[stylist] Tips for PR writing

Sun May 8 03:50:49 UTC 2011

Will the day come when we will have to text an article with all the texting 
abbreviations if we want to post a letter to the editor?  It's a changing 
world.  Judith
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brad Dunse'" <lists at braddunsemusic.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2011 9:56 AM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Tips for PR writing


> Good thoughts and thanks for  the book reference Donna. We'll know things 
> have changed too far when we see things like BTW, JMO, and so forth in a 
> press release or formal article :).
>
> Brad
>
> On 5/6/2011  02:50 PM Donna Hill said...
>>Brad, Bridgit and all,
>>First let me say that these are good guidelines, but in light of Brad's
>>questions, allow me to play the devil's advocate.
>>
>>The AP Style Book, though widely recognized and used, is not the only show
>>on the road. The New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and many
>>other papers have their own style books, and they all differ from one
>>another in many small -- but to their editors significant -- ways. 
>>Language,
>>grammar, spelling and punctuation are fluid and ever-changing. For 
>>instance,
>>many of us have used website as one word for years. Nonetheless, AP had it
>>listed as two words until a few months ago.
>>
>>Anyone who loves language and would like to read a great book on the fine
>>points upon which professional writers and editors disagree should check 
>>out
>>"The Elephants of Style" by Bill Walsh of the Washington Post. Both NLS 
>>and
>>Bookshare carry it. Yes, it's "Elephants" and is a humorous reference to
>>"The Elements of Style" by William Strunk, Jr., and E. B. White.
>>
>>On the matter of not using postal abbreviations, my sense is that they
>>aren't used in part, because they are defined as codes not abbreviations. 
>>As
>>for abbreviating March, May, June and July, the M and J months are already
>>short, and length translates to ink and paper which translate to dollars.
>>There probably isn't enough of that to be saved in these cases.
>>
>>The crucial things in writing press releases and so on are the facts
>>presented and the way they are used to get the journalist's attention. In
>>that context, the fine points of style are a service only when they are
>>consistent. I doubt seriously that a good press release would be rejected
>>because the writer used the New York Times' abbreviations am & pm, instead
>>of using the periods. When I put together the material for our upcoming
>>Guide to Writing Press Releases page on the Writers' Division website, I 
>>was
>>looking through my old press releases for examples of successful ones. I 
>>was
>>surprised -- though I don't know why I should have been -- to find many
>>examples of style errors. Most of these are mistakes I no longer make. One
>>such error was using three asterisks instead of three number signs after 
>>the
>>text of the release. Neither paper that carried the story mentioned it.
>>
>>I bring these things up for two reasons. First, as writers, many of us are
>>fascinated with the nuances of language and how rules are explained. 
>>Second
>>and more importantly, for the sake of getting stories out there about
>>blindness issues, I believe it is important to empower those who do not
>>think of themselves as language buffs or writers. Though a certain level 
>>of
>>literacy is required (proper spelling, sentence structure & punctuation), 
>>I
>>am concerned that over-emphasis on style books could burden would-be
>>volunteer publicists to the point of being so bogged down with
>>technicalities that they fail to submit anything at all.
>>
>>Donna
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of Brad Dunse'
>>Sent: Friday, May 06, 2011 9:48 AM
>>To: Writer's Division Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [stylist] Tips for PR writing
>>
>>I like this but have a couple questions if anyone knows the
>>answer.  Why do you suppose they've not adopted the post office state
>>abbreviations? When I see stuff like Neb., Mich., and so forth it
>>seems extremely dated to me.  The same goes for  the use of a. m. p.
>>m. as oppose to AM PM. The other thing is why aren't June, July,
>>March and so forth abbreviated as the others when others are allowed
>>to be abbreviated?
>>
>>The rest makes perfect sense to me oddly enough. Something to be said
>>for osmosis :).
>>
>>Brad
>>
>>
>>
>>Brad Dunse
>>
>>The key to change... is to let go of fear --Roseanne Cash
>>
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>
> Brad Dunse
>
> Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
> But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox --Proverbs
>
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