World Communicators Day Focus on The Art of Writing Press Releases

• PRCI event at Punjab University

CHANDIGARH: The School of Communication Studies at Punjab University, along with Chandigarh Chapter of Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) observed the World Communicators Day by organising a workshop on The Art of Press Release Writing October 30, 2017.

PRCI observes October 28 as the World Communicators Day since it was on this day in 1906 that the first formal press release was issued by a Public Relations practitioner Ivy Lee in USA following a train accident. It also marked the beginning of formal PR and the birth of Crisis Communications.

Dr. Archana R. Singh, chairperson of School of Communication Studies, said that such

workshops and interactive session give a practical exposure to students and help

them when they step out to work for the industry.

National Executive Committee Member of PRCI and a PR consultant C.J. Singh, conducted the workshop citing various examples for pitching the press releases for various media. He informed about various elements required for writing a press release. He informed that the release needs to be projected in inverted pyramid style. He talked about the importance of ethics and credibility for professionals.

Earlier Ms. Renuka B. Salwan, Director Public Relations, PU and PRCI National Vice

President – North, pointed out that Council is a premier non-political organisation of professionals in the field of Public Relations, Communication, advertising and many other allied services. It has been actively perusing the spread and popularity of communication and Public Relation in India with 30 chapters pan-India.

She said that press release is an important source of information for the media that helps them reach out to their readers with news where their teams cannot reach. She gave tips for building stories into news by finding a right slot in media. She urged them to blend action with issue while writing the press release.

Over 30 students participated in the workshop on press release writing.  The students were given certificates of participations.

Daughters’ Day: Kudos for ‘Hamari Beti’ by Jyotirgamaya

• PRCI Chandigarh Chapter honours Punjab University’s Community Radio

• ‘Hamari Beti’ goes daily from weekly w.e.f. 15th July.

Chandigarh, July 1: Celebrating the Daughters’ Day today, Chandigarh Chapter of the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) honoured the Punjab University’s community radio, Jyotirgamaya 91.2MHz for its thought provoking weekly programme ‘Hamari Beti’.

National Executive Vice President of PRCI, C.J. Singh, informed that PRCI had been organizing Daughters Day since 2011, to focus on the issues of discrimination confronting the women in the country and sensitise the population, and this year the National Council of PRCI has already submitted a petition to the Prime Minister office for declaring 1st July as the National Daughters Day.

Welcoming the chief guest - VC Prof Grover

He said that on 13th February 2013, the 2nd anniversary of Jyotirgamaya as well as the World Radio Day, and at the instance of the Rotary Club of Chandigarh the programme ‘Hamari Beti’ was initiated, which has been a regular weekly feature on the community radio featuring issues, interviews, and discussion programmes, which received tremendous response.

The PRCI presented a plaque of honour to Prof. A.K. Grover, Vice Chancellor of Punjab University and Dr Jayant Pethkar, Chairman, School of Communication Studies.

The Chapter also recognized the contribution of the School of Communication Studies, chairperson of the SCS, Dr. Archana R. Singh, and radio station technical head, Sunil Sharma.

Prof Grover also complimented Dr Singh who has taken the ‘Hamari Beti’ programme to the next level by writing a project in collaboration with Punjab State Council for Science and Technology with Dr Neelam Gulati Sharma as her co-principal investigator for “Science for Women’s Health and Nutrition” whereby this programme would become a daily broadcast from its current weekly status.

Dr Archana Singh (left) being felicitated

Dr Archana R. Singh said that the project would get underway and ‘Hamari Beti’ programme would go weekly from 15th of July addressing women’s health and nutrition issues as well.

The Rotary Club Chandigarh’s President 2017-18  Rtn. P.S. Matharoo, also commended the community radio station for supporting the Hamari Beti project.