COURSE OVERVIEW:
Public relations for any company is essential for maintaining a positive image with consumers and the general public. Part of practicing good public relations means alerting the media to the company's stance in response to public concerns, maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction and being an active member of the local community.
Written communication is an essential part of a successful public relations plan. Understanding the importance of written communication in public relations practice will assist you in making good corporate policies.
Public relations professionals at all levels need to have solid writing skills. To succeed as a PR pro, it’s vital to have a passion for writing and communication, and to be committed to excelling in both. You’re bound to fail if you don’t. Public relations professionals are responsible for developing communication materials intended to influence the attitudes and/or behaviours of key publics.
Throughout your academic career, you have been faced with a lot of ideas about writing. Perhaps you have become aware of some mixed messages. If you have, that’s good, because there certainly are a lot of different thoughts about writing—what it is, how we learn to write well, how we can use writing personally and professionally, and whether we are any good at it.
Therefore, writing is the most important professional skill for public relations practitioners. Employers complain that job candidates can’t do it adequately. Many employers require candidates for public relations positions to complete a writing test and provide a writing sample to demonstrate proficiency in this skill. Therefore, it is critical to understand how to craft effective messages through written communication.
This course deals with the principles of writing in professional context. It begins with an exploration of your attitudes toward writing and follows with a refresher course of writing principles.
The first part will help you begin to sort through what you have learned about writing and what you have experienced through writing. It will help you identify your own relationship with writing.
The second part will serve as a reminder of many rules and guidelines you previously have learned about how to make your writing more effective. Its suggestions and guidelines provide a foundation for all kinds of writing: organisational publications, releases for print and broadcast media, scripts for speeches, and text for Websites, electronic mail and other communication tools.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:
- What does writing means to you?
- What is meant by freewriting?
- Creative writing vs functional writing
- Creativity and functionality combined
- How to write to influence?
- How to become a better writer?
- How to make an ongoing commitment?
- How to follow rules and guidelines for proper English?
- How to avoid grammatical myths?
- How to use appropriate levels of English?
- Why be aware of changing usage and rules?
- How to ensure noun–pronoun agreement?
- How to ensure subject–verb agreement?
- How to keep punctuation simple?
- How to use proper word placement?
- How to use parallel structure?
- How to use simple language?
- How to write naturally?
- How to write logically?
- How to trim wordy phrases?
- How to write short sentences ?
- How to avoid redundancies?
- How to give preference to active voice?
- The benefits of active voice
- The benefits of passive voice
- How to use adjectives and adverbs sparingly?
- How to create word pictures that can inspire the reader?
- How to use precise language?
- How to use strong words?
- How to avoid clichés and journalese?
- How to avoid loaded words?
- How to limit technical language?
- Why not create new words?
- Why be wary of foreign words?
- How to limit pretentious language?
- Why use only honest language?
- How to eliminate gender bias?
- How to eliminate bias based on physical characteristics?
- How to eliminate bias based on ethnicity, culture or lifestyle?
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.