~ Ashley White's PR Blog ~
My Thoughts on PR in Today's SocietyTOW #16 – Top 10 List for Future PR Writing Students
Well, this semester is almost to an end. I have learned many things while taking this class, and not only have I gained a good bit knowledge, I have also seen a lot of the subject in everyday life. Personally, I feel like that alone shows the importance of this class.
There may be a few of you out there who like to talk to people who have been where you are going. So, I have put together a top ten list for you. Some things you may think are a “duh” point, but there are many things that you must keep up with in this class to get the most out of it, so pay attention. 
- Set a time during the week to devote solely to this class. There is a lot going on throughout the year, but definitely make a time for this class.
- Stay organized. Be sure to keep a calendar/schedule with ALL your assignments near by. I won’t lie, there is a lot of assignments and such, but if you keep everything organized you will do fine.
- Get ahead. One thing that really helps me is to get things done ahead of time. This helps when the bigger assignments come along.
- Keep up with your blog. If not daily, then weekly be sure to check your blog. It is very important to actually keep your blog alive.
- REPLY REPLY REPLY. Make sure that you reply to people’s comments. Not only is it interesting to see what people have to say, it helps your blog stay active.
- Re-read! Yep, we’ve all learned it from the very beginning, but it is a must. Proof read everything that you do! The silly mistakes are the ones that can screw up a grade.
- NewsU Courses! PLEASE keep up with these! I needed a little help in that area, so I’m passing on the word to you. Make sure that you do these and turn them in!!!
- Meet for online classes! I put this towards the end, not because it’s not important, but because I feel like it should be common sense. Still, make sure that you are able to meet for classes. If you miss one… watch the recording.
- This is not really a tip, but more of a fun fact. For all the sophomores or beginning juniors taking this class, you may not know many people in your major yet. You will be really surprised how many of the people in this online class are in your other classes. Get to know them… they may be able to help you outside of Professor Nixon.
- Last but not least, keep up with the chapters. You will have NO idea what is going on if you do not read the chapters and take the quizzes. They help so much more than you could imagine.
That’s all I have to say. I hope that it helped! Good luck with PR Writing! Don’t take any part of it lightly… this is the basis for it all!
What is a Social Media News Release?
What is it?
Thanks to Realwire, a Social Media News Release is explained. Social Media News Release (SMNR) is a press release format designed for the online world of the media. It was intended for only the press, but it must be written in ways to appeal to journalists, bloggers, and the public in general. “The content of the SMNR can either be produced in the “traditional” narrative style or be deconstructed so that the core facts, quotes, contact details and boilerplate are all individually segregated to allow users to disseminate its various elements. It can be company branded and can accommodate images, audio and video (including embedded social media video including YouTube) as well as links to relevant websites and coverage of resulting online conversation.”
In other words, a Social Media News Release is a news release that is for the internet only (through blogs and such).
Advantages?
The advantages of a Social Media News Release are that they are able to reach all over the world. The internet is such a large aspect of our society these days, so to have press releases on the online media means that it will definitely be seen. As long as the formatting is correct, then the outcome will be great.
Disadvatages?
People who are not computer savy will not necessarily see your fine work. This is why it is important to have other channels that you work through. While the internet is widely used, there are still some, mainly the older generations, who rely on the paper releases to get information. Neither is wrong, right, better, or worse, but if you are having some big events or such to get out to the public, be sure to use more than one media outlet.
When?
A Social Media News Release should be used whenever you want something out there fast! Newspapers and such take time to get out there to the public, but SMNR’s are able to be published as soon as you are finished designing it.
Helpful Links to Write a SMNR:
http://technorati.com/blogging/article/how-to-write-a-social-media/
http://www.copyblogger.com/social-media-press-release/
Also, check this YouTube video out!
Example of an SMNR:
http://socialnews.toshiba.co.uk/?ReleaseID=11407
5 Tips to Help out the new SMNR Writer (most of these were taken ones that I came up with, and ones from the above sites):
- Make sure you know all the little details of making a SMNR (use the above websites for help, or just google some)
- Don’t make your SMNR too ‘wordy’ or lengthy. Get to the point quickly. you don’t want to lose your audiences attention.
