Tags |
|
|
Links |
|
|
Added for You - How To Write A Press Release: The 10 Commandments Of A Great Lead Paragraph
Why do managers create low morale as a product of their management and what can we do about it?The answer to the initial question is easy.We all know what managers do to the workforce that causes the workforce to feel the way they do about their jobs.The managers never listen to the workforce, they never give the workforce any respect, they don’t value the workforce and they spend their time “managing” by telling people what to do.The much harder question is
What is this person trying to say?
As a media and communications specialist working with clients, I find I spend at least half my writing time working on that all important first paragraph. It is were all the value is.
Here are my Ten Commandments for writing a great lead paragraph. A good lead paragraph must:
1. Summarise The Whole Story.
Dealing with tough questions and objections is an essential part of job interviews. Here are four common ones that derail many candidates. Read on to find out what they are and how you can deal with them.Objection #1: You’ve been fired from your last job First of all, don’t blow the issue out of proportion, either to yourself or to the interviewer. Remember, this is fairly common these days. Employers know it too.There are at least three ways you can handle th
Press release writing is a learned skill. This article contains press release sample writing, including that all important first paragraph.
"If it bleeds it leads" is a famous saying amongst news editors on why certain stories are on page one or first up in a TV or radio news bulletin.
With so many big news stories breaking recently, such as the Pope's death and the Navy helicopter crash in Indonesia, how can you make your media release stand out?
Well, the success of a news release being followed up by the media depends on the all important lead or first paragraph.
After the headline, this is the first message an editor or journalist will read and it is one of those critical moments of truth when you either win over or lose the media.
The first paragraph sets the structure for the whole of the media release.
Take this example of a very poorly written opening or lead paragraph that was actually sent out from the office of Northern Territory Opposition spokesman, Richard Lim on March 9, 2005.
Shadow Minister for Employment Education and Training Dr Richard Lim says that private registered training organisations which provided vocational education and training for Territorians are struggling to survive because over the last two years, the Northern Territory Government has a policy of using the Equipment Grants for government providers only, they being the Charles Darwin University and Batchelor of Indigenous Tertiary Institution.
(Source: D.D. McNicoll, The Diary, Media Section, The Australian, Thursday march 17th, 2005, pg 22.)
What is this person trying to say?
As a media and communications specialist working with clients, I find I spend at least half my writing time working on that all important first paragraph. It is were all the value is.
Here are my Ten Commandments for writing a great lead paragraph. A good lead paragraph must:
1. Summarise The Whole Story.
Everybody remembers their first job. Maybe you flipped hamburgers as a student at the local burger joint. Maybe you delivered pizzas to the good citizens of your town. Maybe you bagged and carried out groceries at the local grocery store. There are tons of these types of student jobs out there.In fact, after you have one of these student jobs, you will most likely be motivated to work harder and get yourself to college to educate yourself, so you are not stuck in a ‘student’
Well, the success of a news release being followed up by the media depends on the all important lead or first paragraph.
After the headline, this is the first message an editor or journalist will read and it is one of those critical moments of truth when you either win over or lose the media.
The first paragraph sets the structure for the whole of the media release.
Take this example of a very poorly written opening or lead paragraph that was actually sent out from the office of Northern Territory Opposition spokesman, Richard Lim on March 9, 2005.
Shadow Minister for Employment Education and Training Dr Richard Lim says that private registered training organisations which provided vocational education and training for Territorians are struggling to survive because over the last two years, the Northern Territory Government has a policy of using the Equipment Grants for government providers only, they being the Charles Darwin University and Batchelor of Indigenous Tertiary Institution.
(Source: D.D. McNicoll, The Diary, Media Section, The Australian, Thursday march 17th, 2005, pg 22.)
What is this person trying to say?
As a media and communications specialist working with clients, I find I spend at least half my writing time working on that all important first paragraph. It is were all the value is.
Here are my Ten Commandments for writing a great lead paragraph. A good lead paragraph must:
1. Summarise The Whole Story.
How you interact with people is an important component of networking. Your actions demonstrate the type of person you are, which is a reflection on how you do business and associate yourself with others.When you meet people, make sure to leave a good impression by acting genuine. By demonstrating this type of behavior, people should remember you. You do not want to have a bad reputation in networking and business circles.If you haven’t already realized, networking circles
The first paragraph sets the structure for the whole of the media release.
