Chapter 10–12 Summary

Chapter 10 of the text details how to write for public relations. The main principle to realize is that writing for PR requires a different approach than other styles of writing.

When writing for public relations, there are multiple areas someone could choose to write from. These include media relations, government affairs, and public affairs. Also included are investor, financial, and shareholder interviews.

What it all boils down to with public relations writing is knowing the message, the audience, and the media.

Chapter 11 entails beat reporting or the regular coverage of a specific topic, a governmental agency, or a geographic area. Beat reporting is really the core of daily journalism.

Beat reporting in this day in age have the duty to tell audiences not just what is happening but how to get involved. The success of a beat reporter comes when they are prepared, alert, persistent, there, and wary.

While being a beat reporter is essential to remember that information is power, the budget is the blueprint, and finally distributing power and money is politics.

The final chapter of the reading is all about speeches, news conferences, and meetings. It is critical to remember for writers that speeches carry a lot of power and can be the make or break point for a career.

While covering these events it is important to understand the medium, get the content correct, describe the participants, be observant, and finally arrive and position yourself early.

While writing for speeches, news conferences, and meetings, remember that the leads are the same style that has always been used. Using the inverted pyramid is still expected, but for the most part, writing for speeches, news conferences, and meetings differs to a degree throughout the story creation process.