TOP TEN THINGS I LEARNED IN PR

     This semester has indeed been a very interesting one. I am a senior at Southeastern University and this is the first course in public relations that I have been introduced too. I took journalism my first year at Southeastern so in a way I was somewhat prepared when I took this class in pr writing. I learned a lot of important techniques not just for writing, but also when I am engaging with friends and when I am out there working in the corporate world.

     First off, we were made to take a course in class online called “Grammar Girl.” I had already taken my english composition courses when I was in my first two years of college so I thought that “Grammar Girl,” was going to be a piece of cake. I thought I to myself, “I have already taken classes in grammar, I know everything I need to know.” The truth is I had so much to learn. “Grammar Girl” taught me for example, that the place of a pronoun takes the place of nouns. unneccessary prepositions do not always happen at the end of sentences. 

     The second important lesson I learned in Public Relations class was AP style. The reason being is because if I decide to go work for a newspaper some day the journal editor, grant reviewers and others will require that the manuscripts for publication must be in AP style. Or say for example you are a student in college struggling to write papers for an internship, you can even hire an editor who is an expert in APA formatting that can turn your average thesis into an excellent thesis. 

     The third lesson that I took as value in this class was blogging. This was the first time I had ever blogged before and so this experience was very foreign to me. I learned that blogging is sort of like Facebook, you are stating your opinion on topics, but you are giving out important information that others can use.  I learned from PR is that when you are blogging communication is important because you can get positive feedback from others. You must state your ideas clearly so that way others can comment on your ideas and maybe if you have an idea that needs improvement others can voice the improvements that can be made.

     Fourth, from taking this class I learned that when I am interviewing a client that is important to ask the right questions. It always helps to make a list of questions prepared before going to meet with the client so you do not waste your time or the client’s time with pointless rambling. And if you forget to ask a question or you remember something important do not be afraid to contact the client to get the information as it shows that you were engaging with them and paying close attention in the interview.

     Fifth, Twitter was interesting because it taught me that what I say needs to be worth saying, not just putting out pointless information that no one is going to use or care about. Twitter also taught me how to engage with other people on the net, because up til I started using Twitter the only people I engaged with on the internet were friends from Facebook.

     Six, I learned that when applying for a job in public relations as a practitioner you have more motivation to work for a company that is a mega corporation. When working for a firm you may only be working as consultant and there may be too much responsiblity for you as an individual.

       Seven, when you prepare a resume you identify skills, collect information regarding skills and qualifications. You need to understand the needs of the employer and include numbers and address for contact information.

     Eight, I learned that just as it is crucial for other people to comment on my writing so I can receive feedback, yet I must also be responsible for writing about the changes that I think they need to make. I can state whether I disagree with their opinion and if I do I have the right to say I disagree and state my reasoning. I am not degrading that person’s opinion, I am simply giving my own point of view which maybe can serve as a greater good to that person.

     Nine, I discovered that as a PR practitioner you should use SMNR or social media news release when communicating with bloggers, journalists and podcasters and they should provide feedback so viewers can leave comments. There was once a statement that said, “There is nothing new under the sun,” I learned that lesson in PR through the commentaries by other people. People love to voice their opinions and tell others what they think. Sometimes comments can be useful for improving a theory that one may have and other times comments can be distasteful. I think that when stating comments keep in mind that you are trying to help the other writer to improve on their craft, not degrade that person on his or her statements.

     And lastly, I discovered that if I ever work for a public relations client I have to know what turns that person off like not having enough background information when representing a project or service. It is almost like being on a debate team, if you cannot back up your opinion with facts and additional information you will most likely not be able to win your case. Also, journalists can annoy PR people with repeated phone calls. I think that once you as the PR person state your case then leave the situation alone until the client gets back to you, only in emergencies should you repeatedly contact your client. One more thing I would like to mention is that even though there is nothing wrong with giving gifts to your client as a thank you for allowing them to let you offer your services to them gifts should never be used as a bribe. It is distasteful and shows the client that you are not honest.

     In conclusion, I have learned so much from taking this class. Thanks to all the new knowledge regarding public relations I can not only use these lessons learned to become a PR practitioner if I chose, but I can use these skills on an every day basis when I am writing a message on the net to a friend or when I am working for a client and writing a news piece which requires AP style.