Take this example of a very poorly written opening or lead paragraph that was actually sent out from the office of Northern Territory Opposition spokesman, Richard Lim on March 9, 2005.
Shadow Minister for Employment Education and Training Dr Richard Lim says that private registered training organisations which provided vocational education and training for Territorians are struggling to survive because over the last two years, the Northern Territory Government has a policy of using the Equipment Grants for government providers only, they being the Charles Darwin University and Batchelor of Indigenous Tertiary Institution.
(Source: D.D. McNicoll, The Diary, Media Section, The Australian, Thursday march 17th, 2005, pg 22.)
What is this person trying to say?
As a media and communications specialist working with clients, I find I spend at least half my writing time working on that all important first paragraph. It is were all the value is.
Here are my Ten Commandments for writing a great lead paragraph. A good lead paragraph must:
1. Summarise The Whole Story.
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.There are distinct processes that enhance problem identification and idea generation and, similarly, distinct processes that enhance idea s
(Source: D.D. McNicoll, The Diary, Media Section, The Australian, Thursday march 17th, 2005, pg 22.)
What is this person trying to say?
As a media and communications specialist working with clients, I find I spend at least half my writing time working on that all important first paragraph. It is were all the value is.
Here are my Ten Commandments for writing a great lead paragraph. A good lead paragraph must:
1. Summarise The Whole Story.
It doesn’t matter whether you hire a PR company to get exposure, or write your own press releases and submit them, there's a way you can generate much more PR exposure, with little effort.You know that if you send your press release to every editor under the sun (even if your article is of no interest to their readers), that is the easiest way for you to turn off your media contacts. That's for sure. However, there are many ways you can increase your press release coverage in a
What is this person trying to say?
As a media and communications specialist working with clients, I find I spend at least half my writing time working on that all important first paragraph. It is were all the value is.
Here are my Ten Commandments for writing a great lead paragraph. A good lead paragraph must:
1. Summarise The Whole Story.
This is the sharp end of your message and the reader must understand what the whole story is about just by reading the first paragraph. The most important and critical information must come first.
2. Answer The Five W's.
It must answer the who, what, when, where, and why of the story.
3. Grab Your Attention.
Like a good headline, the lead paragraph must grab and hold the attention of the reader.
4. Make Every Word Count.
Aim for brevity and word economy. Less is more. Edit out words to increase impact.
5. Make Sense.
Write for meaning.
6. Be Accurate.
Always stick to the facts and be truthful, no matter how bad the news. Avoid fluff and hype. Remember it has to be newsworthy.
7. Keep To One Sentence.
Simplicity is the key to great lead paragraphs.
8. Provide Context.
If you are introducing an organisation or person for the first time, put this in context by providing descriptive, detailed and meaningful words immediately prior to the company or individual name.
For example:
Thomas Murrell - poor, no one knows who he is!
International business speaker and co-author of Understanding Influence For Leaders At All Levels, Thomas Murrell - better and puts person in context.
Different descriptions can be used, depending on your objectives and the context of the release.
9. Be Precise.
Precision is vital. Out of all the information you could get across what is the most important? This must be communicated in a precise way.
10. Edit, Check and Proofread A Minimum of Three Times.
Nothing will shoot your credibility d
HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.added4u.com/article/34067/added4u-How-To-Write-A-Press-Release-The-10-Commandments-Of-A-Great-Lead-Paragraph.html">How To Write A Press Release: The 10 Commandments Of A Great Lead Paragraph</a>
BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.added4u.com/article/34067/added4u-How-To-Write-A-Press-Release-The-10-Commandments-Of-A-Great-Lead-Paragraph.html]How To Write A Press Release: The 10 Commandments Of A Great Lead Paragraph[/url]
Related Articles:
Promote Workplace Morale, Prevent Surprises, and Get a Nifty Accessory
Leading a Business; Getting Lost in Generalities
Tips on Buying an Annuity Leads
Bookmark it:
|