Writing skill is the fundamental core competency of the communication/public relations professional. Why? What will you do to improve your PR writing style and ability once you graduate?
A question for my Spring 2014 semester public relations writing students
May 1, 2014 by Les Potter
Posted in Writing | Tagged Communication, Jobs in PR, Millennial Generation, Public Relations Writing, Storytelling, Strategic Communication, Teaching Communication/PR, Words | 37 Comments
37 Responses
Leave a reply to Lindsay Cogott Cancel reply
Why is Les Potter blogging?
To create a learning community: 1. To continue learning by blogging for current and former students and friends. 2. To help prepare my students for successful participation in the social media revolution (and me, too). 3. To enable my current and former students and friends to help me be a better instructor. 4. To connect current and former students with my incredible network of professional friends and colleagues, and vice versa.-
Recent Posts
- Critics be damned, Rod McKuen was genuinely loved
- A question for my fall semester 2014 Public Relations Writing students
- A question for my summer 2014 Public Relations Writing students
- Vergara v. California ruling, a great thing for education
- A question for my Spring 2014 semester public relations writing students
Subscribe by RSS
Categories
- Advertising
- Better instruction
- Blogging
- Branding
- Cable Television
- Careers
- Comm/PR/IMC careers
- Communication
- Corporate Communication
- Crisis communication management
- Education
- Imagery
- Instructional design
- Integrated Marketing Communication
- Interpersonal communication
- Journalism
- Just for fun
- Language
- Legal and ethical issues
- Life in general
- Literature
- Marketing
- Media
- Media Relations
- Music
- Organizational Communication
- Philosophy
- PR and ethics
- Problem-solving
- Professional associations
- Professional development
- Public relations
- Reading
- Research
- Rod McKuen
- Social media
- Social media and PR/IMC
- Strategic communication/PR
- Strategic Communication/Public Relations/Integrated Marketing Communication
- Strategic planning
- Technology
- Writing
- Writing/Editing
Recent Comments
suresh dorge on Social media, the new grapevin… Jalen Ditto on Legal and ethical issues when… jameson armstrong on Legal and ethical issues when… silas prather on Legal and ethical issues when… Jalen Ditto on Legal and ethical issues when… Archives
- February 2015
- December 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- November 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
To subscribe:
About Les Potter
Lester R. Potter, MBA, ABC, IABC Fellow, is a Senior Lecturer in the PR Track, Mass Comm. department, of Towson University, Maryland. He is "ABD" (all but dissertation) for a doctorate in Instructional Technology at Towson. He began his academic career in 2004. Previously, Potter was president of Les Potter Incorporated, an international consulting firm he founded in 1998. Prior to that, he held various integrated marketing communication management positions with for profit and nonprofit organizations. Email Les at lpotter@towson.eduPages
Good writing essentially is communicating logically and concisely–at least in the PR and associated fields. To maintain–and improve–your skills, you need to write a lot and, importantly, revise everything you write before distributing it. Furthermore, you should read good writers and learn from them. Read with a critical eye. Notice what works and what does not. Even the best can often use some editing.
And if you really want to improve, teach. Teaching how to write–even if you have just one student–forces you to become a better writer so that your students can have a model.
Writing skills are key to anyone in the communication field, especially PR. We don’t have formulas to figure out taxes like accountants, and we don’t have tools to fix things like handy men. Words are the tools and formulas for a PR writer. If you cannot put out there what you want to say, how you want to say it, and make it understood by anyone that can read it, then the communication field is not for you. You have to be able to take an idea, condense it, and make sure people understand what you are saying, all while having perfect grammar. Writing represents a person, a client, or sometimes even an entire organization. Without correct writing skill you could not be taken seriously, or you could not even get hired without correct skill.
In addition to proper grammar, you must know how to make your ideas flow together nicely and make sense while doing so. You also need the skills to know what information is important and what information you can cut out while writing a piece. When you begin to learn what is news and what the public wants to know, you will reach your audience fully and clearly.
Social media is another huge way writing skills are crucial to a PR professional. Most of the writing is by a post, tweet, or comment, and if you don’t have correct grammar, the consumers will see you as unprofessional. You can’t explain to your follows exactly what you mean. Writing on social media is your communication with your followers, so make sure it is concise, correct, and personable.
To improve writing skills, you must continue writing. The more you write, the more you edit, and the more you improve. You can also practice by reading what you write out-loud. This will help you better understand how the readers will “hear” your writing. You can also catch mistakes by reading your work out-loud before submitting or posting it.
In the communications field, the ability to write well is probably one of the most important skills for a professional to have. When communication is dissected, the two most important and common communication styles are verbal communication and written communication. The goal of the PR professional is to take these two styles and communicate to a designated audience on behalf of his or her client. If the professional is unable to take ideas and turn it into a clear written message for the audience they have failed. Proper grammar/spelling, clarity and correct formats should be the goals of a PR professional in regards to communication, especially in writing. If a person is unable to fulfill these goals, a career in the communication field will be very short lived. In short, superior writing skills are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for success in communications and especially public relations.
Writing style and ability are not something that is learned and perfected all at once, it is a process and can always be improved upon. As a person that would like a successful career in public relations, I plan on continuing to do things that will help me improve my writing skills even after I graduate. A few things I plan on doing include reading different works to see examples of what good writing actually is, attending graduate school to refine my writing and public relations skills in general and I also plan on writing more because everyone knows that practice makes perfect!
-Aerick Hairston, future PR executive
The ability to write well within both the communication and PR fields is without a doubt essential to achieve success. Whether you are writing informally or formally, proper grammar and presenting ideas and concepts in a organized manner are important to remember. Below, I will emphasize on the two main elements that in my personal opinion are needed to be or to become a successful writer in the communication and PR fields.
The ability to use proper grammar when one writes is key to the communication and PR fields. Why? Because who wants to read a post, story, or article that has spelling errors or commas all over the place? If you ask me, that would be a big turn off. When someone has acquired writing with proper grammar, readers will believe in the writer and his or her credibility will more than likely rise. In addition, the writer will be seen as someone who cares about what he or she is writing about and a result readers will be more than likely enjoy reading what the person has to say.
