The Connect Series

Wednesday, 1 November 2017

Don’t Underestimate The Power a Good Press Release!

PRact workshop at Mumbai Press Club draws huge response

The workshop on The Art of Press Release Writing organized under the aegis of PRact – a joint platform of PRCI and IPRF – at Mumbai Press Club on the occasion of the World Communicators’ Day has evoked a tremendous response with over 60 paid delegates participating.

Communication professionals from corporate, consultancies and individual practitioners attended the workshop.

PRCI observes October 28 as the World Communicators Day since it was on this day that the world’s first press release was issued in 1906 by Ivy Lee in the US.

PRCI national president B N Kumar, who is also Executive Director of Concept PR, kick-started the interactive workshop at which PR veteran Jitender Bhargava, former Executive

Director – Corpcom, Air India, Journalists Gurbir Singh (former editor, BusinessWorld), Rajesh Kurup (Hindu BusinessLine) and Dharmedra Jore (Mid-Day) spoke about the importance of a good press release and how to create one.

Here are the key takeaways from the workshop:

A Press Release begins with a catchy headline
Then follow three or four bullet points that highlight key aspects of the release
The most important points should come in the first two or three paras, else it will be junked.
PR practitioners should follow the inverted-pyramid formula – the most important aspect on the top and the least in the bottom.
We should also remember the 5Ws-and-1H formula.
Newsrooms may ask ‘So What?’.
Hence justify the release.
Everybody wants the release to appear in The Economic Times and The Times of India
The key is get journalists interested in the release
News is no more about North-East-West-South.
What’s new makes the news.
Remember KISS – Keep it Short and Sweet.
Grammar is very important in which ever language you write a press release.
Use social media posting to popularize your press releases
Some releases on product launches may not get media attention – however hard one may try.
Use social media and once the post goes viral, the print medium will be interested in it.
Mention contacts whoich are available for media queries – and not those who happen to be on leave or travelling.
The idea of issuing a press release is to facilitate a journalist to write and not to harass him with irrelevant stuff.
Clients and bosses might want to see their press releases in key media.
They must be made to understand the functioning of media.
Media familiarization workshops for clients are a must to keep their expectations at reasonable levels.
Know your media well, make lists of various beat journalists, keep updating them for improved productivity since, for instance, there is no point in sending a business development story to a political journalist and vice-versa.
Think like a journalist.
Check the result of your press releases
Check the wires which carry your release; check for the style, presentation and the art of writing.
Your job becomes easier, if you follow and observe journalistic style of writing.
It doesn’t happen overnight.
But will sure happen with practice.
For any more queries/clarifications you can contact B N Kumar at mailbnk@gmail.com
He is available 24x7

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.

Thoolika Lit Awards Presented on World Communicators’ Day

ERNAKULAM: Celebrating the World Communicators Day on 31^st October at Ernakulam Press Club, the Kerala chapter of PRCI, presented the 3^rd Thoolika Literary Awards.

Dr M C Dileep Kumar, former Vice Chancellor of Adi Sankara University, Kalady, was the Chief Guest gave away the awards to noted novelist and short-story writer E P Sreekumar and Dr Mary Metilda, one of the top HRD and corporate trainers from the South. She was the former teacher and Principal of Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam.

E.P.Sreekumar was awarded the best literature (fiction) for the collection of stories, “Adhvanavetta”, while Dr. Mary Metilda was bestowed with the best literature (composition) award for “Jeevitam Padippicha Vijaya Mantrangal”. The winners were adjudged by a jury comprising of eminent Journalists cum Authors, Ravi Kuttikattu, Leela Menon and Story Writer, Author Dr.K.A.Marydas.

Sreekumar said that though he had received many awards in the past, he considered the Thoolika Award as the most prestigious one because it was presented by a premier organization which provides the foremost platform for PR and communications professional s with close to 30 chapters pan India. He held the trophy close to his heart as he concluded his speech thanking the organizers.

Dr Mary was very emotional while delivering her thanks-giving speech. She said that she will definitely share the happiness with her students and advise them to be good communicators in life because life is all about communication, without which the world will be like an empty shell. She also said that she accepted the award with high gratitude and would cherish the same for the rest of her life.

