Writing for the media
This course is for people working in the public relations or communications fields, who have to produce press releases/newsletters on a regular basis as well as anyone who has to get either hard or soft news articles printed in the media, as well as get the attention of radio and television producers.
Following on from the publication of her book Surviving the SA Media Marion Scher will run her very popular Writing for the Media course. The course will cover:
Content:
• How to make the media read a press release
• Newsworthiness
• Newswriting - hard and soft news style
• The difference between hard and soft news and when to use them.
• Understanding just what the media wants and how to give it to them - finding creative ideas for media campaigns.
• Obtaining effective briefs from clients
• Just when do we send a press release and when do we send a news article?
• Who to send it to and timing?
• The breakdown of a hard news piece. How to take the 5 w's and an h (who, what, where, why, when and how) and put these into one paragraph without losing the story.
• Editing your work and producing a ‘ready to print' piece.
• How to reach the electronic media with your release.
• Writing headlines and leads
• Effective Interviewing - getting the sound bite
• Tightening up language
• Making your writing flow
• Common grammar mistakes
Workshop content: This is a practical one day workshop that will involve turning press releases/statements/brochures and lengthy information into news articles
Date: 24 February 2010Venue: Media Mentors, Greenside, Johannesburg
Cost: R2250 per person