CPDS Stages Press Release Writing Course
CPDS, Gaza, June 4, 2012
The Centre for Political and Development Studies (CPDS), Gaza launched on Sunday, June 3, 2012 the first course of its
kind in Gaza entitled "Writing Press Release for Western Media", given by a handful of media experts from the West. Dr.
Mahmoud Alhirthani, CPDS chairman, welcomed the participants in a brief speech, hoping they will benefit from the course
and thanking all the people who have contributed to making it a success.
Alastair Thompson, the General Manager and Editor of Scoop.co.nz, talked about the importance of a press release in getting an issue onto the public and political agenda.
The coming lectures will cover the following topics:
• Professional principles of writing press releases
• Functions of press releases - why, when, and how we use them
• Targeting your press releases (including to radio, TV, print, and electronic media)
• Building a media campaign
• Examples of press releases
• Steps in writing a press release
• Language used in a press release
• Practical exercises writing press releases on topics provided to participants
CPDS will host Pam Bailey, Yvonne Ridley, Joe Catron, and Julie Webb-Pullman to cover these topics over the coming ten
days. The course aims to educate Gaza activists and organisations on how to convey the story of Palestine to the Western
media.
ENDS