How to write a press release?

What is a media release?

A media release is almost like a news article but it is distrubuted to news organisations to for them to publish. As a Public Relations consultant a client will come up to you and you will have to write a news release that is news worthy. It is often written in an inverted pyramid. Press releases are often sent through fax to various news outlets.

Get the word out

http://www.getthewordout.com.au/articles/mediareleasetemplate.htm
Get the word out is a website that has a media release template for those who are having difficulty with the set out of a media release. When first taught how to write a media release lecturers often get you to find templates or examples own your own. It also provides you information on what to do when you have finished writing your media release. In regards to distrubuting it and to what organisations/ persons that your media release would relate to.

News Gallery Template

http://www.newsgallery.com.au/Media%20Release%20Template.doc
This is another template of how to write a media release from the news gallery, it is encouraged to look at several media releases because there are often different styles to suit the story. This style used mostly is a business corporate style, it is a very professional layout compared to the other ones.

ABC Template

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/btn/teachers/activitysheets/2006/ep11/1605media.doc
This media release template is from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, as well as a media release template it has tips on how to write a successful one as well as quizzes to see how inclined you are with the media. This is very significant because as a PR consultant you must be aware of the media because it may relate to the media release that you are about to get published.

Queensland Media release template

http://www.gcbf.qld.gov.au/acknowledging-funding/launch-events/media-releases.shtml

The Queensland Government providing an example of how to write a press release. It also provides information on how to organise an event, dealing with the media, acknowledging and funding support and how to launch an official event. This website is enhances my topic because in PR writing media releases is an important role as a PR consultant and by obtaining as much information on how to write one will only make you perfect it. This site is very good it shows exactly what they expect from a media release step by step.

Where to get your press releases published?

The Asia Pacific Public Relations Journal

http://www.deakin.edu.au/arts/apprj/

The Asia pacific public relations journal publishes original papers on public relations and related areas. The Journal encourages papers in research, theory, professional practice, comment, case studies and book reviews to be published on the site. This enhances my topic because it allows amateurs a place to publish their content to add to their profile, because experience will get you a long way through public relations.

Where to watch spin in Public Relations?

Spinwatch

http://www.spinwatch.org/

Spinwatch monitors Public relations and spin, it has the latest news, articles, news feeds, videos, links and many more. This site enhances my topic because it shows you examples of spin that is currently occuring. Spin is when someone gets a story and puts their spin on it, it almost sensationalises the story. I think this site is good because it is another site that is like media watch but isn't just general it's main focus is Public Relations. And it warns you that if you become a dodgy public relations consultant that someone is always watching and that you may get caught out.

Press releases online

Public Relations Newswire

http://www.prnewswire.com/

Public relations Newswire provides access to breaking news directly from thousands of organizations who use PR Newswire to release their news. This site enhances my topic because when you write a press release you can submit it here and the it has world wide coverage which would be a benefit. This site is good, very interesting and it just shows that Public relations plays an important role in todays news. And you may be able to get your work published on this website as well.

Public Relations Web

Press release newswire

http://www.prweb.com/

Public relations web press release is a press release distributor. It has a variety of press release that are made from various organisations and sectioned into categories. This enhances my topic because it may help a Public relations consultant to find press releases similar to them and differ their stories or maybe link some issues together. It also has the potential to get your work published here as well.

How to apply for a grant funding?

PIRSA Minerals

http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/minerals/initiatives/pace/theme_2/how_to_apply_for_grant_funding PIRSA Minerals is an organisation that is offering grant funding to the public. It shows you what the form looks like that they want you to fill out and how to submit it before the closing date. Public relations consultant often look for funding for organisations that are lacking money and need assistance. This site enhance my topic because as a PR consultant you will have to find grants to suit the your client sometimes, and it would be good to look at how different organisation offer their grants because the format is not always the same.

Arts Connect

http://www.artsconnect.com.au/artnews/01_jbseed.htm
Arts connect and it is an example of another organisation that offers grant funding but this organisation is offering grants for musicians and artist. This grant is being offered from the Australian band John Butler Trio. This enhances my topic because it shows the adversity of grant funding and that there are several little funding grants that will suit your client, it is very broad not one dimensional.

