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Re: Editorial/Press Release - What are some points to consider while writing?

Subject: Re: Editorial/Press Release - What are some points to consider while writing?
From: Peter Neilson <neilson -at- alltel -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 13:49:24 -0500


This is correct. If you have any doubts, check any textbook
on newswriting. The first sentence, (the "lead") should be
the grabber, something that makes the reader want to read the
rest of the piece. But note, "question leads" are considered
as cheap by some editors. You'll want your release to be well
written enough that editors will say, "Hey, this is GOOD," not
"Ugh. Another piece of ****!" A question lead is simply a lead
sentence that is a question.

Another reason for the inverted pyramid is that the editor may
choose to use "all the news that fits" and chop off your
press release in the middle. You'll want it to look good,
regardless.

Neumann, Eileen wrote:

Hi Jennifer,

Use an inverted pyramid format. Start with the main point or points right in the first sentence. Then add more info from most important to least important. Keep in mind that a reader may stop reading at any point, so it's important to get the main facts in very early. If you start with marketing fluff for instance, you risk losing your reader with no useful info whatsoever, if they aren't vitally interested in you and your product to start with, and leave after the first sentence or so.
Another valid approach would be to start with the most interesting or useful aspect of the product. Provide finer details further down in the article. You may want to examine some newspaper articles to see how the pros do this. The inverted pyramid approach is for 'hard news' type stories, and the second is more of a feature article approach.

(Info from my journalism days...)

Good luck!

Cheers,
Eileen

-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-techwr-l-177285 -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:bounce-techwr-l-177285 -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Jennifer C. Bennett
Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2005 11:09 AM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Editorial/Press Release - What are some points to consider while writing?


Hello,

I will be writing an editorial/press release for a software application. I have not written one before, and I am interested in finding out what points need to be considered before and while writing. ...

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References:
RE: Editorial/Press Release - What are some points to consider while writing?: From: Neumann, Eileen

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