Lesson One: Press Release Basics

The basics of journalistic writing - the 5 W's, inverted pyramid ... the importance of story in PR writing... analyzing the elements of a news story... .

Lesson Two: Writing for Editors

The news angle... the role of the editor... what do editors look for in a story? the press release and media alert format... .

Lesson Three: The Feature Release

Discovering feature material, placement of ideas... Other uses of PR writing for feature stories. Also, press releases for arts events and similar activities... the relationship of the press release to the press kit, and the press conference... and redrafts. .

Lesson Four: The Product Release

The importance of the writing process... outlining, clustering and other ways of organizing information... crafting the message... the importance of revisions .

Lesson Five: Pitching Stories and Interviews

Memos, pitch letters and confirmation letters... "scripting" the interview... how to meet the media. .

Lesson Six: The Broadcast Release and PSA

Four principal vehicles for broadcast publicity... differences in writing for the ear vs. the eye... basic principles of writing for the ear, and formats for the broadcast release & PSA. .

VNRs, filmscripts, presentations, visual treatments... how do news outlets use your PR submissions.. new technologies in PR. .

Lesson Eight: Midterm Exercise

Students will give themselves a timed online exercise.

Lesson Ten: Research and Fact-Finding

Fact-finding, newsgathering, organizing your information... essentials for interviews... research tools. .

Lesson Eleven: Planning Memos and other Communications

Public relations writing for internal audiences. Writing backgrounders, position papers and other longer pieces for different publics. Also, discussion of advertising for the PR professional... developing a concept and a visual... stages of creativity.

Lesson Twelve: Speeches and Presentations

Types of speeches... the mechanics of organization... making brief remarks, presentations, formal speeches. .

Lesson Thirteen: PR Writing and the Web

How public relations professionals are using the Internet... Web-based challenges and opportunities. Writing for Web sites. .

Lesson Fourteen: Public Relations Campaign Design

Developing the outline of a PR campaign and communicating your ideas to different publics... different types of media kit. .

Lesson Fifteen: Final Exam

Multiple choice test and a writing exercise. Online students will take a timed exam in the classroom, not online.