Organization is also another key element. When ideas and concepts flow, readers will be able to easily understand what they are reading. The reader should not have to stop after every sentence or paragraph and think to themselves, ” What the HECK is this about? or What did I just read?!”. Those are just examples of things I tend to think when I read an extremely unorganized paper, post, or lengthy tweet that uses all 140 characters. Each paragraph should have ONE topic. Not TWO. ONE. In a nut-shell, keeping the ideas and concepts flowing will allow readers to easily understand what they are reading.
Developing good writing skills most definitely takes time and certainly practice. Many people believe that in order to acquire the proper writing skills needed for the communication and PR fields you have to write papers or stories over and over again. Fortunately, that is not the case thanks to the innovation of the internet and several social media sites. Twitter, Facebook, and blogging are all ways that people can use to enhance his or her writing skills. Commenting on and creating blogs is becoming more and more popular amongst people these days because of what they have to offer. There are so many different kinds and types of blogs that serve as a way for people to communicate with one another. Developing a blog does take a lot of work and should definitely be developed by someone who excels in both formal and informal writing skills. If a blogger does not have proper grammar and continues to have misspelt words throughout the blog post, people may not feel that the blogger takes his or her blog serious enough. People enjoy reading blogs that are crisp, organized, has well developed ideas within, and are error free (for the most part..I mean lets be serious…no one has PERFECT grammar right?!). Personally, I am intrigued by bloggers whether they post once every two months or everyday. I read fitness and food blogs almost every week and I truly enjoy them because of what they have to offer. Actually, I have been thinking about starting a fitness blog myself and believe that it could really help others who are just beginning a fitness journey or are fitness guru’s like myself!
In addition to blogging, other social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook are ultimately the ideal ways to improve one’s writing skills. Whether someone is commenting on a photo or comment someone posted or writing a new tweet, that all counts as ways of improving one’s writing skills. It is amazing how often we implement our personal writing styles into our everyday lives. We are always unconsciously enhancing and improving our writing skills.
After graduation I hope to continue writing and hopefully begin the blog I mentioned above! Although I tweet almost everyday I still think that expanding the ways I communicate with others will be beneficial for myself and my writing skills. One day in the near future I hope to become involved with a PR organization because I have truly developed a liking for the different documents that a PR writer has to write (credit goes to Mr. Les Potter for my new interest!).
Writing is essential to the competency of a public relations professional because a public relations specialist can and will not be successful unless he or she can explain difficult concepts in simple terms. This is something that I have recently learned this semester in my public relations writing class. The public relations professional must fully understand how to use the power of the pen. I have also learned that good writing is so valuable in this industry because it can improve an organization as a whole when a good PR writer is explaining the company to itself in a clear, concise, well written way.
It is also beneficial to the company when a PR professional can write so beautifully that it enhances the overall reputation of the company he or she represents. This kind of quality writing is mandatory for a professional in this field. Just like a realtor sells homes PR professionals sell excellent writing and communication skills.
Once I graduate I will take my professor’s advice and join two or three public relations professional associations to improve my PR writing. I am looking to join BPRS, PRSA, and IABC. Hopefully I can take some workshops on public relations that will better my skills and build my growing network.
Excellent writing and grammar skills are critical elements to the success of any communication or PR specialist because they are essential to one’s ability to convey a message to a wide audience. Without good grammar and writing skills the meaning of your messages may be misconstrued. Being clear and concise is the key of effective communication.
The writings of PR specialists are always in the public eye. It is the job of PR personnel to spread new messages through various media sources. Whether it be through a tweet, a blog post, or a news release, the content needs to be well written and easily understood by many different types of people.
A well written piece gives you a better chance of selling your product, enticing donors to support your mission, or convincing investors to invest in your cause. The impact that a well written piece has on all the things is enormous. Investors do not want to see a sloppy proposal for a product or service because it will turn them off and they will give their business to someone else.
Ultimately, competent writing plays a huge role in communication strategy because it allows PR specialists to engage with their customers and utilize two-way communication and the interactivity of social media.
A great way to improve your PR writing style once you graduate is to continue to write. You can look up writing samples that are written by respected authors and practice modifying your own writing style. Practice is key! Another great method to improve your writing is to volunteer for a non- profit organization and write for them. You can also make a blog and keep up with writing posts on topics that interest you to maintain and improve your own unique writing style.
Writing skills is the fundamental core competency of the communications/public relations professional. With this in mind, one must be able to have exceptional writing skills.
PRSA, defines public relations as, “a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.” Thus, if one is unable to express their thoughts through written communication, one will not be able to be successful in the field of public relations.
Writing is critical to convey a message. There is only one chance to make a first impression when writing to the public, client or employer.
Public relations professionals write press releases, speeches, backgrounders, fact sheets, employee communications, newsletters, news articles, bios, annual reports, advertisements, and information for the web. If one doesn’t have good writing skills, one will not be able to effectively execute these tasks. Thus, the public, client or employer is not being benefited.
Upon graduating, I will improve my PR writing style and ability by joining PRSA, networking, maintaing a blog and continue to write for non-profit organizations.
Writing is just another form of communication. As a public relations professional, one must have good writing skills in order to communicate effectively to others. In any profession that involves communicating through writing, one has to know how to write clear and concise sentences.
It is very easy to confuse a written message. Just think of a person texting. There are so many misunderstandings that can happen with one variation of the same word. If someone texted “K,” the person receiving the message might find that person upset or angry with them. That same word typed as “OK!,” conveys happiness and excitement, from just adding a letter and a punctuation mark.
Knowing how and when to use the right punctuation, or the right grammar, is extremely important. A public relations professional would want the audience to interpret the message as intended by the writer. To have that skill of writing is needed for such a task.
To improve your public relations writing skills and style, it is important to read. Read books, blogs, magazines, etc. All text is knowledge. Depending on what specific text you are writing, whether it be a blog or a magazine, it is important to read other writers works. It brings new ideas and interesting styles that you may not have thought of before.
