News Story

News Story You should already have chosen an event, started to learn about it and contacted key people to in" rel="nofollow">interview. If you haven't, or if your event has fallen through for one reason or another, here's a way to salvage the assignment: fin" rel="nofollow">ind a local farmer's market. They're all over the place, and very trendy as people look for local, fresh food. If it's a weekend farmer's market, go to this weekend's event to experience it and talk to participants: buyers, sellers, organizers. Gather the in" rel="nofollow">info you need for your press release. Then, go back next week to cover it as a news story for the next assignment. Your press release can in" rel="nofollow">include in" rel="nofollow">information (from good web sources) about the growth of farmer's markets, local food sourcin" rel="nofollow">ing, etc. Now, let's talk about actually writin" rel="nofollow">ing the assignment. We'll start with the basics. You will be writin" rel="nofollow">ing PR -public relations - rather than news. In news, you are expected to be objective, tellin" rel="nofollow">ing good and bad, not takin" rel="nofollow">ing sides. In PR (and advertisin" rel="nofollow">ing) you take a side -you represent your client or employer. In most circumstances, that means accentuatin" rel="nofollow">ing the good about what you are promotin" rel="nofollow">ing and generally not talkin" rel="nofollow">ing about the bad. So, you're tellin" rel="nofollow">ing one side of a story. P 0 Yi First, read the tips on the page. Note that you are to refrain" rel="nofollow">in from hyperbole (This is the greatest thin" rel="nofollow">ing ever! Everyone will love it! You have to attend!) Just give the facts. Next, click on the lin" rel="nofollow">ink to the sample press release template. You are welcome to use this template as you craft your assignment. Of course, you can't write a press release until you learn everythin" rel="nofollow">ing you can about the event. That's why the assignment (pasted below) requires you to quote at least two people whom you in" rel="nofollow">interviewed. (More is always better.) Contact me if you need help. Writin" rel="nofollow">ing Assignment For your event coverage exercise, you have pitched one event that you can cover as both a journalist and a strategic communications specialist. This week, you are previewin" rel="nofollow">ing the event in" rel="nofollow">in a press release. Assume the person or organization puttin" rel="nofollow">ing on the event has hired you to build in" rel="nofollow">interest. Your job is to serve the client's needs and wishes. Assignment Expectations: • Answer who, what, where, when, why and how. • Preview the event in" rel="nofollow">in a way that will build in" rel="nofollow">interest and participation in" rel="nofollow">in it. • Interview people you don't know. • Your paper should in" rel="nofollow">include at least two human sources. Be sure to in" rel="nofollow">include their complete names and titles. • This assignment must be written in" rel="nofollow">in third person. • Length is 300 to 400 words. Include a word count. • Correctly attribute facts and opin" rel="nofollow">inions. • Contin" rel="nofollow">inue to use AP style. • Write for the client. • Turn in" rel="nofollow">in in" rel="nofollow">interview notes. You may hand in" rel="nofollow">in notes by (a) typin" rel="nofollow">ing them up and addin" rel="nofollow">ing them at the bottom of your essay, (b) scannin" rel="nofollow">ing them in" rel="nofollow">in and in" rel="nofollow">includin" rel="nofollow">ing that electronic document with your essay, or (c) photographin" rel="nofollow">ing them and submittin" rel="nofollow">ing the photo(s) with your essay.