- Know what it is that your audience is wanting, and direct your SMNR towards them. you want to present it in a way that people will want to read it. Also, put your SMNR on a site that will be read.
- Make sure your SMNR is attractive to people who are reading it. Make it creative looking, but not too gaudy.
- Have some other helpful links. Just like my blog post I’m writing now, it would be nice to provide links that people could take a look at; especially YouTube videos.
TOW #14 – Multimedia Storytelling
This week, I took the Five Steps to Multimedia Storytelling NewsU Course. It was all about writing multimedia stories. It was a great way for people to really broaden their capacities for story telling. Here are some of the things that were learned from this course (which I myself learned greatly)
- Identify the elements in a multimedia story
- Understand which stories are more suitable for multimedia
- Sketch a concept for a story
- Identify tools needed to gather content in the field
When going through the course, I learned that the “best multimedia stories, are multi-dimensional.” Some other points that I learned are as follows:
- Multimedia stories also are nonlinear
- Avoid thinking of the “first part,” “second part,” etc. Instead, think of “this part” and “that part.” Then consider what media you will use to tell each part.
- Collect Preliminary Information
- Put together a rough storyboard — a story outline that lays out the multimedia possibilities: Define the parameters of a story with available resources, organize and cous a tory, decide which medium to use for each part of the story, identifty any holes in your story, list the resources necessary to finish the story. Three parts to a storyboard: DEFINE the elements, IDENTIFY the media, and STORYBOARD the concept.
- Keep videos short, preferably 1 or 2 minutes, no more than 3 or 4 minutes
- Use only high-quality audio.
- Use photos to replace 1,000 words, not as accessories to words. Text and photos should complement each other visually, as well as in their content.
- Use photos to replace 1,000 words, not as accessories to words. Text and photos should complement each other visually, as well as in their content.
- Text works best for first-person stories, political stories, analysis, op-ed pieces and short updates.
All these above tips came directly from the NewsU Course, but I really thought they were the most helpful and needed to be shared. This is only a little of what was covered, so be sure to enroll in this class to really get a good feel for making these stories.
TOW #13- Annoying Journalists
There are ten ways for a Public Relation person to annoy a Journalist, and here they are, thanks to the Tajanicole Blog, and our textbook “Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques“. Along with the ten annoying things you can do, there are also some ways not to do it (a). Pay close attention!
1. Not having the proper amount of background info for the product/service you are trying to stand for. You don’t want to make the Journalist do more work then they need to.
a. In order to help them out, make sure that you have every piece of background information on whatever it is you are representing. You do all the work. Don’t make anyone else do it for you.
2. Not writing about things that are going on today and that relate to society is not the best thing.
a. Simple Solution… write about current issues that society will find appealing.
3. Do not stick with hype words. It makes you look like a high school student writing a creative story for their teacher.
a. Use words that make your credibility credible. Doing this will help Journalists want to stay engaged in your writings.
4. Lying… a.k.a. exaggerating. Journalist have some underlying thought that PR practitioners tend to exaggerate their stories to make people want to read them more.
a. Don’t exaggerate… don’t lie… tell the truth! If your story/information is good enough, then you won’t need to do any of those things.
5. Journalist want to contact Public Relations People. If you’re not available, then you might as well kiss that relationship goodbye.
a. Make sure that when a Journalist calls you are either available, or you get back to them within the same day. Something that may help too, is to leave a short version of your schedule on your voicemail; let people know when the best times to reach you are.
6. Being late is another annoying habit. Now days, being on time or submitting something one time is considered late.
a. Turn things in a few days (maybe even a week early), and when you have a meeting, come about ten to fifteen minutes early.
7. Impatience is a key turn off. Just because the Journalists haven’t called you back in the time you think they have, does not give you the right to constantly blow up their phone bill.
a. Even if your new release or article didn’t make it to the papers, just stick to only one phone call/one message. Let them get back to you.
8. Journalists get annoyed with PR people trying to buy their way into the relationship. They will publish your stuff when and if they want to.
a. Don’t send gifts, money, or constant letters of encouragement. Just send your stuff and wait for them.