It is also important to continue to write. I once heard that, as a writer, you must continue to work that part of the brain. Meaning, even if it’s just a sloppy piece of work for yourself, any form of writing is good practice and strengthens that creative part of your brain.
Another way to improve one’s writing is to ask for others opinions. Talk to your peers, ones who are good writers themselves, about what they think of a written piece of yours. It is always a great idea to get feedback from someone who can be honest with you. Treat them as your audience. If they like it and understand it, then you know it will be interpreted well by others. If they don’t like it, then use the constructive criticism to grow and learn.
Writing competency is the most important part of the communication/public relations profession because it is the heart of everything a company does. To make useful tools for your company to communicate with its key publics, then those tools/publications need to be written well.
Say a company is coming out with a new product and is making a press release. The person who is writing the release needs to say what they need to say, but in a clear and concise manner. The ability to write well is not the only key to successful writing, but being able to simplify a message without cutting out key facts or information is just as important. The writing has to be concise and short because if a reporter is reading 30 press releases and one press release is 1-2 pages long and has all the needed information and another is 3 pages with the same, needed information, the shorter one will most likely get printed.
For me to improve my writing skills in the future, I have a few ways to help. One way is to start a blog of my own to always be writing and improving my writing. The best way to improve is practice so I think writing for a blog will he me sharpen my writing skill.
Another way is to read articles and press releases and other publications to see how professionals write. See the structure they use, the wording, and organization. Learning from people that have experience and have practiced writing is the best way to learn. Learning how others write and translating it to your own style is the best way to really, effectively make yourself a better writer.
Writing skill is fundamental for any career in communications, especially in public relations because it’s the way that public relations professionals are able to communicate with their audiences and get their messages across. If a public relations professional doesn’t have good writing skills they can’t effectively get their messages to their audience and if they can’t get the right messages to their audiences then it will affect the company or organization as a whole.
As public relations professionals, one of you goals is to maintain the relationship between a company and its public’s, and without good writing skills that would be nearly impossible. Good writing skills allow public relations professionals to help the public understand the brand, product, service, and company better, as well as help the company understand what the public’s needs and wants are. In order for a company to establish a good relationship with its public, they must be able to understand each other and public relations professionals do this.
Without good writing skills public relations professionals wouldn’t be able to create or maintain a relationship with a company and its public because they wouldn’t be able to get the right messages across. For public relations to be effective in all platforms their writing has to appeal to people, their thoughts have to make sense, and their messages have to be written well enough that people understand their thoughts. No one wants to read a poorly written blog post and people are more likely to ignore a tweet with multiple spelling errors, especially those from a company or organization. People with good writing skills make others want to read more and they also write things in ways that won’t be confusing.
I’ve learned a lot throughout the semester and I can say that my writing skills have improved already. However, there is always room to improve even more. Once i graduate, I plan to write a lot more than I do now. I realized this semester that I tend to make the same errors and I’ve started paying attention to what the errors are and i’ll catch myself about to make the same mistake again.
The difference now is that i recognize that it’s a mistake and I can fix it right away. The best thing I can do to improve my public relations writing style and ability would be to practice. By writing a lot and in different styles, I will be more confident with my writing and that will help me improve. You can learn a lot by reading and noticing other people’s writing styles, but you won’t know what your potential or weak area is unless you do some writing yourself and that is what I plan to do.
Writing is an essential skill for anyone with a job in communication or public relations because without proper writing skills one cannot effectively reach the organizations or clients target audience. Without correct writing potential clients will not take you seriously because as a communications and public relations professional it is your job to know how to write effectively for our client. Writing is the foundation of everything public relations professionals do from media releases, press kits, and any form of collateral. Being able to write for different mediums is also a necessity for people in the public relations field. The ability to write for various mediums will also be beneficial for anyone in the public relations field. Anyone that can write for various mediums is a more valuable employee because they will be able to target different audiences based on the medium that they choose to use. Also, clients look to public relations professionals to put their thoughts into clear and concise writing, therefore it is extremely important to be able to write correctly.
To improve my PR writing style I will continue to practice writing, because practice makes perfect. The only way to become a better write is to continuously write, and read other professionals work to see how you should be writing. Also, asking others for help and their opinion will help make me become a better writer, so they can point out mistakes I am making that I may not see. Another way I can improve and become a better writer is by always keeping my audiences viewpoint and organizations goals in mind when I am writing. By doing this my writing will not only be enjoyable to read for my audience, but will get across the clients intended message.
Writing is important for any communication job, espically to have a profession in public relations. In public relations you are expected to produce different media releases that not only the client will see but the public as well. From news releases to, to making a press kit, a public relations employee must know the fundamentals of writing to gain attention from the public.
In my opinion the public relations department of any company is the most important. It is the public relations employee responsibllity to know their audience and get the brand known to the public. Without the brand being known to the public it would be impossible to advertise or market the brand. For example if a company does a poor job at a media event, where they are releasing their press kit, the reporters that attend will have no public release of the brand. However, if the public relations department takes it’s time with the press kit it can give the client a huge success when released to the public.
Writing does not only include knowing your target audience it also includes having good grammer, and doing your research. A press kit or news release has to be carefully thought out and written to perfection to even gain access to be released. A paper that lacks grammer automatically will recieve a denial to be published. It is important that these elements of writing are included in a media release that is produced witin the public relations department.
Once I graduate I will continue to work on my grammer and writing. I plan to excute this action by reading other professional books on writing and practicing. There are jobs not just in communication that will require writing as part of the job. It is important that I continue to teach myself new and different ways to improve my writing. I firmly believe that reading professionals explanation on writing is a good idea to continue my writing development.
