News Americas, MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Sun. Ma. 24, 2013: Five distinguished leaders in media, communication, travel and tourism, are set to deliver the latest trends in writing techniques at the University of the West Indies-Mona, Western Jamaica Campus, (WJC), this Tuesday, March 26th.
A Communication Analysis and Planning, (CAP) project, the two-part ‘International Writing and Public Relations’ seminar, will probe ‘Writing for Tourism’ and ‘What Gets Thrown in File 13.’ It is making its debut at the Queen’s Drive campus in the tourism Mecca of Montego Bay.
The five presenters are Caribbean Tourism Organizations’ communication specialist and multiple award-winner, Johnson Johnrose; CaribPR and News Americas’ founder, Felicia Persaud; Montreal-based freelance writer, Melanie Reffes; New York City radio talk-show host, Irwine Clare, and The Gleaner’s corporate affairs editor, Barbara Ellington.
Some 70 persons have already registered for the course sponsored by the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Sandals Resorts International, Caribbean Airlines, Glamour Destination Management and the Jamaica Tourist Board.
Johnrose, a career journalist, broadcaster and media trainer, with nearly 30-years-experience, and who has written extensively on issues of interest and concern to the Caribbean region, including politics, economics and tourism, will lead the session on ‘Writing for Tourism.’
The CTO communication specialist has been a guest lecturer in journalism, delivering training for journalists throughout the region. He helps to train public figures on how to speak to the press and in crisis communication. Among those who seek his expertise, are heads of government and senior public servants.
All five presenters will discuss issues from incorrect punctuation to simple things such as putting the date on the media release that land on their desks in the segment tagged ‘What Gets Thrown in File 13.’
“A release could have been written a year ago or yesterday, and was pulled from the generic pile of releases and has no news value, so it’s important to ensure a simple thing such as the date is included,” commented Gay Nagle Myers, senior editor of Travel Weekly Magazine.
“We also want the people sending media releases to drop the chipper salutation, which includes, ‘Hi Gay, how are you, what have you been up to? I know you will be interested in this hot news…(usually about new bedspreads or duvet covers,” she added.
One of the major challenges these panelists say they face daily on the job is the constant calls asking when the media releases would be carried. “We get hundreds of releases. We’ll use what is news,” said Myers.
Another burning issue the presenters say, is public relations coordinators making certain types of requests, “such as the issue of the publication with the story in it, as if we are mailing houses.”
They are suggesting that once an article has been carried, the proper thing to do is subscribe or visit the pertinent website to read it.
According to them linen updates, renovated lobbies or the addition of flat screen TVs carries no news value.
“And please, no head shots of the GM (general manager) in a suit when the release is about his love for Harley motorcycles,” said Melanie Reffes. “And never tell us the freshwater swimming pool is the second biggest in the Caribbean without adding the source of such a claim and which pool is the biggest.”
The seminar is free to public relations students, public relations practitioners, journalists and bosses who cannot comprehend why a media release may not have been carried.
For more information contact Janet Silvera at janet.silvera99@hotmail.com