What is an executive summary?

Executive Summary

http://www.macedon-ranges.vic.gov.au/Files/CommunicationPlan_draft0307.pdf

This website shows new Public relations students an example of an executive summary. An executive summary is used when you interview a client and find out what their situation is and what they want from your consultancy.The executive summary includes a 10 pount plan that we are often referred too when speaking with clients. This site enhances my topic because it sets an example of what an executive summary looks like to easily familarise the student with what they would one day be doing as a PR consultant.

How to choose a spokesperson?

Marketing, media and post centre

http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/marketing/marketing_article.jsp?articleId=1544

The Marketing, media and post centre and it is a site that provides information on how to choose a spokesperson that would be suitable to your story. It offers tips and information on why to choose a spokesperson. This enhances my topic because as a PR consultant when you hold a press conference for your client you have to be able to choose a worthy spokesperson who knows what they are talking about and are passionate about the clients' organistaion.

What degree you need to become a Public Relations consultant?

Job Guide

http://jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au/text/statespecific.cfm?mode=showstate&jobid=240&state_id=QLDmode=showstate&jobid=240&state_id=QLD

Job guide provides you with information on what kind of degree you will need to become a public relations officer as well as a range of universities that offer Public relations degree. This enhances my topic because it shows a a high school student who is just graduating from high school what they need to do to become a PR consultant as well as what university's they can choose from that offer this degree.

My Future

http://www.myfuture.edu.au/services/default.asp?FunctionID=5050&ASCO=222111A

Occupational information tells you the facts about being a public relations officer with how much you will be expected to earn as well as requirements of what you have to have to be qualified. This enhances my topic because it shows a beginner what to expect from PR and what you have to do to be qualified.

Bridging the gap between Journalists and Public Relations

Media Connect

http://www.mediaconnect.com.au/
Media connect provides online tools and information services to help bridge the gap between journalists and public relations professionals. It also helps companies to build a more effective meaningful media relations. This site enhances my topic because PR and Journalist often hate each other, and this site is trying to bridge the gap between them which is very interesting. This site is good because it shows the difference between Journalists and Public relations roles as well as how they counteract with each other even if they don't want too.

What is media relations?

Media Relations

http://www.mediarelations.com.au/
Media relations is an organisation that deals with media relations and it offers more information of how to build media relations, what it entails and what to expect as well as a Public relations role as a whole. This enhances my topic because I have shown alot of Public Relations consultancies but I haven't showed an example of media relations which is similar but a little different. And it is important to know the difference.

Tips and Hints in Public Relations

Public Relations Infulences

http://www.prinfluences.com.au/
Public relations influences provides tips and hints in Public relations as well as issues in media relations. It shows how to manage Public relations and crisis and issues management. This site enhances my topic because there are several issues that can arise when you are planning a press conference or when you choose to launch your event and it is very handy to have a guideline of what to do in a crisis.

How to make a media list?

Margaret Gee's Media Guide

http://www.cserver.com.au/mglive/
Margaret Gee's media guide will help you make a media list easily because Margaret Gee’s has already researched several contact details and has compiled them into a book as well as an online website. This topic enhances my topic because when you write a media release you have to also compile a list of which media outlets would be best suited to your media release and Margaret Gee has done the hard yards for you. I think this is a great site, it is often difficult to get people's contacts because they just don't hand it over, with this site it makes it easier.

How to deal with the media?

ABC

http://www.abc.net.au/programsales/s1464461.htm
ABC teaches you about the media and how news is made. This enhances my topic because it allows beginner PR consultants to easily understand how to deal with the media with workshops as well as examples of rundowns and scripts. It is primarily based on students learning new content. I think it is a great site because it shows examples of what the ABC expect from PR consultants which would be of pretty high standard compared to community organisations.

Where to find a Public Relations job

Career One

http://jobs.careerone.com.au/js.php?qMiles=15&qField=All&qSort=smart&qMatch=all&pp=20&view=1&q=pr&qCity=&qState=&qCountry=Australia&fromSearch.x=0&fromSearch.y=0 Career one and the site has a variety of job advertisements, this site shows examples of what organisations are looking at recruiting people. It also shows what they expect from you and how to apply to the company to gain the job. This site is looking for PR consultants nation wide but it can be narrowed down to suit the person. This site is very good for people that have finished studying at university and want to look for a job in their area.