Writing can do more than simply transfer information from one individual to another by simply reading it, properly written texts can also break down informational barriers in a single organization or across the globe; without the ability to “translate” information from one style to the next, well-oiled and efficient communication cannot occur. Take for example the medical-technology field: they don’t employ former doctors to fabricate their technological innovations, nor do they stick the technologically inclined in a lab coat to take care of patients. This is a combined effort between the two disciplines, with the obvious drawback of familiarity of information; without the ability to transfer information from one department to the other, the entire company would come to a screeching halt. An effective writer is able to break down information produced by both parties and format an easy-to-use document specific to each department’s learning styles and familiarity with the material. A simple example, but this concept can be applied to any necessary bridge of communication; without an experienced and knowledgeable writer to make the two ends meet, a stalemate would occur until someone took on the responsibilities that a technical writer could accomplish much easier than a novice writer.
Additionally, the ability of a writer to phrase statements in a specific manner or emphasize particular details over another is what public relations is all about. While an inexperienced writer might plainly list all the details regarding to the event at hand, this technique could potentially hinder the effort of the company and the media by producing a product that . Good writers, especially in the PR field, are able to communicate well because they know what the other party is looking for, due to their experience. Without proper formatting and phrasing, everyone else involved in the “communication transaction” is burdened with having to make up for the writer’s mistakes, which cost the institution both time and money, and might cost the writer their job. The value in a writer is placed on their ability to cut time off a project without cutting corners. The less confusion that comes from a memo, backgrounder or news release, the most time individuals involved can spend on their assignments, instead of doubling back and spending time which could be spent otherwise. The writer’s job is to communicate efficiently and effectively in order to get everyone on the same page in order to solidify a combined effort.
The simple fact is that the only way to improve a skill is to practice, not in the traditional sense of repetitive busy-work, but to embrace the tasks that come along with bettering yourself. Reading other’s work, analyzing it and even indulging yourself in helpful hints and suggestions from other successful writers are all productive ways (besides simple writing repetitively) to better the overall craft of writing; musicians improve by listening to other’s compositions, the aspiring writer must do the same.
In any profession the ability to write properly is, in my opinion, one of the most important skills to have. As a PR professional it is expected that you know the basics of written communication. This would involve being able to write a sentence properly and using correct grammar. Being able to write using correct grammar also shows off one’s own professionalism.
Having the ability to write properly is such a blessing when trying to put your message out for the world to see. If you don’t have a clue how to put your message together, good luck trying to convey it to the general public. However, you want to make sure that you fully think the message you are trying to convey through. Sometimes, just like with verbal communication, written communication can be misconstrued and twisted into the opposite of what was trying to be said. With that in mind it is important to know who exactly is going to be viewing your message in order to tailor it to them.
After graduating I intend to keep my writing skills sharp by writing. Writing and writing often, with the help of some editing, is the best way to hone in on being able to write at a higher caliber. Once I am completely finished with school I also plan on reading more since I will have more time to actually read something enjoyable, not just textbooks. But reading is a great way to expand one’s vocabulary as well as explore the different styles of writing authors use. I want to be able to perfect my craft and really stand out among a crowd of PR professionals.
When you ask the average American to describe an occupation that requires a lot of writing, chances are you are not going to hear the words “public relations professional” come out of their mouths. I think it is fairly safe to say that most people would associate writing skill with occupations like journalists and authors – and these people would be correct. Now, I don’t want my journalist friends to take this the wrong way, but I think that PR writers serve as much of a pivotal role in terms of mass communication societal commentary as journalists are.
Most journalists are tasked daily with reporting the news objectively. While we as PR people are also held to an ethical standard to present transparent and fact-based information, PR writing has an additional nuance to it. Public relations specialists have the power to not only acknowledge news and trends, but we also have the power to reframe and reshape the ways people think about things. To be competent and effective at our jobs, however, requires us to be clear and concise writers, so that our message is as clean and simple as it can be. We can also enhance our clarity by having a strong handle on spelling, grammar and punctuation.
I believe that, right now, I am a good writer. I’m meticulous, and it’s seldom that a mistake slips by me. But I also know that as I prepare to enter the workforce as a writer, I can definitely take steps to improve my writing. I know that my writing can definitely be improved by reading all types of materials, which is something I know I will do more of after I graduate.
While reading is a good way to improve my style and ability, I know that in order to get better at something you have to take an active role in learning. The best way to get better at writing is to write, and I look forward to becoming an active blogger after graduation. I see writing and editing as a challenge – how can I say what I want to say in as few words as possible? As I grow as a writer, I look forward to becoming simultaneously more descriptive and more concise.
As a PR professional and communicator, having proper writing skills is a vital tool because it is needed to complete ALL of our tasks. As Pr professionals we are responsible for putting together an array of documents including, press releases, backgrounders, fact sheets, feature articles, radio commercials etc. Thus, it is imperative that the information that we spread between an organization/person and its public is written in a way that is comprehensible, concise and straight to the point. In our job we are expected to know how to write a complete sentence with a subject, verb/predicate, and a complete thought or we would be seen as incompetent.
Writing is and has always been an effective method of communication.You have to know your audience, the message you are delivering and the medium in which you want to deliver it. If you are writing a press release or an information bulletin; you should not write complicated legalese or a technical paper filled with words that only someone in that field would understand.
Once I graduate, I will continue my education and seek my masters in communications. I also will study the writing styles of successful public relations staff. In the near feature I hope to gain an internship, so that I can get first hand experience. I will also study the current trends in communications. Further social media is an area that I will review and practice using until I have expert knowledge. I will know how to blog, utilize RSS feeds and promote my client through all the social networks. Communications is a continual learning process and I will keep abreast of emerging technologies and different theories.
Writing is an imperative skill needed when it comes to Public Relations. This is not necessarily because PR requires professionals to be able to write novels, but more so because PR is a career that emphasizes the importance of being clear and concise in a well designed method of communication. Writing, in this instance, is an important skill to have because it can affect the way a message is communicated or perceived. That is to say, whether it’s in a newsletter, a brochure, a press release, or even a blog, the ability to translate a message through a sensible and clear style will lead to more opportunities in PR versus someone who cannot hone these skills. Companies look for those who can articulate a message in, not only the most efficient way,but also in a way that will appease both the client as well as the target audience.
