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Exercises and Assignments
ASSIGNMENT 1
Pages 63-64 discuss the importance of newsworthy information in public relations news releases.
Go to a local newspaper, television station or your college's PR office. Ask for three news releases that you can use for an assignment. Write a few paragraphs about each news release. Where is the "news?" Is it at the beginning of the release? Is it at the end? What is the best audience (and most appropriate news outlet) for each particular news release? Is the writing clear, concise and free of errors?
ASSIGNMENT 2
Find full-page advertisements from three different magazines. Photocopy the ads (if the magazines are not yours). Use the factors described below (and in Chapter 3, page 69) to analyze the advertisement.
b. Next, describe the key message in the advertisement. Is the advertisement rich in information, and therefore directed at an involved audience, or does it feature peripheral qualities, such as graphics or pictures, and therefore targeted at a less-involved audience?
c. Is there a source in the advertisement? A source might be a celebrity or person likely to persuade the target audience. Why do you think the source might be able to persuade the target audience?
b. Review all the commercials in your notes. How would you describe the target audience in general? Did you know that particular television show was being targeted toward the audience you described?
a. First, study the ad and try to describe the intended recipient, or target audience. Try to describe the demographics of the audience: age, gender, occupation, education, income, residence and marital status. Use the ad to describe the possible lifestyle choices, attitudes and values of the audience.
Watch a television program you have never seen before. By analyzing the commercials, try to describe the target audience for the show.
a. Take notes on each commercial. Describe the possible demographics of the target audience based on the commercial.
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