A snapshot of Media coverage

The jury chairman Ravi Kuttikkad, a veteran journalist and noted writer, said that it was a great opportunity for him to be associated with a professional organization like PRCI and to head the judging committee for selecting the winners of Thoolika award particularly while celebrating the World Communications Day.

Mr U S Kutty, chairman, presided over the meeting, Mr T Vinay Kumar Secretary welcomed the gathering and Mr P K Natesh, Treasurer offered vote of thanks. The meeting was attended by more than 50 people including journalists and well wishers of PRCI.

Tuesday, 24 October 2017

Get, set, go...World Communicators Day - Oct 28

Monday, 16 October 2017

Are you in Indian PR Forum?

In its 12th year, Indian PR Forum (IPRF), has grown to become, the formidable source of news, views, events info, industry reports, industry story opportunities, contacts, updates etc., that you need on a daily basis. It helps over 30,000 communications professionals to be more smarter and updated. If you are in the PR industry and still not part of this growing community then you are definitely missing something very critical. IPRF has presence on Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and WhatsApp Groups as well as on Quora, Twitter and Slideshare.

IPRF on Whatsapp Group is the most active and resourceful community that helps you in real-time. The response time from members is literally less than 10 minutes. We welcome you to be part of this exciting phenomenon, if you already not part of it. Jump on, it’s not just another WhatsApp Group, it is the information power house of Indian PR industry.

To Join, please Whatsapp your Name, Designation, Company, City, Email (sharing all the required info is must to join) on 9930143550 or Email: indianprforum@gmail.com.

- Vikram Kharvi

Monday, 9 October 2017

Communication in Death

Communication does not end with death. My dad – Honorary Capt. BSRV Subba Rao (89) – who died in Hyderabad on September 25, 2017, donated his body to a private medical college through an NGO to serve the purpose of education. His cornea was taken by Vasan Eye Bank. Two persons are expected to get vision.

PS: There was another element of communication in death. In a matter of seconds, Daddy became body. Nobody referred to him as ‘He’. All of sudden, he became it! Such is the truth of life, I guess!

For detailed piece, check:
http://reputationtoday.in/views/communication-in-death/

Monday, 25 September 2017

Vedteran journalist, author Arun Sadhu is no more

By Kiran Thakur (Media Scene in India)

Monday, 25 September 2017

Journalist and Sahitya Academy award sinning Marathi author Arun Sadhu is no more. He breathed his last at a hospital in Mumbai early on September 25, 2017.

He was the Editor of The Free Press Journal for a brief period. However, he was better known for the English readers for his dispatches as the special correspondent of The Statesman and The Indian Express. He began his career as a subeditor-cum-reporter of Pune’s Marathi daily Kesari in the 1960s. He, however, became the popular author with his writings in a weeklyManoos (now defunct).

Prof Sadhu shifted to Mumbai where he authored Marathi, short stories, novels and plays His novel Mumbai Dinank was made into an award-winning Marathi movie Sinhasasan.

His reportage on several political and social issues of the 1970s when he began reporting events in Maharashtra and Gujarat forThe Statesman. He was sympathetic to the Dalit movement launched by Dalit Panther and its splinter groups.

Dr Vasant Govarikar, the former scientific adviser to the Prime Minister, invited him as the head of the Department of Communication and Journalism at the University of Pune's Social Sciences faculty in 1996-97 when he (Dr. Govarikar) was its Vice-Chancellor. A

Prof Arun Sadhu retired from the Department of communication and journalism in the year 2000. Later he continued to contribute to important English and Marathi newspapers and magazines in India. He was often invited for his comments political and social issues on the national scene.

He was elected President of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan. During his tenure, he took a firm stand on various literary issues.

Professor Sadhu had undertaken a UGC funded a major research project titled “Ethics & Indian Media” submitted in 2006.

He co-authored script for a movie Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar directed by Dr. Jabbar Patel. His books include the following:

Available Immediately

Wednesday, 1 November 2017

PRact workshop at Mumbai Press Club draws huge response

PRCI event at Punjab University

Tuesday, 24 October 2017

Monday, 16 October 2017

Monday, 9 October 2017

Monday, 25 September 2017

By Kiran Thakur (Media Scene in India)

Monday, 25 September 2017

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