So much about PR concerns representation, and is involved in every decision a PR professional makes when regarding the public. Writing is certainly contributes to the image one presents to the public,and to represent a client in the best way, the emphasis on correct grammar and a clear message is of the utmost importance. Without these skills, an individual will not look professional, only juvenile, and it will cast a poor light on whoever hired them. Also, style is an important element as well. For instance, shorter and more concise sentences are required when writing a memo, then when writing a detailed news release. Its important to determine the correct medium to use, and the type of writing that is appropriate.
The only way to truly improve writing ability is to keep writing, and to familiarize yourself with the types of styles and formats commonly used within the PR field. Also, proofreading is another sure way to make sure all the work you produce is grammatically correct and makes sense. With good writing skills, PR professionals can communicate a message in countless different ways, and represent clients effectively.
Effective communication is the fundamental determinant in garnering a favorable outcome from any and all human interaction. The challenges related to communicating effectively are evident even from a casual peer interaction. As you attempt to convince a peer to identify with your opinion, you invariably become acutely aware that certain rationales do not resonate with him or her, and you must modify your approach in order to appeal to each individual. This simple circumstance illustrates the requisite need for public relations practitioners.
The extreme variability of the socioeconomic climate in any given culture poses a challenge for communications professionals when trying to develop a message strategy that their target market will identify with. Practitioners are tasked with effectively communicating a message to a diverse public with variable interests through an array of different mediums. The success or failure of this intricate process is ultimately hinged upon the writing skill of the public relations professional. Unlike in a peer interaction, a section of the public must be analyzed and targeted. The writing skills of a communication professional will either grab and hold the attention of the target, or fall flat. Any written publication or correspondence must be unique to the audience. Excellent writing skills can establish credibility, set a proper tone, gain trust, and deliver the intended message. Without these skills, the message is susceptible to get lost in translation. Every career in public relations, whether in organizational communication, crisis communication for an oil corporation, or promotion of a nonprofit organization to the public, relies upon effectively communicating through the written word.
I plan to gain as much experience as possible through internships. I currently have an internship at a nonprofit organization over the summer as a PR writer. I plan to join student societies and other organizations to further educate and align myself with the profession. I will also keep current on industry trends and new media in order to utilize every possible outlet successfully.
Writing is an important skill to have as PR professional because it is one of the core ways to communicate with people. Before social media and the digital age, people wrote letters to others in order to send a message about news or other kinds of information. For PR professionals, writing newsletters is the core way of communicating in public relations. If the newsletter isn’t well written, the piece of news that we, the pr professional, were trying to tell people about, ends up getting lost.
After I graduate, I’m hoping to improve on the way I organize my information in newsletters and backgrounders. For me, they are very difficult to write because of the amount of facts that you are given about an event that you have to write about. Hopefully by the time I graduate, organizing my information for newsletters and backgrounders will be a lot easier.
In any field, good writing skills are essential for success. However, the writing of communications/public relations professionals must go above and beyond. Writing is how these professionals communicate their messages with their audiences. Without clear and correct written communication, public relations practitioners would fail to convey their main points effectively. In the communications/public relations field, writing is required for a variety of tasks. These responsibilities may include news releases, backgrounders, brochures, fact sheets, and organization biographies. With effective writing, these publications can represent his/her organization in a professional and credible way.
Currently, I believe that I am a strong writer, but there is always room to improve. After graduation from Towson, I plan to continue to develop my writing skills. A simple way to accomplish this is to read! I plan to read the writing of other professionals in the public relations field. By doing so, I can learn from more experienced practitioners. Another way to improve is to keep current on AP writing style. These mandated guidelines change every year, so it is important to stay up-to-date on them. Finally, I will ask questions! By talking to more experienced professionals in the communications industry, I can learn a significant amount about writing because they have been in my shoes before. A way to connect with these professionals is to join PRSA, something I plan to do in the future.
Writing in the field of communications/public relations is a fundamental skill centered on the core of the profession because of its role in the industry. Expectations and assignments are all incorporated with writing, and with the combination of the style and wording, you are to disseminate those words to generate a universal purpose. Assignments such as press releases, backgrounders, feature stories, brochure formatting, and manufacturing a press kit all require a tremendous amount of competency and skill to maintain a credible stature. In addition, credibility ties into writing skills when focusing more on the communication aspect of the fields. When you are contacting other business professionals, writing is considered the typical skill in the profession, and with careless and poor copy in emails or letters destroys your chance of carrying out business and lessens the chance of future engagements. For example, if I were to email my client about our PR departments resume and there were spelling and formatting mistakes that would affect business matters. As well, in either of those fields, a common title you are associated with is as a “writer.” And as a writer, just like an artist with their artwork, your writing becomes your “artwork.” You must thrive to accomplish the perfect form writing day in and day out if you are serious in advancing in the system.
Once I have graduated, by no means do I believe my writing skills have reached their full potential. In order to better my writing abilities, I will attend writing seminars that are affiliated with the company of my employment. Currently at my internship, writers and designers are given optional, paid for, and incentivizing training sessions in their specific field. I also am banking on that once I have become a part of an organization, the current higher level staff and management will be able to assist me and pass of their knowledge and experience. While it may seem trivial, people love to talk about themselves, and if they are able to help you with methods of writings they have established, the more beneficial it then becomes to you. Finally, the saying of “practice makes perfect,” like applied to most things in life, remains true. The more news releases you write, or the more backgrounder you accomplish, the better writer you will become. Overall, to improve my writing I am going to remain competent, confident, and always keep an open mind.
Writing is essential in any professional field, especially Public Relations & Communications. PR professionals need to demonstrate that they are strong communicators- both verbally and non verbally. Being able to write well builds credibility and stature within the workplace.
In a field like Public Relations, writing is the center of all other aspects. Public Relations professionals are the backbone to the company, organization or person they are representing and therefore should demonstrate quality writing. Quality writing requires knowing your audience, organization and being concise. It is important a PR professional has these skills or else they will lose their audience- nobody wants to read a piece that drags on, they want quick valuable information.
The ability to communicate non verbally is so valuable in our society today. With the growing technology and different ways to reach your audience, PR professionals need to stay on top of all the ways to write to their public. Writing skills prove that you have the intellect and structure to accomplish all other tasks. It is the blueprint to being a successful and rounded communicator.