My Career

http://mycareer.com.au/jobs/-/public-relations-communications/media-relations/


My career and it is a website that allows people to apply for jobs online, this specific site is based primarily on a media relations job search. This enhances my topic because it allows graduates to find a job within a business that is suitable to them.

How to get help in Public Relations increase media coverage?

Bulldog Reporter

http://www.bulldogreporter.com/

The Bull dog reporter and it has information on helping public relations professionals increase media coverage through smarter pitching. It has advice from top journalists and leading experts, alot of tips and news on advanced technology in practice for public relations and many more. This enhances my topic because although it may be easy to write a press release you have to use succinct words to sell your story and this site gives you tips on how to do that.

Public Relation's Comapanies

Dennis Rutzou Public Relations

http://www.drpr.com.au/
This is an actual Public Relations organisation called Dennis Rutzou Public Relations that is a member of the PRIA, this will give insight of what a Public Relations person does as well as knowing what to expect when you first start in the business. It may provide the opportunity to apply for a job with this organisation. This site enhances my topic because it sets an example of what kind of consultancy they are, for easy comparison to others. The overall look of the site makes the organisation look well established.

BBS

http://www.bbspr.com.au/Aboutus/index.aspx
BBS is a very professional and is one of Australia’s largest and experienced strategic public relations consultancies. This site will provide you with information on what will be expected of you if you were to start off in a very successful organisation. This site enhances my topic because it shows you what do PR consultants i a higher rank do compared to those who have a small business.

What not to do in Public Relations?

Public Relations Disaster

http://www.prdisasters.com/

Public Relations disasters is a website that provides information on real life dilemmas that can occur during PR. This site is written by PR analyst and author Gerry McCusker it has case studies from business, marketing public relations, celebrities, government, politics and many more. It also gives examples of 'naughty public relations agencies' and 'botched PR jobs'. This website is very handy for this career path because it tells up and coming PR consultants what not to do. The material in this site is exceptional because sometimes people aren't aware how much PR people can get away with, it is almost like media watch.

The Guidelines for a Public Relations Practitioner

Alliance

http://www.alliance.org.au/
Alliance online is about the union and professional organisation that covers everyone in the media, entertainment, sports and arts industries. It gives a general idea of how they can help you out if you are having problems in the workplace. This enhances my topic because it is good to know what kind of union is available for a public relations consultant.

The Australian Indigenous Communications Incorporation

http://www.aica.asn.au/


The Australian Indigenous Communications Incorporation advocates for and formulates policy on behalf of the national Indigenous Media and Communications Industry. This enhances my topic because when you do a media release based on Indigenous issues it is often a sensitive issue that has specific ways to address them. This sight provides insight on that and is very helpful.

Public relations Institute of Australia

http://www.pria.com.au/

Public relations Institute of Australia website provides PR consultants on the ethics of this practice as well as the guidelines that we must follow. It offers a wide range of information on how to get a job in PR as well as offering job recruiting and scholarships. This website enhances my topic because this is the official guideline for public relations, we are taught in our studies to follow these guidelines to prevent us from having to deal with complications further on in our career.

What is Public Relations?

All about Public Relations

http://aboutpublicrelations.net/index.htm
About Public relations made by Steven R. Van Hook. This site provides information public relations, internships, a tool kit on how to PR, agencies and a wide range of topics that are addressed if you are unfamiliar with public relations. This site enhances my topic because it allows beginners to know exactly what PR is about and give them the chance to see if they really want to follow in this career path. I think this site is great because it is very straight forward and it will help a lot of people. When I first started studying PR I didn't know what it was!

Online Public Relations

http://www.online-pr.com/
Online Public Relations includes information about Public Relations, general media information, PR jobs, career links, job hunting tips and many more. This site enhances my topic because it is very basic and straight forward and the more information and the help you can get on PR the better you will succeed. This site is good because it is very easy to understand, although the imagery is very bland.