Effective Writing Skills for Public Relations
Effective Writing Skills for Public Relations
Unlike most of the “basic” and “how-to” books you encounter in the field the series isn’t written by and or academics as a part of their unwritten “publish or perish” guidelines. If Effective Writing Skills is any measure of the 10 other books in the series, the IPR has taken a very pro-active step in ensuring people entering the field are well grounded in the very basics of the practice. The IPR’s efforts are also directed at seasoned practitioners to encourage them to take a long hard look their skill set so they can be more effective.
As tough as it is to admit, those of us in fast-paced, dynamic and technically advanced colonies can learn considerable from our brethren on the British Isles. They know such activities as issues and crisis management; employee, minority and outreach relations and community and government (lobbying) relations are important. But they also understand that if you can’t clearly and concisely define and articulate/spread your organization’s position on the various topics you might as well be an orally-challenged speaker in front of an angry mob.
A freelance journalist, Foster took on a difficult challenge and succeeded admirably. He forces you to start back at the very beginning by examining writing style, punctuation, the avoidance of cliches and jargon and making your writings…easy to read!
He forces you to remember that you aren’t writing to impress your boss or your client but for the press – print, radio and TV. Come on, admit it. Do phrases like “the world’s leading,” “the most widely used,” “the most technically advanced,” as well as the self-congratulatory quotes from the CEO really add anything to the piece you’re sending out? Do they really sway the editor or reporter?
You do it. We do it. But does it add anything to the effectiveness of what you’re writing? Will it be included in the final article that is printed or the news item that is read? Will you get fired by not including these hackney phrases or will you be shown the door by not getting coverage for your company, client and/or product? Usually the latter is the measure of your success or failure.
In a broader scope that usually isn’t touched on much in today’s college curriculum, Foster also covers the skills and styles of the office including letter, memo and e-mail writing.
Foster also touches on another area in his tightly written 156 pages that we believe few general practitioners concern themselves with … presentations. We’re the first to admit that in 10 pages it is impossible to make you a polished PowerPoint presentation developer, speechwriter and presenter. But the chapter does make you understand that presentations are a vital portion of total public relations and it helps you avoid many of the mistakes that can be damaging to the company…and your career.
One of the most important aspects of the public relations programs we carry out for clients is developing speaking summaries for selected audiences and pitching them to conference, convention and research organizations to enable our executives to directly reach, educate, inform and persuade potential business partners and customers.
Exposure to this near-one-to-one communications tool can be useful and beneficial.
Okay, maybe we’re being overly enthusiastic about our impression that American public relations students and practitioners should be reading and putting into practice the information garnered from Effective Writing Skills.
For example, we’re not exactly certain but we believe curriculum vitae (CV) is really a resume. We seldom write about or address royalty, people of peerage, baronets or MPs. But we can assure you that if the occasion arises we’ll rush to Foster’s guidelines.
Practitioners in England and for that matter the whole of Europe do spell many words with extra letters, treat dates in an odd fashion and tend to be a “little more” formal than we are in our writing. But then forcing ourselves to be slightly more formal may not be all bad in our ultra-relaxed “one big happy family” approach to business and personal communications and relationships.
If you’re new to Public Relations, read and “translate” Effective Writing Skills. If you’re a practitioner with “several” years behind you, take a look at Foster’s work to brush up or sanity check the quality and clarity of your release, article, position paper, letter and email writing.
It never hurts to be well founded in the basics.
#################
Effective Writing Skills for Public Relations - To learn more about this author, visit Andy Marken's Website.
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Produced jointly by Kagen Page publishing and Britain’s Institute of Public Relations, Effective Writing Skills is one of a series of practical business/trade/art books designed to specifically help people who are entering or are in the industry do something basic and unique…improve their skills.
Unlike most of the “basic” and “how-to” books you encounter in the field the series isn’t written by and or academics as a part of their unwritten “publish or perish” guidelines. If Effective Writing Skills is any measure of the 10 other books in the series, the IPR has taken a very pro-active step in ensuring people entering the field are well grounded in the very basics of the practice. The IPR’s efforts are also directed at seasoned practitioners to encourage them to take a long hard look their skill set so they can be more effective.
As tough as it is to admit, those of us in fast-paced, dynamic and technically advanced colonies can learn considerable from our brethren on the British Isles. They know such activities as issues and crisis management; employee, minority and outreach relations and community and government (lobbying) relations are important. But they also understand that if you can’t clearly and concisely define and articulate/spread your organization’s position on the various topics you might as well be an orally-challenged speaker in front of an angry mob.
A freelance journalist, Foster took on a difficult challenge and succeeded admirably. He forces you to start back at the very beginning by examining writing style, punctuation, the avoidance of cliches and jargon and making your writings…easy to read!
He forces you to remember that you aren’t writing to impress your boss or your client but for the press – print, radio and TV. Come on, admit it. Do phrases like “the world’s leading,” “the most widely used,” “the most technically advanced,” as well as the self-congratulatory quotes from the CEO really add anything to the piece you’re sending out? Do they really sway the editor or reporter?
You do it. We do it. But does it add anything to the effectiveness of what you’re writing? Will it be included in the final article that is printed or the news item that is read? Will you get fired by not including these hackney phrases or will you be shown the door by not getting coverage for your company, client and/or product? Usually the latter is the measure of your success or failure.
In a broader scope that usually isn’t touched on much in today’s college curriculum, Foster also covers the skills and styles of the office including letter, memo and e-mail writing.
Foster also touches on another area in his tightly written 156 pages that we believe few general practitioners concern themselves with … presentations. We’re the first to admit that in 10 pages it is impossible to make you a polished PowerPoint presentation developer, speechwriter and presenter. But the chapter does make you understand that presentations are a vital portion of total public relations and it helps you avoid many of the mistakes that can be damaging to the company…and your career.
One of the most important aspects of the public relations programs we carry out for clients is developing speaking summaries for selected audiences and pitching them to conference, convention and research organizations to enable our executives to directly reach, educate, inform and persuade potential business partners and customers.
Exposure to this near-one-to-one communications tool can be useful and beneficial.
Okay, maybe we’re being overly enthusiastic about our impression that American public relations students and practitioners should be reading and putting into practice the information garnered from Effective Writing Skills.
For example, we’re not exactly certain but we believe curriculum vitae (CV) is really a resume. We seldom write about or address royalty, people of peerage, baronets or MPs. But we can assure you that if the occasion arises we’ll rush to Foster’s guidelines.
Practitioners in England and for that matter the whole of Europe do spell many words with extra letters, treat dates in an odd fashion and tend to be a “little more” formal than we are in our writing. But then forcing ourselves to be slightly more formal may not be all bad in our ultra-relaxed “one big happy family” approach to business and personal communications and relationships.
If you’re new to Public Relations, read and “translate” Effective Writing Skills. If you’re a practitioner with “several” years behind you, take a look at Foster’s work to brush up or sanity check the quality and clarity of your release, article, position paper, letter and email writing.
It never hurts to be well founded in the basics.
#################
Effective Writing Skills for Public Relations - To learn more about this author, visit Andy Marken's Website.
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