Exercises 5.1 & 5.3

EXERCISE 5.1
Dow jumps 600 as US government pledges bank aid
The significance of this article is very obvious and relevant with the way that our economy is going. The title gives positive words like "aid" and "pledges," The article goes on to state how the U.S. is hoping to recover from their losses last week and how the Bush Administration plans to start its $700 million rescue plan.

Teachers' pay raises based on years, not performance
The article is based on the local school system of Franklin County where it talks about the different pay increases of teachers in Ohio. Bexley offers the "richest" step increases of the area. The timeliness is fairly logical because of such a large population of students in the Columbus area that may be interested in going into teaching, as well as the status of the economy. Many students, well I am, are worried about their future and if there is going to be anything to earn in the coming years or if the country will go into yet another depression.

Baby's cry saves Toledo family from house fire
This short story if significant because there was a family in danger in the article. The baby is considered heroic, despite it's role as the dependent in the family, just like any baby. The story is fairly unusual because the smallest member of the family saved everyone from their deaths. There is not much fame accompanying the article but in that Toledo town, I bet there is much talk about the family after reading a story like that. The relevance in Columbus, however, is very small and not very important because of the distance from the city we live in.

Ohio's vets get so little so late
Ohio is one of the worst places to be a disabled veteran. Compared to New Mexico, the best place to get disability compensation, Ohio was close to $4,000 behind. The relevance and significance of this article is evident because we live in ohio and our country right now is at conflict with foreign nations, causing American pride in residents. It seems like the story is not unusual but it is timely because of all the thoughts of money conflict not only in Ohio but in the entire United States.


EXERCISE 5.3
Church Organization and 10 potentially newsworthy activities to promote the organization.
1.) Blood donations & Disease testing
2.) Seminars on controversial/relevant topics in news and media
3.) youth nights to get young people involved in Church
4.) Art auctions & incorporating local artists
5.) Community service projects
6.) Build relationships with conflicting organizations with different viewpoints to share lives and how similarities instead of differences.
7.) Different themed nights according to news/media topics at hand (gay rights, Hispanic, Asian, African-American, etc. outreach, etc.)
8.) Booths and Fliers at different community events
9.) Revising of policies of how church is run, the agenda, etc.
10.) guest speakers & musical artists to bring more of an audience to your services.

3.2 Persuasion in the Activities of the Public Relations Writer

Part One
advocate
noun |ˈadvəkit|
a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy

convince |kənˈvins|
verb [ trans. ]
cause (someone) to believe firmly in the truth of something

entice |enˈtīs|
verb [ trans. ]
attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage

induce |inˈd(y)oōs|
verb [ trans. ]
1 succeed in persuading or influencing (someone) to do something

influence |ˈinfloŏəns|
noun
the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself

manipulate |məˈnipyəˌlāt|
verb [ trans. ]
control or influence (a person or situation) cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously

persuade |pərˈswād|
verb [ trans. ]
cause (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument

Part Two

How does persuasion fit into the activities of a public relations writer?

A public relations writer is supposed to state the facts of an event, person, place, or thing. Along with stating the facts, there still has to be a pull to bring the reader in and believe that what you are saying is credible. If you are not credible or persuasive in a public relations position, there will hardly be an audience that listens to you. In Public Relations, you are working on something that you believe yourself to be true, so you want others to feel the same. There words in part one are very accurate in the goals of PR writing. You have to convince people what you are stating is fact and "firmly believe in the truth of something," You have to influence them to believe it is right. You have to advocate the cause you are writing for and about. As a public relations writer, the activities you engage yourself in are also ones that persuaded you to believe to be true. There was someone that convinced and enticed you to accept what they were saying. You double check the facts yourself to know your material to be able to restate and influence someone else. You wouldn't advocate the benefits and facts of vegetarianism at a rally or in an article and then after you're done working you go to the nearest Arby's and chow down on a roast beef sandwich. Or aggressively campaign for John McCain on 15th and High Street and then on voting day vote for Barack Obama. You state things you believe to be true. You believe to be firmly true.

Exercise 1.2

PART ONE
first set...
creative |krēˈātiv|
adjective
relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas, esp. in the production of an artistic work.

artistic |ärˈtistik|
adjective
having or revealing natural creative skill.

imaginative |iˈmaj(ə)nətiv|
adjective
having or showing creativity or inventiveness.

innovative |ˈinəˌvātiv|
adjective
(of a product, idea, etc.) featuring new methods; advanced and original.

aesthetic |esˈθetik| (also esthetic)
adjective
concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.

There words are all connected in the sense that they deal with being innovative and imaginative. They deal with issues that are usually appealing to others whether it is by their beauty, colors, shape, etc. Or sometimes these words deal with art and writing that cause controversy. Some of these words, however, deal with skill and some with talent.

second set...
purpose |ˈpərpəs|
noun
the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.

intention |inˈten ch ən|
noun
a thing intended; an aim or plan.

function |ˈfə ng k sh ən|
noun
1. an activity or purpose natural to or intended for a person or thing.
2. practical use or purpose in design.

rationale |ˌra sh əˈnal|
noun
a set of reasons or a logical basis for a course of action or a particular belief.

objective |əbˈjektiv|
noun
a thing aimed at or sought; a goal.

These second set of words deal with more ethical matters and maybe even business matters. With all of these words in the second set, it is important to have them when speaking with a person, working for a person, or writing for people. These words also take some training to recognize. Many people go into professional conversations without proper training and sometimes without a gameplan. You need a gameplan to make sure that things and events go smoothly and properly.

PART TWO
Creative and functional writing compare to each other because they both need to convey a purpose. As it says in the text, "all writing is creative and artistic," With functional writing, there still needs to be a hook to pull someone in. You cannot complete and article, press release, etc. with something and for something that has no purpose. Creative writing, though, is more of something that is your own. Creative writing is your child when you write because it stems from the words in the first set. Creativity in writing comes from being artistic, innovative, being a lover of beautiful things, and curious to see what happens next or why things work the way they do. Functional writing is creative in the sense that I've stated before, but it is less of your baby and more of something you're babysitting for the time being before your editor comes and makes it perfect. You are completing the task before you, while more artistic writers are nurturing their writing.

Writing's Importance - Exercise 1.1

I feel bad for those people who do not write besides just for school papers or to reply to a an instant message. Same for appreciating the written word within novels and other books. Writing is a great form of expression with many different opportunities to connect and create images. I find writing the easiest when there is a spark lit in my head due to an issue or emotion at hand. When an event happens that I feel will affect or inspire me deep inside, I must put it on paper. Writing in a journal for the past decade or so has helped vocalize my feelings. Words always seem to make perfect sense in your head but then come jumbled out when you try to speak them. Writing helps sort out my thoughts to where I can speak them, at least a little more, eloquently than usual.

Writing for the fun of it brings some perspective and sense into your life. There have been many times in my life where I sense that if I didn't write down what I was thinking at that time, certain events and people wouldn't make sense to me to this day. I feel as if I have the potential to be a good writer. There are people that write good short stories, some write articles, and some can write poetry that will affect the way you live the rest of your days. I want to improve as a writer for that reason. Words have affected me to the point where I think of things a little differently than before, so I would want to do the same for others. Writing takes some talent, of course, but there are ways to improve. There are many books on writing creatively and ways to write for a purpose as well. People do not realize the sources that they have, such as the Metropolitan Library. Writing takes practice, just like with any skill. You can't play the World Cup in soccer your first time playing. There is conditioning, training, and practice. Writing is no different, except that you are exercising your mind... which is the most important muscle of all anyway.