Month: March 2010

Let the Sun Shine In

March 14-20 is Sunshine Week. After this winter, we could all use a week of sunshine, but that’s not what this week is about. It’s about openness in government and letting the light in.

Journalists are the only profession protected by the U.S. Constitution and so they carry a heavy burden – most are happy to do so. When citizens don’t want to sit through a mind numbing four-hour council meeting, reporters do. When we don’t want to wade through thousands of documents to discover the truth, journalists do.

Sunshine Week is an initiative spearheaded by the American Society of News Editors to educate the public about the importance of open government and the dangers of excessive and unnecessary secrecy. It coincides with James Madison’s birthday and National Freedom of Information Day on March 16.

The initiative is working as people are playing more of a role in the actions of their communities, according to the Sunshine Week Web site. They are learning what kinds of information they have a right to see, where to get it, how to get it and what to do if someone tries to keep it from them.

NFPW supports such openness year round through its First Amendment Network. You can join any time (no charge!) through the NFPW Web site or during the NFPW Communications Conference in Chicago, Aug. 26-28.

Nebraska Press Women member Diane Wetzel wrote an article for The North Platte Telegraph pointing out a major contribution that Nebraska made to the legal interpretation of the First Amendment. Visit the NFPW  Web site to read the entire article.

Keep the light shining!

Getting Face Time on Talk Radio

One of the nice things about writing a blog is hearing from other communicators. Arlene Uslander of Arizona Press Women wrote to be about a review she wrote on “Talk Radio Wants You: An Intimate Guide to 700 Shows and How to Get Invited” by Francine Silverman.

Arlene notes that radio interviews are easier than ever because you can do them by phone and it really helps her to promote her books. But how do you find the right show for your expertise? Most radio Web sites and listings do not include information about the show’s themes or guest criteria.
That’s where “Talk Radio Wants You” comes into play. Silverman presents the host’s bio, contact information and best method of contact. Arlene notes that Silverman “delves into the host’s psyche, not simply for the show’s theme and guest profile, but for his or her opinion on the best and worst guests and whom to invite back, along with interview tips.”

“Silverman’s unique reference guide is designed for anyone with a product or service to promote who wants to go on radio,” Arlene says.

“Talk Radio Wants You: An Intimate Guide to 700 Shows and How to Get Invited” is available at http://www.talkradioadvocate.com, from the publisher at http://www.mcfarlandpub.com and from book stores and Amazon.com.

To Err is Human, But Proofreading Helps

Proofreading is a lost art, I’ve decided.

Most people think if you simply read the story one more time, you’ll catch any mistakes. They also think that spell- and grammar-check will catch everything else.

But that’s not how it works. I learned basic copy editing symbols when I worked in newspapers. When I worked in the Federal Reserve System, I really learned how to proofread. One of my colleagues taught me some good tips. It was especially critical with all the numbers I had to review. Printers and designers helped me, too.

Since I just finished editing and proofing a stack of copy, I thought I’d share a few with you.

  • It’s best to print a copy of your piece and edit on paper. Use wide margins and double-space.
  • Use a different font (Courier is good because it’s non-proportional). You are concentrating on the words, not the appearance.
  • Make the corrections on the paper. Then transfer the corrections to the computer, crossing them off on paper as you go.
  • Use a red, purple or green (any color other than black or blue) pen to mark up your text. Use another color to cross them out as you transfer them to the computer.
  • Read your work out loud. You will be more focused than if you read silently. (I resisted this one for years, but it really works!)
  • Read backwards (from the bottom of the page upwards). It will make the words unfamiliar and unnatural in order so you are more likely to find mistakes.

I hope these help to make your writing error free. If you have others, please share.

Great Press Releases Take Work

Many reporters are seeking jobs as public relations practitioners. It’s a natural transition because for years they covered news, which means they know what is of interest to reporters.

Writing a press release, though, isn’t like writing a news story. And since the media is bombarded with hundreds of releases each day, how do you make your release stand out?

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Write your release about something that people are interested in. Ask the question, “Why should anyone care?” Make sure the release has some news values such as timeliness, uniqueness or something truly unusual. Focus on the aspects of your news items that truly set you apart from everyone else. Just because your organization thinks it’s newsworthy, doesn’t mean that it is.

Start strong. Most reporters don’t have to write headlines, but when writing a press release, it’s the headline that grabs attention. It must be clever, unique and to the point. Then write a strong opening paragraph. You have seconds to grab your readers’ attention.

Write with a point. Press releases need to be about only one topic. It must be focused. What is the message that you want to convey?

Write tight. Reporters tell the whole story, but when you write a press release, you can’t do that. The goal of a press release is to get the media interested and then respond to ask questions. A long press release will not be read. Ideally, releases should be one page.

Write and then rewrite. A good reporter rewrites his or her story and then same holds true for those who write press releases. Write the first draft and edit it. Have someone else read and edit the release. Be especially critical of the first few paragraphs as they are the most important to the story. Often it is the only part of a release that the media uses.