Journalism’s Post

I sent an email to a client yesterday who wrote back "This is amazing, thank you!" On a call later that day they said, "We never got an email like that from our last partner. That was so great." This was a simple email, but was a game changer for the client. What did I do? 1) Summarized the findings in one fragment sentence with 3 VERY short bullets underneath 2) Summarized what we attempted during our research in one fragment sentence with 3 short bullets 3) Summarized the solution in 4 short bullets Lastly, in italics, noted at the bottom the one action they needed to take on their side so they couldn't miss it- in one simple sentence. No jargon, no essays to read through, no branded fancy deck to scroll though. Just simple, clear communication about where we are at, what we did, and why. I worked with a peer who couldn't get a decision from the CEO who was OOO, after sending out an email that had to be 3 pages worth of narrative. After getting their permission, I replied back with bullets of "Hey [CEO NAME], I think this is what [PEER NAME] needs based on [X] issue. Work for you?" We got approval in 20 minutes after waiting days before my summary reply. Your boss/client/stakeholder doesn't have time to read essays or exhaustive, pretty decks with every detail. They hired you to know every detail. They need to know what's happening, why, and if they need to do anything. And be able to determine that quickly and accurately. My journalism training has regularly come in handy when I communicate with stakeholders. I cover how to write like a journalist in every class I teach, and every team I've led. Say things clearly in as few words as possible, inverted pyramid, with the most important information at the top. Not only will the stakeholder thank you, you'll thank yourself when you get what you need to move forward. #marketing #communicationskills #writingtips

✍ Our Top Tips for writing a Press Release with Impact: ✍ The goal of a press release is to capture the reader's interest quickly and communicate your message effectively. The basics are well-known: write a clear story that is encapsulated by the headline; include effective quotes from spokespeople to contextualise the story; ensure that contact information is clearly provided, so that journalists can easily make contact with questions; proof-read and proof-read again to remove errors and polish the text. 💥 1️⃣ Story at the Start💥 Begin your press release with a compelling narrative that encapsulates your story in the opening paragraph and illustrates the core message you want to convey... 💥2️⃣ Use a Non-Traditional Format 💥 Instead of the standard press release format, consider presenting some of the core information in a unique way – e.g. a listicle, a Q&A interview, a mini-case study... 💥3️⃣ Leverage Data and Statistics💥 Incorporate relevant data, statistics, or research findings that support the significance of your topic – enhancing the credibility of your message and giving journalists useful data to use in their coverage... 💥 4️⃣ Incorporate Visual and/or Interactive Elements💥 Break up the text with images, infographics, or multimedia elements that enhance your story - to help grab attention, convey complex information quickly and increase the impact of your press release. ~~~~ DM us here on LinkedIn if you'd like help with a press release or a series of releases. We'd love to hear from you! PR colleagues, let us know any Tips you'd add in the comments below 👇 #pr #media #pressrelease #publicrelations #communications  #writing #tips Julie Thompson Dredge Sarah Chappell Laura Ansbro Vikki Bennett Amy S. Laura Bevis Laura Ansbro Annabel Ward Alice Lam (Image by vectorjuice on Freepik)

When you really want to tell your story, but don’t know how: You know it’s of value ✔️ You know it can help someone ✔️ You know it’s a story that should be told ✔️ But how do you get it out there? Sending out a press release will get it out there. But DON’T make these mistakes: 1. Don’t send the PR as an attachment. 2. Don’t forget to include 1 photo if necessary. 3. Don’t forget to make a short pitch at the start of the email. Make sure you REMEMBER: 1. To lay out your the press release in the body of the email after your pitch. 2. Long stories make quick features for editors & journalists. 3. To keep your language simple in your PR. Make it as EASY as possible for a publication to pick up your story. The less work an editor or journalist has to do, the more likely you will succeed! It’s not complicated. Get it written and start emailing it out. 💡Need help with a professionally written press release? 💡Go to my featured section to book a call. 📣Keep following me for more tips about how to write a bloody brilliant press release. #editor #writer #fashionindustry

