[stylist] News release feedback

Fri Nov 11 21:54:30 UTC 2011

Brad,

I'm no expert, but merely pass along what I've learned and the
experience I have. Personally, in any writing, I like to de-clutter,
removing anything that just isn't necessary. Your original release
wasn't bad at all, quite good actually especially if you don't have much
experience with them. Getting a publication, or broadcast, to cover or
print a story, that is another issue entirely. Based on what I've been
taught, and prior experience, it comes down to building a rapport  with
journalist and media. I've followed what I've learned to a T, and no one
covers a story or prints a release, and other times, it works out.
Obviously the news itself helps, whether it is interesting or not, and
the angle in which you present a story goes a long way to. A lot of
variables make an adjustable equation. Good luck in the future, you do
have a knack for this it appears.

Pete

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

Message: 2
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:16:12 -0600
From: Brad Dunse' <lists at braddunsemusic.com>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] News release feedback
Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20111110160518.055a0950 at braddunsemusic.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Pete, :)

Thanks for another sample and info. I did rewrite the one I had after 
your points, taking out extraneous organization info, as well looked 
at comma use and etc. I'll practice a few more as they come along. 
Looking back, I was sort of an idiot for not sending something to my 
local paper to the effect: "Local Songwriter Will Touch Those IN DC's 
Veteran's Day Cereemony at Vietnam Wall Memorial."  Though it isn't a 
local event, they might have put a blurb in the paper.

Appreciate the feedback, it all helps.

Brad

On 11/10/2011  03:07 PM Bridgit Pollpeter said...
>Brad,
>
>Here's a recent release I wrote for my chapter. It's simple but 
>displays what I mean about staggering info. The immediate info that's 
>pertinant to the event comes first. Then it briefly details the 
>importance. If you want to focus more on the reasoning for something, 
>I'd recommend a pitch letter to be sent to an editor/writer discussing 
>why they should cover an event. In a news release though, you want to 
>focus on the event/activity itself. For example, last winter, there was

>a school shooting in Omaha. A release covering it didn't go into stats 
>and history of school shootings, but first reported the facts of the
>situation: what, when, where then the how and why. Sorry for such a 
>morbid example, for some reason it was the first thing to pop in my 
>head. A pitch letter allows you to focus more on the why and how of a 
>story. Also, depending on the event/activity you're promoting, a 
>release should be sent anywhere from 3 to 1 week in advance. With a 
>news release, it is always good to follow up with a news alert, which 
>is essentially a bulletin stating what, when, where then a short why.
>
>National Federation of the Blind-Omaha
>Breaking Barriers for the Blind
>Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter, director, media relations
>PO Box 241171, Omaha, NE 68124
>(402) 350-1735 Omaha at NE.NFB.org
>For Immediate Release
>Contact:
>Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter, director media relations
>National Federation of the Blind-Omaha Chapter
>402-350-1735
>Omaha at ne.nfb.org
>
>National Federation of the Blind Awards Employer and Educator of the 
>Year
>
>Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011- The National Federation of the 
>Blind-Omaha Chapter (NFB-Omaha) will award Employer of the Year and 
>Educator of the Year to local employers and educators for hiring and 
>accommodating blind employees on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011, 7:00 p.m. at 
>College of St. Mary.
>
>NFB-Omaha will present Employer of the Year awards to Skyline Manor and

>Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation along with presenting Educator of the

>Year to Melinda J. Classen, counselor, Disability Support Services, 
>Metropolitan Community College, this Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011, 7:00 p.m.

>to 9:00 p.m. at College of St. Mary, 7000 Mercy Road, Mercy Hall, room 
>130.
>
>Employer of the Year is awarded annually by NFB-Omaha, celebrating 
>employers who have hired people who are blind and visually impaired. 
>Educator of the Year is a new award to be given this year, recognizing 
>educators providing exemplary service to blind students. With a 70 
>percent unemployment rate among blind and visually impaired people, 
>it's important to honor employers who recognize that blind people have 
>something to offer, and with 90 percent of blind students lacking 
>Braille skills, it's equally important to recognize educators who are 
>providing proper accommodations to blind students, according to 
>nfb.org.
>
>"There's a misconception that blind people can't fully participate in 
>employment," said Robert Leslie Newman, president of NFB-Omaha. "With 
>businesses over-looking blind applicants, we believe it's important to 
>honor those employers who over-look the stereotypes rather than the 
>people."
>
>NFB-Omaha is a chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, a 
>national consumer organization of the blind. The Omaha chapter has been

>recognizing local employers for 26 years now. NFB-Omaha works to create

>fair and equal opportunities among blind and visually impaired people, 
>which includes building bridges with other organizations and businesses

>to foster growth and a new outlook on blindness.
>
>"We're changing what it means to be blind," said Newman. "We want to 
>shine a spotlight of recognition and appreciation on an employer who 
>does the right thing by either hiring or accommodating a capable person

>who happens to be blind."
>
>For more information about the National Federation of the Blind, visit 
>http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Default.asp.
>
>For more information about the Employee of the Year or Educator of the 
>Year awards, contact Robert Leslie Newman, (402) 660- 1743, or 
>newmanrl at cox.net. With more than 50,000 members, The National 
>Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership 
>organization of blind people in the United States.  Since 1940, we've 
>been breaking barriers for the blind.  The NFB improves blind people's 
>lives through advocacy, education, research, technology and programs 
>encouraging independence and self-confidence.
>
>Sincerely,
>Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
>Read my blog at: http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
>
>"History is not what happened; history is what was written down." The 
>Expected One- Kathleen McGowan
>
>Message: 4
>Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:08:40 -0600
>From: Brad Dunse' <lists at braddunsemusic.com>
>To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>Subject: Re: [stylist] News release feedback
>Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20111110110441.05046c50 at braddunsemusic.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; format=flowed
>
>Thanks for the tips. Seem like common sense. I
>used one of your's as a template :). It was kind
>of a rush/practice. hopefully improvement comes
>with experience and taking a bit more time :). Thanks.
>
>Brad
>
>
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><http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
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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

http://www.braddunsemusic.com

http://www.facebook.com/braddunse

http://www.twitter.com/braddunse

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:39:10 -0600
From: Brad Dunse' <lists at braddunsemusic.com>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [stylist] Word: bastion - noun
Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20111110233817.055a0be0 at braddunsemusic.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

bastion (noun)
BASS-chun

1. A projecting part of a fortification
2. A fortified area or position
3. Something that is considered a stronghold : bulwark

Example: "The singer is uncomfortable mingling among the crowd, but 
put him behind a microphone facing the crowd, and that's his bastion."

Brad Dunse

"After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box." --Italian
Proverb

http://www.braddunsemusic.com

http://www.facebook.com/braddunse

http://www.twitter.com/braddunse

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End of stylist Digest, Vol 91, Issue 11
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