sound like something you would tell a friend over the phone? Does it put you to sleep of confuse you?
-I didn’t know leads needed to be read aloud. It makes sense though and I wrote these suggestions down for the next time I have to write a lead.
-Take out all “to be” verbs from a lead. this is huge for me because I have a hard time not using “to be” verbs in writing. I have to take a conscious effort not to use them. I wrote this tip down to remember it for the future.
Thing I was surprised about:
- It was recommended to display tension in the lead. I found this surprising because I would have thought other things were more important, like the 5 Ws and H.
- Another recommendation that was surprising was were they said not to worry about the lead too much because you can go back and revise it. I do this, but I always figured I was in the wrong because the lead is such a vital part of the story. I am pleased to know that my gut was telling me something right for a change.
- I was surprised to learn about all the different types of leads. It was very overwhelming, but informative too. I wrote down some that I though I could incorporate in my writing for the future. I liked ancedotal and summary leads the best.
Things I would want to learn more about:
- I would have enjoyed reading more leads in this course. I am now more aware of leads when I read news stories, but am still confused something and I wish there were more examples of the types I could return to for clarification.
Add a comment March 4, 2010
Chapter 6
While reading chapter 6 in Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques by Dennis L. Wilcox, I learned new information about pitching stories. The biggest thing I learned was you can prepare ahead of time, but if you don’t have a successful pitch, all your hard work could be pointless. Do your homework on the publication or person you are trying to pitch to. CREATIVITY IS KEY!! (Usually)
There was a whole section in the chapter dedicated to pitching towards bloggers specifically. According to the text, bloggers will post negative criticism and feedback about a pitch if they don’t like it or think it’s up to par. Certain bloggers have a large follow and a major influence on public opinion. Kevin Dugan wrote an entire blog dedicated to blog pitching . . .
* Read the bloggers recent post to gain insight about their interests and opinions.
* Make sure you are not pitching them something they have already blogged about. Or be able to give it a fresh spin or add to it.
* Subscribe to the blog’s RSS feed in order to follow the blog easily.
* Comment on other posts. This will build a relationship with the blogger prior to making a pitch.
* Find out how the blogger wants to be pitched by finding the information on the homepage or through the links.
* Find a way to introduce yourself to the blogger that does not relate to the pitch, example-via email.
There are several key points to remember when preparing the actual written pitch.
The first is: Be brief. Make sure the pitch is does not take over the whole computer screen
Second: Write with clean, sharp sentences. Get to the point. The spelling should be perfect. Do not give journalists any little reason not to read the pitch.
Third: Have an enticing lead. Do not be boring. If your lead is boring they are going to the think your idea is and stop reading there.
When sending your pitch via email, you have to plan your subject line carefully. It goes back to doing your homework. Know the interests or latest activities of the person or company you are sending the pitch to. Be very creative or be very informative.
Melvin Helitzer is quoted in the text saying a good pitch should have six components.
* Enough facts to support a full story
* An angle of interest to the readers of that specific publication
* The possibility of alternative angles
* Offer to supply or help secure all needed stats, quotes, interviews with credible sources, arrangements for photos ect.
* An indication of authority and credibility
* Offer to call the editor soon to get a decision
Add a comment March 3, 2010
Haley Barnes's Blog 