Public Relations PR Writing and Content 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What distinguishes a 'feature story pitch' from a standard news pitch?
- Feature pitches emphasize human interest and narrative, not just breaking news (Correct answer)
- Feature pitches must include financial data
- Feature pitches are sent only to broadcast media
- Feature pitches require a formal press release attachment
Correct answer: Feature pitches emphasize human interest and narrative, not just breaking news
Feature pitches focus on compelling narratives, trends, or human stories that are not time-sensitive, appealing to lifestyle, magazine, and long-form journalists.
Question 2: In PR writing, 'jargon' should generally be:
- Avoided or explained clearly for general audiences (Correct answer)
- Used extensively to demonstrate expertise
- Reserved for technical press releases only
- Always included in executive quotes
Correct answer: Avoided or explained clearly for general audiences
Industry jargon alienates general audiences and journalists covering broad beats, so PR writing must prioritize clarity and accessibility.
Question 3: A 'bylined article' in PR is written by:
- An organization's executive and published under their name in media outlets (Correct answer)
- A journalist interviewing the organization's spokesperson
- The PR agency under a pseudonym
- A ghostwriter for internal audiences
Correct answer: An organization's executive and published under their name in media outlets
Bylined articles carry an executive's name and are placed in trade publications or news outlets to build thought leadership without formal advertising.
Question 4: What is the ideal length for a standard press release?
- 400–600 words on a single page (Correct answer)
- 2,000–3,000 words with full background detail
- 100 words or fewer for modern media
- Exactly 500 words with no exceptions
Correct answer: 400–600 words on a single page
Industry best practice recommends press releases be concise—typically one page, 400–600 words—to respect journalists' time and focus on newsworthy content.
Question 5: The 'nut graf' in PR writing refers to:
- A paragraph that explains the significance and context of the story (Correct answer)
- The first paragraph containing the five Ws
- The final paragraph summarizing key points
- The background section about the organization
Correct answer: A paragraph that explains the significance and context of the story
The nut graf (nutshell paragraph) appears early in a piece and answers 'so what?'—explaining why the story matters to the audience.
Question 6: When writing a speech for a corporate executive, a PR professional should prioritize:
- Matching the executive's authentic voice while meeting communication objectives (Correct answer)
- Using complex vocabulary to convey intelligence
- Focusing entirely on product promotion
- Following a rigid template regardless of the audience
Correct answer: Matching the executive's authentic voice while meeting communication objectives
Effective speechwriting balances the organization's strategic goals with the speaker's natural communication style to maintain authenticity and credibility.
Public Relations PR Writing and Content 2
What distinguishes a 'feature story pitch' from a standard news pitch?