After graduation, I plan on continuing to develop my writing skills. There is always room to grow and improve. I plan on keeping writing a part of my daily routine-whether it be blogging, creative writing, etc. I think its important to practice, practice, practice. Also, I think reading the news on a daily basis will help me see the value in being concise and engaging.
One of the most important aspects of my public relations education this semester was learning how to tell a compelling story. To do that you must know how to write well and how to captivate, compel, and convince and audience using the right words. Good writing is the basis of all effective media communications and the simplest yet most powerful tool we can use to reach an audience. Without knowing how to write with intention and purpose, you don’t know how to write effectively.
Unlike numbers, words used in media and in public relations are not meant to be sterile. That’s why I feel creative and two-way communication style writing is essential to practice every day. Part of good PR writing is knowing how to start a conversation (sometimes, just inter-personally). Involving yourself in two-way style communication is, then, also a good way to learn how to keep the conversation going. I’m hoping I can practice these key components more in my blogs, online comments, and social media when I use them.
Overall, writing is the first and last step any PR practitioner uses to create creative and effective message content. And without practicing it, no one really knows how to do it well. Writing requires practice so that if a certain communication style isn’t working, PR practitioners can be ready with a solution.
When it comes to communications, having top notch writing skills is essential for anyone interested in joining the field — especially in Public Relations. The job of a PR professional is to build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships between key publics and a client or company, and to do so through clear and concise communication.
If you’re a PR professional and your writing skills are lacking, then you’ll lose major credibility in your work. Or, if as a PR professional the message you’re trying to get across isn’t clearly stated, an entire PR campaign can be compromised. As explained in class, we are the communicators. We take the crux of an issue from point A, disseminate it, and return it to the public in an easy-to-understand way.
Being able to communicate isn’t limited to speaking; in fact most of the communicating done by PR professionals is through writing, which further proves why having writing skill is a fundamental core competency of the PR profession.
Upon graduation, I will continue to make myself a better writer in all aspects. The main thing I’ll start to do is read several documents written by prominent PR professionals in order to learn unique writing styles. Also, I will consider starting my own blog. This blog will be about the things I’m interested in and will allow me to express my thoughts (through writing) whenever I want. Last, I will stay updated on new editions of the AP Stylebook, so I can continue to learn the write way to format things and always stay ahead of the curve in the communications field.
By doing these 3 things, I think my writing skill will improve significantly over time. The only way to get better is through practice and through trial and error – time to hit the books.
Being able to communicate and write well while in the Mass Communication Public Relations field is extremely important. As you have taught us throughout the semester, we need to be able to remember these tools that we have been using because no matter what job we get in the PR field, we will be using these skills.
Being able to write properly shows not only that you have proper grammar, but that you can voice what you have to say, onto paper. We can’t say everything we need to say speaking face to face, or even on the phone. Because of this, we need to be able to write for others, or ourselves, and make sure that the writing is correct and written well. If we’re writing for others, say a speech, the speech has to be written so that the person can literally read aloud whats written on the paper. If the speech is written wrong and the speaker messes up, ultimately it is your fault for not being able to write for the speaker that has hired you to write for him/her.
Another important aspect is being able to write correctly for whatever business you are hired at. You are hired because that organization feels like you are a good fit for their company, and that you can better them as an organization; this organization depends on you. When writing press releases, or anything for that matter, these documents need to be put together properly. What were doing in class is going to be needed in the real world. Everyone needs to be able to know how to write, and do it at a high level.
After graduation, I will hopefully have the opportunity to work for an organization that i apply for. In doing so, I’ll make sure that i keep your book, and all of the papers that I’ve written for reference. You can always continue to learn and grow, and become better at what you do. Through the semester i have noticed when I add too many words or make my sentences more complicated than they need to be. Even these small mistakes can make a paper, press release, or a speech fail completely.
I will continue to take advice, and work hard at what I do. It’s important to listen to others opinions and tips that can help you better yourself. Learning proper formatting is always going to be important, so I’m going to work hard at figuring out proper formatting, and implementing those skills within the tasks I complete at my future job.
Writing is a skill that is essential in the PR world. I know that some days I am a better than other days. In order to become a better writer you must accept the fact that mistakes will be made along the way, and work on addressing them in the best possible manner. Sometimes when I have written an extensive amount of work on a particular subject, I let other people take a look at what I have written and allow them to critique my work. At first, this use to make me feel really uncomfortable. However, as you progress in your writing abilities, you are able to understand that another perspective can never be a bad thing. Grammar is an extremely essential skill because it allows the ideas, thoughts and/or information that you have written to be received in a way that the audience understands the message
In addition, it is imperative that you continue to write so you can sharpen your skills. In the public relations field, practice does make perfect (or pretty close to perfect). PR professionals should write various communication pieces in order to be a proficient professional in the public relations/communication world. Without writing skills in the communication/public relations profession, you are unable to communicate effectively to your audience which is what public relations writing is intended to do.
When I graduate I will continue to develop my PR writing skills by carefully looking over writing samples that will refresh my memory on formats and designs related to PR writing professionals. For example, I may work for a company that wants me to write a ten-second spot for radio. There is a high probability that I might have forgotten how to write a ten-second spot which is why I would refer to my PR writing book, that I did not sell to Bookholders. Referring back to textbooks to help you improve your writing in the communication/public relations should always be an option when you are unsure of any kind of PR writing format. When I graduate I intend to use what I have written in my PR writing class as a guide. The work I have written in my PR class has effectively shown what my strengths are as well as my weaknesses in PR writing. Lastly, I will always refer to my textbook and professional colleagues to help me in whatever PR writing situation that troubles me, in order to improve my writing style.