TOW

week one-I am afraid that the only social networking I do is Facebook. I enjoy it though cause it is a great way to keep up with friends. I have many of my friends from high school on Facebook. I think that Facebook is also beneficial academically because if a group and I are working on a project messages can be sent through Facebook allowing all of us to know what we need to accomplish individually to make the project a success. I would love to be able to explore other networks out there on the internet. I think that many times when we use the net for purposes like Twitter we can get valuable information out to the world as well as feedback from other people. I started using Facebook in my junior year of college because my roommate at the time got me into it. I enjoy writing online though better than on paper cause it is quick and I can put my ideas out into the world faster.

Week 2-Publics are defined as groups of people who follow a particular issue very closely. Or the potential or actual audiences for any given public relations message. One public  that I have been a part of was the Phi Theta Kappa when I was going through my sophomore year in college. We would often meet once  a week to discuss the current events coming up in  the group such as a saturday morning highway cleaning. I became a member of the Phi Theta Kappa because I had a certain GPA. I was also a member of the public library where I would go with my mom and we would check out books back in Ocala. I was also a member of a theater group back in Ocala and we would put on performances for the community. I was a member of the theater group because I auditioned.  I became a member of the library because my mom wanted to join and I wanted to see what kind of books they had. Ienjoyed being part of the library though because I could discover so many different books for topics that I wanted for school or if I was just bored and wanted to pick out a book that I could read. The greatest honor for me was being part of the Phi Theta Kappa, it was wonderful to be part of a group that was considered to be in the top percentage of the school as far as grades went. We had pizza parties and highway clean ups. Overall, it was a wonderful experience.

Week 3- Comments are a integral part of blogs because you can get a lot of positive feedback on the material that you write and maybe you even receive some constructive criticism to how you can write your blog more efficiently in the future. If I was going to offer advice to someone writing a blog I would recommend that they find interesting things to write about, do not write just for the sake of writing. Write because either you have something important to say or what you are saying can be beneficial for others. In my opinion, however, it is not always easy trying to think of interesting topicss to tell others about. It is kind of like having a conversation only the person is not there in front of you so you have to work even harder to think about the kind of things that you want to say. I know that for me writing comes naturally so I have no problem writing on and on about my opinions. Talking is harder because even when you have a two way conversation it is not always easy trying to think of things to say.

Week 4-If I could work in any era from PR history, I would want to work in the 1900’s because I think it would be interesting to work in a time period when there was no computer and people got messages from telegrams. I mean you think about when news travelled about the Titanic sinking, it’s not as if people could just go on the internet and all of a sudden hear about a big ship hitting an ice burg. In today’s world news can travel a lot faster. Think back when computers first erupted in the world, it was so easy for people to correct mistakes or go back and rewrite an article. In the times of the 1900’s such as when the Titanic sunk a event like that probably took a while to get the attention of the world because they did not have the resources today as far as advanced communication systems like computers. I wonder how it would be to work in a time period where communication in PR is not as fast as today. I can imagine that there would be a greater emphasis on events that would occur compared to today. Yet, I think that working in that time frame as a PR I could probably learn things in that period that would be used years later in the new generation. I would know what was going to occur in the future of PR even though I would not be living in that time period.

Week 5-One week of Twitter was very interesting. It was also somewhat challenging though, trying to think of interesting things to write on the internet to let people know what I was thinking or doing. It got to a point where nothing interesting was really happening, so I started looking on the internet for strange facts such as the history behind the elephant Man. Twitter is a great way to interact with people, however. You can also promote your business on Twitter. For example, I once had a business, which did not last very long, in face painting. I would attend childrens’ parties and I would paint animals and hearts for example, on their faces. I would get paid around 20 or 25 dollars for my services. But the wonderful aspect about Twitter is that if you want to advertise your business on the web, you can have a greater advantage to having people respond to you. Perhaps if I had advertised my services I could have been in business longer. Twitter can also be a great way to make friends. You could meet people on Twitter who have an interest in books for example and then you and those individuals can get together and start a book club.

Week 6- There are great learning opportunities available if you choose to work for a mega corporation as a PR  practitioner. There is more motivation to move up the ladder in the company. You will even have a specific job to do, but it is not all a bed of roses if you choose to work for a major corporation. You have many individuals who are working around you, so it’s almost as though you are just another number to the company rather than a person. With the firm your job may only be working as the consultant in the company. You may end up biting off more than you can chew taking this position because of the degree of responsibility involved. I think that in any job there are going to be ups and downs, no job is perfect. I think that it really depends on the individual and how much work he or she can handle. If a person thinks that he or she can multitask and is capable of taking on great responsibility I would recommend that the person choose to work for the firm. I know that for me personally I am not very good when it comes to multitasking and so I would rather work for a mega corporation, even though I would just be another body working for the company at least I would not be overly stressed and I could get my work done more efficiently. Because I am the kind of person who does not work well under pressure, so working for the mega corporation than a firm. I think it is important to know who you are and how much you can handle.

