the type of news release (image-building, cause-promoting, etc.), communications homework help

1. News often comes to the journalist in the form of news releases. But they’re not intended to take the place of reporting.

2.They are a help and a hindrance.

1. Help— without them, organizations would need many more reporters.
2. Hindrance— they are, by nature, not objective.

3. Reporters must know what to do with a news release.

• TYPES OF NEWS RELEASES

1. Announcement releases— events, personnel moves, etc., designed to promote good will, get free publicity.
2. Cause-promoting releases— announcements that seek to further a cause.
3. Image-building releases— announcements that seek to burnish image and reputation; politicians, for example.

• HANDLING THE NEWS RELEASE— contact information beyond the official contact; release date

1. Rewriting the announcement release— even simple calendar items should be rewritten; some newspapers require all releases to be rewritten.Check facts, spelling of names; do additional reporting if time allows. Correct violations of AP style

2. Rewriting the cause-promoting release.– Again, do the necessary reporting, and look for human interest.

3. Rewriting the image-building release.– Avoid quotes by politicians unless you speak to them. Confirm any relevant information.

• News-release stories can often trigger other stories.
• REWRITING A NEWS RELEASE—

1. Reading the news release carefully — make notes, consider biases of organization that distributed the release.
2. Checking for accuracy and fairness— what is missing, and what are other viewpoints?
3. Especially check studies, polls, etc., for accuracy.
4. Doing additional research and interviews— do your own reporting!
5. Getting back to the news release contact with questions— only after you have done fact-checking and reporting.
6. Writing the story — tight, follows AP style, and with a lead that communicates the news.
   1. Don’t be satisfied with the way news releases are written or with the information they contain.

2.Put together a more informative, more accurate story.

3.Seek to clarify and correct as necessary.