9. Fluff is bad. Journalists do not want to read random and pointless facts in stories. This will definitely prevent them from publishing it.
a. Makes sure that you present all the hard facts and details in your story. Make it the most credible that you can.
10. Rude is bad. It may sound quite childish, but like any business, being rude and not listening to what others have to say can be such a turn off.
a. Make sure that you are polite when talking to Journalists and take into consideration their point of view on your articles.
TOW #12 -Podcasts
The podcast that I listened to today was “Night of the Living Twitter.” It was all about Weighted Sort and the Macbook Air. One thing they said about the Macbook Air was that it will “push the normal bottom of the MacBook out.” They also discussed the Garageband and how it has a lot more to it. The podcast was really an informational one, to let people know all the new things that are going on in the technological world.
They said one point about Twitter that I thought was very useful. They said to follow people that are in your network. This is very important because if you are following people that have nothing to do with you, then you will get nothing out of their ‘tweets.’
This was the second podcast I have listened to, and it was awesome. While I did feel like I was listening to a talk show on the radio, it was still informative. The background noise made me feel like it was more real. It caused the image of two people being in a recording studio with a glass wall separating them disappear. Overall, I really enjoyed it. I can definitely find myself listening to these more in the future.
I can see how these podcasts would benefit public relation professional and students, in many ways. You are able to hear so many different views about different topics, that it would impossible for your knowledge not to be widened. The conversational podcasts make you feel like you are actually there, too. Plus, just like a TV Show, you are able to connect with the speakers, causing you to want to listen each week, day, month, etc. The podcasts that are simply a lecture type deal are great, but some people may feel like they are in the classroom all over again.
Podcasts are a great way for people to get their thoughts and information out there to the public. It is just like a blog, but you are able to talk. I can comfortably assume that podcasts will be a technological advancement that will be even more popular very soon.
TOW #11 – Infographics
Infographics
What are they? Who looks at them? Why use them?
These are some simple questions with great answers. Infographics are a way to get information across to people but in a different kind of way. Instead of using fancy words and phrases, you use everything in a visual way. By using graphics in a specific way, anyone and everyone who looks at them will be sure to remember the concept, product, etc. that is trying to be presented.
Like I said above, anyone and everyone looks at these types of representations. We see them every day of our lives. Although, I personally feel like scientist use plenty of these pictures. Still, though, there are many companies that make infographics to help people remember where they are, how far they have come in sales, etc. It helps to show things in a different way, and maybe even a way that is learned better.
So, why should we use these types of “graphics?” I believe it is because many of us are visual learners. We see things and remember them perfectly if they have pictures, colors, etc. This is why billboards are so colorful and expressive, commercials have many different pictures in them, and more.
Just like above, an infographic would be great in any PR story for a client. They would be able to not only capture the attention of more readers (because of the originality of the infographic), but they would also be able to engrain their message into the reader’s head. The message that they would be trying to convey would not be forgotten.
Here are some examples of infographics.
TOW #10 – Site Stats
WordPress is a great site for people new to blogging. It is even great for people who have been blogging for years. It is easy to use and very helpful. You are able to format it the way that you would want, and makes it easy for people to navigate their way around your blog.
The main page for the author to get everything organized is called the “Dashboard.” This is where you can check your comments, write posts, etc. They also have a link called “Site Stats.” This is probably one of the most useful things when it comes to seeing the popularity of your blog. It has a bar graph on the page that shows the amount of views of your blog. It also shows you how many people click on the different links that you put on your site.
This is a great tool because of a few different reasons. One reason is that it allows you to see if your blog is even worth having. If you are barely getting any people to look at your blog, then you definitely need to figure out some ways to make it more popular. Another thing it shows are the most popular things about your blog. This will help you know what to keep up and what to take off. You may not need to take anything off, but just do a little rearranging of your site.
Overall, the Site Stats page is good for new and old bloggers. It is great to show the positive and negative aspects of your blog. No matter how long you have been using a blogging site, pages and statistics like these are great. If you want your blogging site to be effective and popular among other bloggers, then paying attention to these types of things are a necessities.