Week 7-If a student or someone was about to prepare a resume this is the advice that I would recommend identifying one’s skills and abilities, collect information regarding the required skills and qualifications of the occupations that interest you. Keep in mind the needs of the employer as you are writing your resume, make your resume unique. Also put down your resume content areas such as address, telephone, name. Include, education, work experience and any additional information that you believe is important enough for the employer to know. I have the perfect example. I remember a summer when I was looking for a job. I wanted to apply at Regal Cinemas. I had worked in other jobs before such as Burger King and K Mart, but this was the first job that required references from my previous employers. So I had to track down all the employers of the previous jobs I had and they had to write letters of reccomendation for me to be hired at Regal Cinemas. I realized after that how important it is to have references and to keep track of the jobs that you have had and how long you worked for those companies.

Week 8-I thought that the Lead Lab was very beneficial. Normally, I think because I took English classes in college and I did pretty well in them that I do not make very many mistakes when it comes to grammar and writing. But I learned that an old dog can still learn new tricks. I think that the Lead Lab was very effective in teaching me the proper way to use grammar. I think that people should continue to improve on their grammar even if they think that they already know the context of which to use it. It still amazes me though because I can remember taking English classes in college when my teachers would give us grammar test and the tests were helpful to some extent, but the truth is I really did not learn too much information that was new. I think that Grammar Girl can not only be limited to college students, but to high school kids as well. In high school, I did have some training on the computer with grammar, but it was simple like ” Johnny’s don’t swim,” which was supposed to be written, “Johnny doesn’t swim.” Grammar Girl is a great tool for brushing up on your english skills. I think that no matter what age you are there is always room for improvement. Grammar Girl taught me things that I never learned when I was talking English classes and I am 24 years old.  www.news.org

Week 9 and 10- I thought that PR OpenMic was a great way to figure out news that was going on in the world and showed examples of how to write news effectively. PR OpenMic gives you information from blogs to notes, to videos to photos. You can learn things such as the difference between ads, marketing and PR branding. Jobs and internships are also posted on this site for students who are perhaps graduating that semester. If you have friends on the PR site you can also be informed of special events like birthdays. I think that as soon as I finish with my internship as well as my classes in the fall, I will continue to use PR OpenMic because it can be useful if I want to post that I am looking for a job and I can state my qualifications and interests. I am still trying to figure out where I am going to go once I graduate in the Fall of 2o10, but in the mean time if I wanted to start my own business, like I attempted to do when I started doing face painting at children’s parties I can use PR OpenMic to advertise the kind of work that I am doing. I can include contact information and how much I would charge for my sessions. But I could make some money for college or sme money to spend. I think that it is sites like this one that provide great opportunites for people, especially young people who wish to become entrepreneurs. www.twibes.com/twitter-groupshttp://www.propenmic.org/main/authorization/signIn?target=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.propenmic.org%2Fmain%2Findex%2Fdetail%3Fid%3D2048023%3ATopic%3A97805%26

Week 11-Infographics are computer generated artworks used to display statistics in the form of tables and charts. Infographics can be useful in a story for your client because stories that are illustrated with photos, audio, video, or podcasts broaden their visibility and online life. You can create wedding invitations and programs and even include photos and space where readers can posts their comments about the article. When creating infographics ask yourself why, how and does it work. Consider the selection of colors and typography. I can relate to this type of work because years ago I did something along the lines of infographics. I worked with adobe photoshop and adobe illustrator. My class and I were working with these programs cropping pictures, giving them color and restoring them fully as newly finished photos. We even got to create our own works. For example, I remember an incident where I had to choose an animal and redesign the picture completly over. I had to color the picture over and draw the photo using Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. But when I was finished with the project I was amazed at the results that transpired. I think one of the most important elements to doing infographics is creativity. If you have creativity you can make wonderful works with infographics.