Writing is a skill that is essential in the PR world. I know that some days I am a better than other days. In order to become a better writer you must accept the fact that mistakes will be made along the way, and work on addressing them in the best possible manner. Sometimes when I have written an extensive amount of work on a particular subject, I let other people take a look at what I have written and allow them to critique my work. At first, this use to make me feel really uncomfortable. However, as you progress in your writing abilities, you are able to understand that another perspective can never be a bad thing. Grammar is an extremely essential skill because it allows the ideas, thoughts and/or information that you have written to be received in a way that the audience understands the message.
In addition, it is imperative that you continue to write so you can sharpen your skills. In the public relations field, practice does make perfect (or pretty close to perfect). PR professionals should write various communication pieces in order to be a proficient professional in the public relations/communication world. Without writing skills in the communication/public relations profession, you are unable to communicate effectively to your audience which is what public relations writing is intended to do.
When I graduate I will continue to develop my PR writing skills by carefully looking over writing samples that will refresh my memory on formats and designs related to PR writing professionals. For example, I may work for a company that wants me to write a ten-second spot for radio. There is a high probability that I might have forgotten how to write a ten-second spot which is why I would refer to my PR writing book, that I did not sell to Bookholders. Referring back to textbooks to help you improve your writing in the communication/public relations should always be an option when you are unsure of any kind of PR writing format. When I graduate I intend to use what I have written in my PR writing class as a guide. The work I have written in my PR class has effectively shown what my strengths are as well as my weaknesses in PR writing. Lastly, I will always refer to my textbook and professional colleagues to help me in whatever PR writing situation that troubles me, in order to improve my writing style.
Writing skills are key for anyone heading out into the professional world but are absolutely essential for those in the PR field. The ability to write well is crucial for any PR practitioner because it is up to those in the PR field to communicate certain messages in a very specific and effective way. Writing is essentially the core of the PR industry, so in order for someone to move up in the PR industry they must be able to write well and communicate messages effectively.
Not only is it important to write well in the PR industry, but it is also important to write creatively. A company that you may be working for could have a vision and it is up to you to fulfill that vision, making every word you put down on a paper extremely important. Since companies place their messages and brand in your hands it is also extremely important that messages are communicated properly. There is truly no room for error in terms of writing when am entire organization is counting on you.
This class has helped me improve my writing skills tremendously and I am hoping to continue to improve in the future. Post-graduation (which unfortunately, is in a few short days), I will continue to read as many books, blogs, articles and press releases as possible in order to improve my writing skills. I truly believe the more you read the better you become at writing. So, with that said I will be reading as many books as possible this summer and am hoping to even start my own blog!
Writing is the fundamental core competency of the public relations professional because it is the foundation of an organization’s communication. News releases, backgrounders, fact sheets, spots, video news releases and many other public relations pieces are centered on professional writing. Writing is not only important for written pieces like news releases, but also pieces like scripts for radio or television spots because a public relations professional needs to write clearly and thoroughly explain all details to get the results that they desire.
Writing is extremely important to public relations professionals because they must know their audience and be able to write in a way that the intended audience clearly understands. They also need to explain details thoroughly and must not assume anyone knows anything because an idea may be misconstrued. This is extremely important in the public relations field because it directly affects how outsiders view the organization and keeps employees informed. Poor writing skills negatively impact the company and are unprofessional. Well-done writing pieces showcase a company and invite more readers. Public relations professionals who can break down complex ideas into simple, understandable terms will be extremely successful because it is necessary for many organizations that want to communicate with key publics.
I will improve my writing skills once I graduate by maintaining the blog I am currently creating. I also want to attend graduate school or law school eventually. Furthering my education will allow me to learn and grow as a student and a writer. I plan on joining the Public Relations Society of America and attending workshops and seminars to stay current in the field of public relations and enhance my writing skills.
Writing in the PR profession is so important because in this writing is everything. All we do revolves around a persons ability to write and how well they can convey a message, direction, or action. That is why it is important continually perfect you craft.
For myself I know I need to brush up on my writing in general. One thing I can do more is read PR work that is on the internet press material to be specific. I have blogging down packed, but I can definitely do more when i comes to seeing what is necessary for me to know and do well at in order be a successful PR professional.
Once I graduate I’d really like to utilize mentors more so that I can have more direction in what I do and how I approach this field in the competitive working world.
Good writing skills are at the core of the PR field because they are the key to effective communication. Jargon inhibits understanding and often changes the meaning of a message. Individuals in the PR field are responsible for establishing effective communication between a client and it’s public’s so it is important that practitioners to have excellent writing skills.
Writing skills must also be combined with creativity in order to appeal to audiences. Ascetically pleasing literature is much more likely to be read than a solid block of copy. Continuity between creative embellishments and copy is important to effectively communicating a message.
This course has greatly improved my writing skills and introduced me to important assignments that I will encounter in the PR field. I plan on starting a blog to continue polishing my writing skills and possibly volunteering my time to to a nonprofit organization, the Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital. Once I graduate college I plan of remaining current by completing certificate courses related to writing and design throughout my career and possibly attending graduate school out of the country.
Writing is a fundamental core competency of communication and public relations professionals because it is simply the cornerstone a communication professional’s career, especially a PR professional. Communication skills are one of the most, if not the most, important things in a PR professional’s career. Communicating concisely and effectively to your audience is a great skill that PR professionals must utilize in their career, especially when writing news releases. Having attention to detail, that is, fact checking everything and proofreading to make sure there are no errors is all part of good writing. PR professional who can do that will go a long way in their careers. Public relations isn’t a typical 9 to 5 job, making sure that you keep brushing up on your writing skills and taking the time to do your research on the situation at hand is crucial for the long-term success of a PR professional. Almost all of the work that a public relations professional will undertake is writing for the media, employees, or even your superiors. That being said, it is essential to have a good, if not great, skill in writing. PR professionals need to have a skill in writing unlike any other. They need to be clear, concise, persuasive, grammatically correct and overall excellent in writing. The writing that public relations professionals do has to be changed based on what screen they’re writing for: TV, computer, tablet, mobile phone, etc., and what publication they’re writing for: traditional or digital, in a newsletter, email, magazine, blog, newspaper, etc. The audience public relations practitioners are writing for has changed. It’s no longer primarily a full-time journalist audience. With today’s social media tools, and the Internet in general, public relations professionals write just as much for the end-user, the target audience, as they do for the media.