TOW #9 – PR Open Mic
This week’s Topic of the Week was to create a profile at PROpenMic. I had one already created, but it was nice to go back and look at it and find all the useful things about it.
I really like the site overall. It is very useful for PR professionals, students, and people who may be interested in public relations. The profile page is good because it gives great information, but not unnecessary stuff.
I also liked how it had pages for a blog, pictures, and discussions. I could really see all this being widely used in the PR field.
One link on the site was for Groups/Events. I thought this was good for PR professionals/students becuase it allowed them to see some great functions that they can be a part of.
As our world keeps growing, our job market grows with it. Sometimes there are jobs out there that we can find easily, but sometimes we need a little help. PROpenMIC has a link for this as well: Jobs/Internships Main. I felt like this was great, especially for college graduates that need some extra help.
The site is so easy to use, and very useful. The homepage alone has constant updates on it, such as news stories that are directly related to PR.
Being in school right now, I have so many other blogs, websites, etc. to keep up with, but I really do hope that I can use this site when I graduate to truly connect with the PR World. PROpenMIC could and will aid in keeping me, and others who use it, in touch with the “in” topics in PR.
I would definitely recommend this site others who are looking for a way to get in touch with public relations, and those who already are, but want to have a site where all their needs and wants can be met.
TOW #8 – Leads
For my Topic of the Week assignment, I was asked to take another course from the Poynter News University. This time, though, I took the Lead Lab course. While I still can use some improvement, I was able to really learn a lot from this class.
My favorite part was the virtual lab. Whenever you moved your mouse around, you were able to get a panoramic view of the room. Then, if you scrolled your mouse over certain objects, you were able to participate in different learning activities. While some of them were more confusing than helpful, there were others that really explained the how-to’s of writing good leads.
After you explored the lab, you were able to go and test out your lead writing skills. They gave you a story to read and then asked you to write a “news” lead and a “story” lead.
Once you submit your leads, you are able to read other people’s. Some are great and some definitely need some improvement (mine is probably one of those). I’m not sure why, but I think I am making this whole lead writing experience more complicated than it needs to be. J Hopefully I’ll get the hang of it soon.
Overall though, this online course was very helpful. If I was a teacher, or had to help people learn about leads, I would totally recommend this site.
The only thing that I feel could be added (since the lab was a virtual experience) is a virtual experience of the story you are supposed to write about. Then you could really “feel” like a true reporter. It may be asking for a lot, but I feel like it would be a neat idea.
Still, other than that, this course was almost 100 % perfect.
TOW #6 – Newsworthy?
What is it exactly that makes a story newsworthy? I was looking around for some good tips, and came across a very helpful website. Feel free to take a look at it. Below are each of the 5 points and my views about them. Enjoy!
1. Timing : This is definitely one of the most important aspects of making a story newsworthy. People are constantly wanting to know what is going on in the now. Celebrities, fashion, etc. are very interesting, but only for a certain amount of time. Sometimes it can be as short as a week and people people pay no attention to the stories anymore. Make sure your timing is on time!
2. Significance : As the site explains, the number of people that will be effected by the story is crucial. The more people you include in your story, the more people you will have interested in your news.
3. Proximity : “Home is where the heart is.” This statement can be included in the proximity aspect of stories being newsworthy. People are always interested in things that are affecting them and the people/areas around them. If you are writing stories locally, it will be much more effective than writing a story about Kenya.
4. Prominence : Famous people are… well, famous. If you want your news out and about on the streets, then write about those celebrities and other famous people If you were to tell someone about your new baby sister, that’s great, but it won’t be as impactful if you were to write about the President’s daughter getting pregnant.
5. Human Interest: This type of news writing is a bit different from the above 4 ways to make things newsworthy. In fact, it goes against some of the previous tips. If you are writing human-interest type stories, then you want to appeal to emotion. You do not have to write on only local things. If you can evoke the wanted emotion, then you can write about whatever, wherever.
These tips are a great deal of help when it comes to decided if your information/stories are newsworthy. I’m sure there are plenty of other tips, but following these few will definitely help you in the long run.