Week 12-Christie Maylackel talks about how after she finished graduate school she went into consulting, but her true passion is writing and she actually starting her writing as a joke. Her stories she claimed from truth. She sat down one day and wrote a couple of pages and she claims she writes the way she talks. It took her a while to finish her novel, which is close to completion. She loved writing so much she did not want it to be a chore, she had to be in the mood to write, like on the weekends. She was surprised with the positive feedback from her friends to start writing and was encouraged to continue writing. One of the most important pieces of information that I learned from Christie is that you have to love what you do. She loved writing because it was not a chore. I think that when you do something that starts out fun, if it becomes a chore you will not enjoy it and most likely you will lose interest and you will not want to write anymore or draw anymore if you feel like every time you sit down to do these things you find yourself looking at your watch and wondering when you are going to be finished. If you start thinking in this type of manner you will reach a poing to where you will not want to work on your book or art anymore. And as they say talent is a terrible thing to waste.

Week 13-10 ways PR people drive journalists crazy: If the PR practitioners do not have enough background information when it comes to representing a product or a service. If journalists believe that practitioners have no clue of what is news worthy because they often write about what is in the job description rather than what is current. Journalists get annoyed with hype words that are unrealistic. Journalists also tend to believe that PR people twist their stories. When trying to contact for information or questioning journalists notice that PR people are never available or they never have a comment. Journalists have to have stories before the deadline in case changes need to be made. PR people tend to annoy journalists with repeated phone calls. Gifts can be annoying because they appear to be a bargain. Being over obsessive and of course journalists want PR practitioners to write the story by giving the meat of the story, not just using words over and over again. I can relate to people who want to give gifts as bribes for example. I have had people in my own life who have wanted me to do things for them and it was basically like, “you scratch my back and I will scratch yours.” Bribing is not a very smart move if you want to establish relationships that are long term with your clients. I can understand how irritating it must be for someone to keep calling back repeatedly, I used to be a telemarketer and I pitied the people I had to repeatedly keep calling to sell them items. I think in businesses it is worse. Do not irritate employers with your constant calling.

Week 14- The five steps to multimedia storytelling helped me to engage and understand what stories were appropriate for multimedia, how to sketch a concept for the story and how to identify elements in the story. My reaction to this course was I thought the course was intellectually stimulating because it helped me to understand that there are many ways to air a story. I always thought a story was pen and paper and then computer and then the finished product. Going through this course taught me that you can use a number of resources to create news like audio or graphics.http://www.newsu.org/node/338 I used to love to write stories when I was a child, but they were just silly child fantasies. I think that when you grow older and you start to write serious stories or capture stories on film it is not simple to just start out with “Once upon a time,” and then that is it. You really have to dig deep and get the meat of the story. Understand what you are writing about. Think about what your intention is for the audience. How do you plan to get them interested in what you are writing? Also, remember that the title that you call your story even in a video is very important because this is one of your first attention getters. If the title of your story sounds boring, no one is going to want to read it or listen to it. Remember that creativity is a big part in making a story interesting.

Week 15-A social media news release is a press release format designed for the online media world. A PR practitioner should use a SMNR when communicating with journalists, bloggers, podcasters, consumers and when they wish to reach a wide audience. They should allow for instant feedback because people who visit the site can leave comments and the company can learn what changes must be made. Advantages are: information is in one place, you can include links and multimedia, you can explain complicated stories better, better impression, effective for conversation and sharing. Disadvantages include that since it is still a new format the guidelines are a little blurry, can be overcrowded with information and can only be used online. I think that one of the advantages for me personally when it comes to SMNR’s is the comments that I receive from people. To me it is like writing a paper, you can write a paper and think it is the most amazing piece of work that has ever been written. But then someone else reads your work and maybe it is boring to them or it does not make sense. It is really important to get a second or even third opinion when you write something. There are people who have egos that are so fragile that they believe that everything they write is prophetic, they feel that there is no need for improvement and that is a dangerous road to take. There is always room for improvement in anything, not just writing. Info from SocialMediaTraininghttp://socialtraining.wetpaint.com/page/Social+Media+News+Release

pressitt.com/

www.copyblogger.com/social–media–press–release/

www.briansolis.com/2006/…/how-to-write–social–media–press/

Week 15: My top 10 tips for writing your own blog are as follows: 1. be creative with your writing 2. write something that interest you, but yet will interest others as well 3. when writing your own blog posts try to ask your self the question of why am I reading this, if you would rather be doing something else it is probably not that interesting 4. consider your audience, their demographics, whose attention are trying to get, 5. Don’t just write pointless information , try to write information that people can use 6. Try to sound exciting in your writing, do not always repeat the same words or phrases every time you write 7. Spice up your writing every now and then, do not be afraid to write something different from what the majority is writing on 8. Do not get carried away with your writing by stating information that will embarrass you or damage another’s reputation 9. Be sure to use AP Style when  you are writing a blog 10. Always have fun when you are writing, do not force yourself to write if you have no idea of what to write about, let your ideas flow naturally