I will do a number of things to improve my writing and ability, especially in a PR style once I graduate. This is my first time actually using a blog, but it is much easier than I ever thought it to be. I will now look at other PR blogs and read them to see what insight they can give me if I choose a career in public relations. I have a fairly good grasp on social-media tools such as Twitter and Facebook, nonetheless there is always room for improvement there. PR professionals have a general grasp of everything, and I too need to broaden my scope on all of these tools. An understanding in the importance of these things and an interest in there use, is essential in my opinion.
Writing skills are essential for communication and public relations professionals because those skills are needed to effectively communicate messages. Our job and duty as PR professionals is to communicate efficiently and clearly. Without proper writing skills we would not be able to accomplish this. We need to know how to properly format pieces, we need to have correct grammar, and an extremely diverse vocabulary. We also need to have our own style of writing that is creative and captivating. This will draw the reader in and get our message across to the general public in an effortless manner.
These skills are acquired through a lot of practice. When you’re in school you have the chance to practice your writing abilities but the practice never really ends. There is always something you can learn and perfect when it comes to writing.
I plan to practice my PR writing skills while I finish out my last year of college. I will try my best to write as well as I can and improve as much as possible. After I graduate I will look into periodically taking writing courses to fine tune my skills. I will also try to write as much as possible because if you stop writing for a while some of your skills may be lost. If I get a job in the PR field I will be able to practice and improve my writing style and writing abilities. If the particular job offers programs for writing I will be sure engage in those as well.
Exceptional writing skills is the fundamental core competency of the communications industry. As PR professionals, our words and writing skills are, our biggest asset. Publicists must be able to write for many different types of mediums, effectively getting their message to their intended audiences. Each different medium has a different format the professional should know how to use. Without superior writing skills, one would not be able to effectively communicate. If one is not able to adequately reach their audience and productively communicate, the communication industry is not for them. Through writing, public relations professionals must take an idea or concept and help an organization express to the public what they want to say. They must be able to make their point simple and clear, avoiding any unnecessary information that would confuse the audience. Having perfect grammar is also key, without this one would look unprofessional, and unknowledgeable. A publicists writing is a reflection of the organization or person they are representing. Without excellent writing skills of the publicist, the image of who they are representing could be ruined.
The internet is a large up and coming tool in the communication industry. Social Media is another outlet a publicist can use to express their writing skills, and put forth a good image for their client. Writing for the internet is very different from traditional printable pieces. The posts must be short usually no more than 140 characters, and to the point. The internet is a great tool for senders to receive input and feedback from the public. A good publicist will be able to respond to their audience fast and efficiently.
There are many ways I will be able to improve my writing skills in the future after I graduate. The main way is to keep writing. By writing and having someone edit my work I will constantly be able to make note of any repetitive mistakes I make and correct them, as well as gain another opinion on what I can do to improve. Reading also enhances writing skills. I would Look at examples to see what was previously done. The AP style book is a great guide to use to make sure my grammar is correct, and that I am using correct wording and spelling.
In the Public Relations field, it is necessary to possess a high skill level in writing because writing is the primary means of communication between PR professionals and the press. In order to get the publicity that we want, we must be able to relay the message in the most relevant and concise way possible. Writing for public relations is effective because the PR professional is able to share an idea in a way that many other professionals cannot. PR professionals are able to communicate their ideas by being both thorough and concise.
In order to improve my writing for public relations, I plan on practicing writing for different types of organizations. By gaining experience with a variety of organizations, I will also be gaining experience in refining my PR writing skills.
In Public Relations, our words, both written and spoken, are our tools. In regards to writing, it is important to remember just how much of Public Relations has to do with this skill. In this profession you must be able to deliver your desired message in a professional and effective manner. In some cases you only get one chance to show a person or company what you or your company is all about. This first impression could make or break your case.
In addition to that, writing in Public Relations is the main source of communication. Through things like news letters, press kits etc. we are putting ourselves out there and working toward attaining certain goals. With these words we are creating reputations and images for ourselves and it is vital to create a positive one in order to be successful.
There are also different types of writing that PR must be experienced with for different situations. For example, sometimes a news release is enough, sometimes a backgrounder is vital with it. It depends on the situation and PR writers must be prepared to react accordingly.
It is equally important to be knowledgeable about what you are writing about. You could be the best writer in the world, but if you don’t know what your talking about then the right message will not get through. Potential consumers will also be uninterested in a PR professional that did not do their research.
Once i graduate I plan on improving my PR writing styles through constant practice. I have an internship where I am responsible for writing news releases for athletic teams and I think that for me, practice will help more than anything. It has always been hard for me to write in a journalist manner. I usually add too many unnecessary words, so having that in mind, I will try to work on it. I also plan on continuing to educate myself on formats of the important types of writing I will be doing. I will make sure that I am up to date and the formats and characteristics remain fresh in my head.
In the realm of communications and public relations, writing is one of the most vital skills needed in order to succeed. Regardless of the occasion—whether it’s a short notice or no notice at all—PR waits for no one. From breaking news to the “latest” strutting off the runway, today’s society is accustomed to continuous updates (kudos to our good friend, the Internet).
As a soon-to-be graduate immersed in the wonders of marketing, advertising, and public relations, I’ve experienced my share of “WOW! Look at what social media can do for you!” moments, many of which were inside the classroom setting. But, it seems as though the focus in the communications has gradually shifted away from its core competency: writing.
Although social media websites, like Twitter, have allowed us to share stories within 140 characters or less, the real world of public relations requires more than just a quirky tweet. Concrete writing skills create the needed foundation for PR writing, such as: news releases, spot announcements, newsletters.
Many employers who’ve hired newly grads have stated their disappointments in regards to their writing skills. There is a lack of writing skills within my generation. I believe the best way to improve my writing skills are through practice.
After graduation, in order to improve my writing skills, I plan to become a free-lance writer. Being an online free-lance writer will allow me to practice my writing skills and exercise my creativity, freely.