Xavier UniversitySports & P.R.

Spring 2012

Sports & PR

Textbook: Media Relations in Sport, THIRD EDITION

Sports & PR

Main goals of the class– Improve writing skills– Have a useful media contact list– Have a project presentation that you can use in a

job interview

Sports & PR

Basics of writing– Several types of writing will be covered in class

1) News releases 2) Feature/Story writing 3) Column/Opinion writing 4) Using social media to promote

Sports & PR

Writing the news release– Even though you are an employee (of the team,

school, etc) you write the news release as an unattached observer

– The advantage of that: Oftentimes, the release will be printed almost word for word because news/sports department don’t have the staff to re-read or edit the releases

Sports & PR

News release should have the most important information at the top (the LEAD)– Make it compelling enough that editors and sports

producers will stop and read the entire release– Information is in reverse pyramid as to importance

from the lead

Sports & PR

Style for PR template– Contact information at top and bottom– Headline (and subhead, if you choose)– Dateline—where is this happening? – Date to be released– ONE PAGE ONLY– Offer interview/more info opportunity at bottom

Assignment:

Write one-page release Information:

– XU basketball coach Chris Mack is stepping down effective next Thursday, January 19 to rehab his knee injury

– Former XU coach Pete Gillen will coach the remainder of season

– Quotes from Mack, Gillen– Offer background on Mack injury– Offer background on Gillen history