Writing

April Fools’ Day saw brands execute countless pranks on their (mostly) unsuspecting audiences. Embedded in these pranks are numerous lessons in good humor and bad taste, reminding communicators that it’s OK to be funny…just so long as the jokes land. Here are some notable examples.

We’re down to the Final Four of the 2018 Most Overused PR Words & Phrases Tournament. Before calling your bookie to place a bet, go to Twitter, use the hashtag #WordsBracket and tell us which of the four words or phrases should advance to the glorious championship round.

Earlier this month, PR News launched its own version of March Madness with the 2018 Most Overused PR Words & Phrases Tournament. Communicators reached out to us via Twitter with their votes for the most egregious examples of corporate jargon, from “trending” and “industry-leading” to “quite frankly.” We present the “winners” (such as they are) of the second round here.

Whether crafting a press release seen by thousands or an email sent only to your team, a communicator’s goal is to foster a strong culture of writing, said panelists at PR News’ Advanced Writing Workshop, held March 20 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. While every writer has their blind spots, here are four common mistakes to keep in mind when crafting any communication.

In the spirit of the NCAA basketball tournament, PR News offers its own version of March Madness with the 2018 Most Overused PR Words & Phrases Tournament. Take a look at the second-round picks and vote on Twitter for the overused words from each pairing that you’d like to see advance. We’ll announce the third-round picks next Thursday, and every Thursday through the end of the month until we crown a champion.

Whether your organization’s house style is the Chicago Manual or AP, familiarity with both can be a great asset in the world of PR. Learning the biggest differences between the two most common style guides will help you improve your writing no matter what company you work for or what you’re creating. Here are 5 differences between the Chicago Manual of Style and AP style that will occur frequently.

In the spirit of the NCAA basketball tournament, PR News offers its own version of March Madness with the 2018 Most Overused PR Words & Phrases Tournament. Take a look at the first-round picks and vote on Twitter for the overused words from each pairing that you’d like to see advance. We’ll announce the second-round picks this Friday, and every Friday through the end of the month until we crown a champion.

Strong writing skills can supercharge your brand’s message and propel your own professional growth. After all, the best way to influence anyone is a story well told. Yet, many communicators undermine their brand’s message—and their own credibility—by stumbling over some common but easily avoidable linguistic hurdles. Here are three common errors to keep in mind before you hit the send button.

Admit it, just the thought of giving a speech makes your stomach turn just a bit. This article will help you get over that fear with four tips for crafting and presenting a speech in front of a crowd or a talk to your staff. In both situations it’s best to prepare far ahead and have goals that you wish to accomplish.

When you’re developing a news release, a good quote can make all the difference in giving character and perspective to your announcement. Once you’ve laid out the what, when, where and who, a quote from a spokesperson fills in the why: why your brand is passionate about an issue, why something needed to be done, why something is significant, why the reader should care.