Writing Press Releases is the essential function of working in Public Relations. But how to write an effective business press releases that can catch the attention of journalists? Having worked in journalism for more than 2 years makes me see from the journalist's POV. Here are some tips on writing a press releases which a journalist is likely to read: - Keep it short and to the point. Press releases should be concise, usually 300-500 words. Get to the main news quickly. - Have a compelling headline. The headline should sum up the news and grab attention. Be clear and descriptive. - Lead with the most important info. The first paragraph should summarize the key details - who, what, when, where and why. - ANGLE is everything. Give the journalist a unique angle about the story. - Quote company execs or experts. Include quotes from company executives or industry experts to add credibility. - Localize the news. Highlight any local connections or impact to make it more relevant. - Use multimedia. Embed photos, videos, infographics or other visuals to make it more engaging. - Write in AP Style. Use short sentences and active voice. Adhere to Associated Press style guidelines. - Include boilerplate info. Have a standard paragraph about the company at the end. - Insert contact info. Provide names, titles, phone numbers and emails for the press to follow up. - Follow up personally. Call or email reporters who cover related beats to pitch it. The goal is to make your press release look and sound like an article journalists can easily adapt for their own news stories. #pressrelease #publicrelations #pr #journalist #business #media #mediarelations #writing

A favorite prewriting exercise comes from Chip Scanlan. He offers it in his book "33 Ways Not to Screw Up Your Journalism." It's a great way to assess your notes; see what you know and don't know; and vet for a possible focus. It goes like this: Before you outline or draft (or, perhaps, concurrently as you begin), ask yourself the following: 1. What's the news? 2. What's the story? 3. Why does it matter? 4. What does it say about life, about the world and the times we live in? 5. What works in your story? 6. What needs work? I write these at the top of every page or Word doc. before I get started. I may not have robust answers for each question, but they get my wheels spinning and point my thoughts in the right direction. I've also adapted adjacent questions to use for other writing projects (like ghostwriting memos or consumer-edu. pieces), such as 1. What's the news? (What happened? What was the result of an event or series of decisions? Why is this piece being written?) 2. What's the story? (How did it happen? Who were the players and stakeholders, and what was the process that led to the result?) 3. Why does it matter? (Why do readers need to know? What might happen if they don't?) 4. What does it say about life and the times we live in? (What's universal about the main idea? How does it help readers understand their station in a team, org., industry, community, etc.?) 5. What works in your story? (Where do I sense continuity and synergy? What turns of phrase are already effective? What quotes or details stand out as important and interesting? What organization or flow do I intuit that already feels cogent?) 6. What needs works? (What's missing, and what do I need to do to get it? Where do I feel I'd overcompensate with language to fill gaps in reporting or research? Where am I tempted to speculate or overreach on a conclusion?) These are also great to revisit as you edit and revise. Regardless of what I'm writing, these Qs help me overcome some of the intimidation of moving from "I've got all this that I could say" to "Here's what I'd like to say." Thanks, Chip! #writing #writingcommunity #writingcoach #storytelling

