UNLV ‘Writing For Public Relations’ Course Altered By The Internet

Jan. 26, 2010 - PRLog -- Richard R. Becker, ABC, president of Copywrite, Ink., will teach Writing for Public Relations through the Division of Educational Outreach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He has taught the class for ten years.

The 10-week course, Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., begins Feb. 4 and is a core requirement of the public relations certificate program offered by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in conjunction with the International Association of Business Communicators/Las Vegas (IABC/Las Vegas) and Public Relations Society of American (PRSA/Las Vegas). It will be held at the UNLV Paradise Campus, located at 851 East Tropicana.

“The class has been significantly altered to keep pace with the increasing demands on public relations professionals to understand and help manage social media and social network programs,” said Becker. “Most firms are failing at integrating online communication into their traditional public relations or marketing programs because they mistake social media as an opportunity to blast information. Unfortunately, the tactic drives more people away than it attracts.”

The course is a skill development class with an emphasis on practical, real-life experience, case studies, applied strategy, and writing proficiency. Students will prepare traditional public relations materials such as news releases and fact sheets along with modern communication materials such as blog posts and online outreach.

“There is a significant focus on writing proficiency across a variety of mediums, with students completing one or two writing assignments every week,” said Becker. “Writing is an area where students, even working professionals, tend to struggle the most. The average score on early assignments tends to fall below the 70s.”

Becker is an IABC accredited business communicator who has worked on more than 1,000 commercial accounts since 1991. He has also written hundreds of magazine and news articles, contributed to five books, and scripted one documentary for PBS.

In addition to serving as president of Copywrite, Ink. and instructor for UNLV, he is an examiner for the IABC International Accreditation Board and a governor-appointed state commissioner with Nevada Volunteers.

For more information, enroll online (https://cedwebserver.unlv.edu/CourseStatus.awp?~~101PR6109) or contact Cristy Kardeke at cristen.kardeke@unlv.edu or 895-1022. The class is limited to 15 students and carries 1.80 continuing education credits.