COMM411: Public Relations

5.1: Effective Public Relations Writing

• 5.1.1: Conducting Research

  • Mastering Public Relations: "Chapter 8: Public Relations Research: The Key to Strategy" URL

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    This chapter outlines the importance, purpose, and methods of conducting research, which is the essential first step for effective communications.
    

• 5.1.2: Reference Materials for Proper Writing Style

  • The Associated Press Stylebook URL

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    Consider obtaining this official guide to writing in AP style, a standard form for most newspapers in the United States. If you are going to do extensive work with the news media, it is a worthwhile investment to purchase this book. This book serves as an example of how a well-written press release uses AP style, provides cross-promotion with social media, and injects company information and contact detail. To see AP style at work, do a Google search for "AP style" and visit several pages that may give examples of the AP style rules applied to specific instances of writing. In the United States, you will also find newspapers serving your community typically use AP style, so you can examine those as well for samples of the style rules.

• 5.1.3: Writing Primers

  • Steven R. Van Hook's "Best Writing Tips" URL

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    Watch this video for suggestions on how to immediately improve your written communication skills. Public relations professionals spend lots of times writing things like internal and external communications, media releases, company reports, and memos. This video discusses six tips on how to do it much better.

  • Improving Your Writing URL

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    Read these articles written by PR experts who specialize in public relations writing. Your time spent learning how to communicate more effectively with the news media and improving your writing skills will help ensure the success of your immediate campaigns as well as your ongoing professional career.
    

    • Thomas Klipstine's "How to Communication More Effectively"
      
    • Marcia Yudkin's "Six No-Hype Copywriting Techniques"
      
    • Daphne Gray-Grant's "Dramatically Improve PR Writing Skills"
      
    • Ann Wylie's "Improve Your Team's Writing Skills"