A cold pitch is an unsolicited idea for a story you send to a magazine editor or journalist with whom you don't have a relationship. These pitches can strike fear into the hearts of business owners like yourselves, and even journalists. But they don't have to, as long as you be sure to include the following X most-haves. #1 Spell the editor's name correctly There's nothing worse than opening an email that reads Dear Sir, or has spelled your name incorrectly. Your email needs to show that you took the time and care to address it to its one recipient, not a mass mailing. #2 Good spelling and grammar Just like spelling a name correctly is important, so is great writing. An editor will have no confidence in your ability to write the story you want to tell if your pitch isn't written well - and it has spelling and grammatical errors to boot. Be sure to run your pitch through Grammarly or some other editor to ensure it's free of errors. #3 Why does your idea matter to the editor's readers? Toward the beginning of your pitch you need to answer the question, “Why does this idea matter to the editor's readers?” Be as specific as possible with your explanation, because that's the lens your editor is viewing your pitch through. A magazine is a business. Why do the magazine's readers need to read this? #4 A story Too often people pitch ideas for topics, not story. An example of a topic is, “Earth Day.” An example of a story is, “How this person turned Earth Day into the largest recycling day of the year in this city.” #5 How are you going to tell it? In your pitch, lay out exactly how you're planning on telling your story. What specific connections or sources are going to contact, or have you already contacted, to tell the story? #6 Who are you and why are you the one to write it? For an editor to take a chance on a cold pitch, not only do they need to know that you can deliver on the pitch, but they need to know why you're the one to write it rather than their own staff writers or freelancers they know and trust. Your pitch must answer the question, “Why are you the one to write it?” #7 Why is it timely? And finally, why is your story timely? Why does it need to be told now? Make your case with the editor and you have a better chance of getting the green light to write the story sooner rather than later.

A cold pitch is an unsolicited idea for a story you send to a magazine editor or journalist with whom you don't have a relationship. These pitches can strike fear into the hearts of business owners like yourselves, and even journalists. But they don't have to, as long as you be sure to include the following X most-haves. #1 Spell the editor's name correctly There's nothing worse than opening an email that reads Dear Sir, or has spelled your name incorrectly. Your email needs to show that you took the time and care to address it to its one recipient, not a mass mailing. #2 Good spelling and grammar Just like spelling a name correctly is important, so is great writing. An editor will have no confidence in your ability to write the story you want to tell if your pitch isn't written well - and it has spelling and grammatical errors to boot. Be sure to run your pitch through Grammarly or some other editor to ensure it's free of errors. #3 Why does your idea matter to the editor's readers? Toward the beginning of your pitch you need to answer the question, “Why does this idea matter to the editor's readers?” Be as specific as possible with your explanation, because that's the lens your editor is viewing your pitch through. A magazine is a business. Why do the magazine's readers need to read this? #4 A story Too often people pitch ideas for topics, not story. An example of a topic is, “Earth Day.” An example of a story is, “How this person turned Earth Day into the largest recycling day of the year in this city.” #5 How are you going to tell it? In your pitch, lay out exactly how you're planning on telling your story. What specific connections or sources are going to contact, or have you already contacted, to tell the story? #6 Who are you and why are you the one to write it? For an editor to take a chance on a cold pitch, not only do they need to know that you can deliver on the pitch, but they need to know why you're the one to write it rather than their own staff writers or freelancers they know and trust. Your pitch must answer the question, “Why are you the one to write it?” #7 Why is it timely? And finally, why is your story timely? Why does it need to be told now? Make your case with the editor and you have a better chance of getting the green light to write the story sooner rather than later.

PR writing tips from a journalist ✍️ Are your press releases going to the right people? There’s no point in spending hours crafting the perfect press release if it’s just going to end up in the bin. Ensuring that both the publication and the person you’re sending it to are a good fit for your story is just as important as ensuring you’ve got a great release to send. Don’t send something to a journalist if you know it’s an area they don’t cover. It won’t be forwarded to the “right person” – it will just be deleted. Do your research beforehand, and you’ll massively increase your chances of your story being used. #PressRelease #WritingTips #MediaTraining #MediaCommunications https://lnkd.in/ezA2pu7m

Journalism, Writing, and English Literature courses have stayed with me since graduation. While Communications was my major, these courses have proven to be major support in my comms/marketing career. Word to wise, writing matters. And GOOD writing at that.

People who never worked in journalism think I'm some sort of writing wizard. "Did you just write that in the last hour??" In the PR and media relations game, slow and steady does NOT win the race. Crafting high-quality copy quickly is the name of the game and often the difference between securing coverage and being left out. A decade in journalism and writing on deadline taught me to identify the story and tell it as expediently, efficiently, and effectively as possible (and with tons of alliteration, it seems). Write well. Write fast. Let people think you have magic powers.