Public Relations Writing Lab 1

Public relations requires creative and critical thinkers who are able to apply strong analytical and strategic writing skills to their work. There is a writing lab in each of the five semesters of study (students are on internship for the sixth semester). PR writing is not about flowery language or essay writing. It is writing that is clear, to the point and captures the imagination of your intended audience(s) to meet specific objectives. In the first writing lab, students develop the knowledge, skills and judgment needed for public relations writing through in-class practice exercises and assignments. Basic media writing skills, and identifying elements of newsworthiness from both media and PR perspectives, are developed and practised through analysis of news values, such as timeliness and human interest, and through writing hard and soft news releases and typical parts of a media kit including a traditional news release, social media news release, backgrounder, fact sheet, photo captions and preparing an appropriate kit cover or folder.