Seen but not heard

As a child, I knew the power to speak one’s mind.  I think that so many times people want to remain quiet and not say anything because they do not want to offend people and granted one must use his or her common sense and not simply spat out every thought that comes into one’s mind. When I was younger I spoke my mind clearly and I had no problem showing people who I really was. I think when people grow older there is a tendency to become more insecure in ourselves like when we are teenagers and even as adults we worry about impressing people and what they think of us. I think that even though first impressions are important one must say what he or she thinks. If you have an idea do not be afraid to voice it because maybe there is a problem and you have the solution to that problem, yet you do not raise your voice, therefore no one is going to hear you or your possibly great idea. It is so important to not worry about making a fool of yourself. I think that is one of the greatest reasons why individuals do not  speak is because they are afraid of what others will think of them. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and open your mouth and speak your peace. Who knows? Maybe you will give an idea that could cause a great change to occur for the better good. It is good to be seen, but remember you must also be heard.

End of Semester

Well, we are drawing near the end of the semester. It is almost over and I know that some people will be sad to leave because they will be graduating. Others will jump merrily for joy at the thought of never having to indulge another morsel of the Tuscan Restaurant’s gourmet food. I will not be graduating until 2010 of December. I have more to learn and a long way to go. I am so close and yet so far away. In some respects, I am happy to not be graduating this summer because I have some time to ponder about what career move I intend to make which will shape the life that I have dreamed for myself, which I hope will be part of God’s plan. School has not been easy for me, especially this semester because I have been taking a full load of courses. I do not know how some students manage to take 8 classes without having a nervous breakdown. I go crazy at times just thinking about the load that I am taking now. I suppose that every person is different. Some people are better at handling pressure than others. I just have to tell myself to keep my eyes on the prize and to keep going.

ch 14

Information overload is persuasive in our society. You can hellp reduce clutter by keeping your messages simple, short, and to the point. In addition, limit messages to only those who are in your key audiences. Don’t shotgun information to the entire planet.

E-mail bulge is overwhelming many organizations and individuals. Use wikis, text messaging, RSS, and applications such as Twitter to reduce the flow.

E-mail is rapid and coefficient. It is not, however, a substitute for personal one -on -one communication.

E-mail is less formal than a letter, but more formal than a telephone call. You can increase the effectiveness of your e-mail messages by (1) providing key information in the subject line, (2) keeping them to 25 lines or less, and (3) using proper grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Business letters are personalized communication that should be well organized, concise, and to the point. They can prevent misunderstandings and provide a record of an agreement or a transaction.

Memos should be one page or less and state the key message immediately. A memo has five components: (1) date, (2) to, (3) from, (4) subject, and (5) message.

Proposals must follow a logical, well-organized format. They are prepared to convince management to make a decision about a contract or approve money and resources for a project.

A position paper, or “white paper” gives the organization;s perspective on a particular trend or industry. They should begin with an “executive summary” or an overview, so people can read the highlights in a few seconds.

ch 12

The World Wide Web is the first medium that allows organizations to send controlled messages to a mass audience without the message being filtered by journalists and editors. Before the Web, the placement of advertising in the mass media was the only method by which the organization controlled the message.

The new media, including the Web, has unique characterisitics. This includes: easy updating of material, instant distribution of information, an infinite amount of space for information and the ability to interact with the audience.

Writing for the Web requires nonliner organization. Topics should be in index-card format instead of a long, linear narrative. This allows viewers to click on the information most interesting to them.

Written material for the Web should be in short, digestible chunks. Two or three paragraphs should be the ideal length of a news item. Longe pieces of information require too much scrolling and turn off viewers.

The second generation of the Internet, called Web 2.0, has given rise to “social media” in which most of the Internet content is consumer generated. It provides public relations professionals with the opportunity to participate in social networking sites to get feedback and to also build relationships.

RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication. A user may sign up for any number of RSS feeds from various organizations and news outlets. RSS also allows organizations to monitor blogs and other websites that may mention the organization’s products or services.

Blogs have become mainstream in terms of numbers and influence. From a public relations standpoint, there are three kinds of blogs: corporate, employee and third-party.

Flickr is the major photo sharing site. Virtual worlds are part of social media. a major site is Second Life.

The next generation of the Internet (Web 3.0) will see the further development of smart phones as minicomputers. The cost of mobile-enabled content will go down, which will enable users to send and receive vast amounts of information.

Ch 11

Journalists depend on public relations for receiving most of their information; public relations people rely on media for widely spread distribution of information.

The most common compliants journalists have about public relations people according to PRWeek Survey, are lack of familarity with editorial requirements and format, poorly written materials, too many unsolicited e-mails and phone calls, lack of knowledge about their product or service and repeated calls and follow-ups.

Flack is a disparaging term for the press agent or publicist.

The major complint about journalists is that hey are sloppy in their accuracy and often don’t take the time to do their homework.

Publications and broadcasts programs that engage in senstational journalism require special handling and precautions. Declining an interview is always an option.

News conferences should be held only if there is significant news that lends itself to elaboration and questions from journalists. News conferences can also be held via teleconferences or Webcasts.

Previews and parties are acceptable ways of giving exectutives  and reporters a chance to know each other better.

Press tours, often called junkets, should be used only if there is a legitimate news story or angle. Avoid junkets that simply wine an dine journalists.

A meeting with a publication’s editorial board is a good way to establish rapport and long term relationships.

There are mnay guidelines for how to conduct effective media relations. The bottom line is to be accurate, truthful, and provide outstanding service.

Don’t irritate reporters by asking “Did you get my news release?” Also, don’t ask to see an advance copy of the story or when a story will be published.

If you need to set the record straight, begin with the reporter who wrote the story.

Crisis communications is a test of excellent media relations. You need to work closely with the media to assure that he public is fully informed.

Ch 10

Media directories, whether print, CD-ROM or online, are essential tools for compiling media lists and distributing information. Media lists and e-mail addresses must be updated and revised on a regular basis; journalists frequently change jobs.

Tip sheets let publicists know what kind of material a publication or broadcast station is seeking for a particular purpose.

Mailing labels must be accurate; they should be addressed to a specific editor by name and include such details as the floor or suite in an office building.

The vast majority of news releases and other press materials are now distributed via e-mail and through electronic wires. Online newsrooms, have become the primary source for journalists seeking late- breaking news and other information.

Electronic newswires such as Business Wire, distribute news releases to Internet search engines and social networking sites, which allows the public to access the information in addition to the traditional media.

Keywords are important for search engine organization (SEO). Publicists must use keywords that consumers will likely use to search for information.

Mail called snail mail, is still widely used to distribute publicity materials. Organizations often mail news releases and media kits in addition to providing the same materials online or on a CD format.

The fax machine is a good way to send media advisories and late-breaking news releases. However, it is not wise to mass distribute routine news releases by fax.

Ch 9

The broadcast media are important channels of communication, but using them requires thinking in terms of sound and visual elements.  Public service announcements are short broadcast announcements used by nonprofit groups and public agencies. Radio media (RMTs) are a cost-effective way to reach many stations with an exclusive interview over a wide geographic area. Television news releases must contain both sound and visual elements such as graphics, slides or videotape. VNR or video news releases are widely used by TV stations and cable systems. VNR’s require professional preparation and technical quality. To be used, they must be newsworthy and timely. Satellite media tours or SMTs are widely used in the broadcasts industry. A good, persuasive pitch is used to get placements on news programs and talk shows. Organizations and groups can get exposure by making use of community calendars, radio promotions, creative publicity ideas and documentaries.

ch 8

Photographs and graphics add appeal and increase media usage of news releases or features. Digital cameras are used for publicity photos. Photos with action, informality are more interesting than rigid, posed shots. Use professional photographers if you send materials to news organizations. Photo captions should be short, use present tense to describe action and provide context. Charts, diagrams, maps, for example should be colorful, simple and uncluttered. Never send an attachment (photo or otherwise) to a reporter or editor unless specifically requested to do so. A publicity photo should have no more than 3 or 4 people in it. Save the large group shot for the photo album. A public relations writer should be familiar with the elements of a good publicity photo: quality, subject matter, composition, action, scale, camera angle, lighting, and color.