Class Notes by Lisa Beck

4/24/14

Danielle Davis, the communications manager of the National Cherry Blossoms Festival came to talk to the class.  This festival is a year-long planning process.

The Cherry Blossom Festival:

-       non profit and the money used is through sponsors

-       1.5 million visitors came in all

-       Rained two days including the rain date but the heavy winter probably helped numbers

Social media and PR numbers

-       51,895 Facebook likes (44 % increase)

-       7,830 Twitter followers (33% increase)

-       $15 million + PR and Promotional

-       178+ million Nielson audience

-       Time Square audience = 1.5 million daily

Danielle Davis’s perspective:

-       Best part of job is the gratifying aspect of it

-       Skill sets include writing pieces quickly and accurately

-       Tough part: adapt writing for different channels

-       Important in field: time management, learning to prioritize

-       Her advice is to keep in touch with employers

Press Release

Glamor Inc.

Jane Doe

Email

Phone

Date

For Immediate Release

Headline: no longer than a line, active verb

Graf 1: strong lead

Graf 2: Details

Graf 3: More background

put quotes by themselves

-30-

Broadcast

-       Same format

-       No headlines

-       More creative freedom

-       Present tense: police say, officials say, etc.

-       Back story in past tense

-       Make it easy for anchor

Don’t forget -30-