Press Release Writing Exercise 2

INTERNAL

For more information contact

Robin S. Pittman

West Virginia University

(555) 556-555

robin.pittman823@topper.wku.edu

 

For release after 11 a.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 19

 

Faculty, staff, and students,

As the new president of West Virginia University, I feel the need to address the rumors involving the false degree giving of Governor Joe Mancin’s daughter Heather Bresch and former West Virginia University president, William Garrison.

After investigation from the university and the Pittsburg Post-Gazette, it was found that Bresch failed to finish the required amount of hours for her EMBA degree.  Garrison, who was Dean of the Business School at the time, reported that that Bresch had completed her hours and she had not been given her degree because of a mistake in her transfer records and a failure to pay a graduation fee.  Garrison said he fixed the error and gave Bresch her degree as soon as she paid the graduation fee.  Shortly after, Garrison was appointed university president.  The university and Post-Gazette still continued their investigations, finding that Garrison’s report on the situation was false.  According to the Post-Gazette, Garrison had been covering up for Bresch in exchange for the promotion to university president from the governor.  Garrison was then fired and Bresch’s degree was taken away.

Although it saddens me that one of our own members of West Virginia University has had to leave because of such a thing, I am still looking forward to my new role as university president.  My first task as president will be to make sure no scandal like this one happens again on this campus.

Go Mountaineers!

Mark Dalessandro

West Virginia University President

EXTERNAL

For more information contact

Robin S. Pittman

West Virginia University

(555) 556-555

robin.pittman823@topper.wku.edu

 

For release after 11 a.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 19

 

CLARIFICATION OF BRESCH RUMORS

New West Virginia University President Mark Dalessandro would like to address the rumors involving the false degree giving of Governor Joe Mancin’s daughter Heather Bresch and former West Virginia University president, William Garrison.

After investigation from the university and the Pittsburg Post-Gazette, it was found that Bresch failed to finish the required amount of hours for her EMBA degree.  Garrison, who was Dean of the Business School at the time, reported that that Bresch had completed her hours and she had not been given her degree because of a mistake in her transfer records and a failure to pay a graduation fee.  Garrison said he fixed the error and gave Bresch her degree as soon as she paid the graduation fee.  Shortly after, Garrison was appointed university president.  The university and Post-Gazette still continued their investigations, finding that Garrison’s report on the situation was false.  According to the Post-Gazette, Garrison had been covering up for Bresch in exchange for the promotion to university president from the governor.  Garrison was then fired and Bresch’s degree was taken away.

“Although it saddens me that one of our own members of West Virginia University has had to leave because of such a thing, I am still looking forward to my new role as university president.  My first task as president will be to make sure no scandal like this one happens again on this campus,” states Dalessandro.

Press Release Writing Exercise

Internal:

For more information contact

Robin S. Pittman

West Virginia University

(555) 556-555

robin.pittman823@topper.wku.edu

 

For release after 11 a.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 19

 

Faculty, staff, and students,

It has come to my attention that rumors of Senator Manchin’s daughter, Heather Bresch, receiving her degree without completing the required number of hours for her program.  I deny these allegations.

There was a mistake made with regard to Bresch’s transfer records for which the School of Business at Western Virginia University takes responsibility.  While it looked as though Bresch had only earned 22 out of her 48 hours required, she actually was just missing her remaining hours because of the misunderstanding in the record’s office.

The real reason Bresch did not receive her diploma was that she failed to pay a $50 graduation fee.  I, being the current Dean of the Business School at the time, fixed the error of Bresch’s transfer records and granted her an EMBA degree as soon as she paid the graduation fee.

If my involvement with this issue helped me be promoted then it was not because of whom I was assisting but because of the actions I took to fix the errors made.

I will be holding a press conference on November 18 to address the issue.  There, I will make a formal apology for the error made in the transfer records and will answer any other questions.

 

William Garrison

West Virginia University President

 

External:

For more information contact

Robin S. Pittman

West Virginia University

(555) 556-555

robin.pittman823@topper.wku.edu

 

For release after 11 a.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 19

 

CLARIFICATION OF BRESCH RUMORS

It has come to the attention of President Garrison of West Virginia University that rumors of Senator Manchin’s daughter, Heather Bresch, receiving her degree without completing the required number of hours for her program.  President Garrison denies these allegations.

There was a mistake made with regard to Bresch’s transfer records for which the School of Business at Western Virginia University takes responsibility.  While it looked as though Bresch had only earned 22 out of her 48 hours required, she actually was just missing her remaining hours because of the misunderstanding in the record’s office.

The real reason, according to President Garrison, that Bresch did not receive her diploma was that she failed to pay a $50 graduation fee.  President Garrison, at the time Dean of the Business School, fixed the error of Bresch’s transfer records and granted her an EMBA degree as soon as she paid the graduation fee.

President Garrison states, “If my involvement with this issue helped me be promoted then it was not because of whom I was assisting but because of the actions I took to fix the errors made.”

President Garrison will be holding a press conference on November 18 to address the issue.  There, he will make a formal apology for the error made in the transfer records and will answer any other questions.

The roots of bullying

Bullying has been going on for years but how do we stop it if we don’t even know how it starts?

Nearly half of all middle school students say that they have been bullied on school grounds and thirteen percent of high school students say they have been bullied electronically.  These are results from a study done by the Kentucky Department of Education in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control.

Being that October is National Bullying Prevention Month, the Kentucky Department of Education has taken a special interest into bullying and cyber-bullying in schools.  Now that we know that bullying is happening, what source is causing it?  There are many theories but much evidence points to drugs.

Also found in the survey mentioned above, over 12 percent of high school students had taken prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription.  Could this be what is causing the bullying?  Well, according to an article from drugfree.org, it might be the cause.  The article gives the statistics of only 1.6 percent not bullied middle school students involved in drugs compared to 11.4 percent middle school bullies involved in drugs.  These statistics are even more shocking in high school: 13.3 percent to 31.7 percent.

It’s hard to believe that so many high school and even middle school students could be involved in drugs, especially so young.  But instead of living in denial of these proven facts, it may be time to take a stand against bullying by first taking a stand against drugs.

The article states “Many schools are mandating anti-bullying programs and policies, and we think they need to take this opportunity to address other forms of deviant behavior, such as substance use.”  Maybe the first step to solving the bullying problem is to stop the drug abuse.  What can you do to prevent this continued abuse in your school system?

 

 

October 28 Assignment

Nearly half of all middle school students say that they have been bullied on school grounds and thirteen percent of high school students say they have been bullied electronically.  These are results from a study done by the Kentucky Department of Education in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control.

Being that October is National Bullying Prevention Month, the Kentucky Department of Education has taken a special interest into bullying and cyber-bullying in schools.  Now that we know that bullying is happening, what source is causing it?

Also found in the survey mentioned above, over 12 percent of high school students had taken prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription.  Could this be what is causing the bullying?  Well, according to an article from drugfree.org, it might be the cause.  The article gives the statistics of only 1.6 percent not bullied middle school students involved in drugs compared to 11.4 percent middle school bullies involved in drugs.  These statistics are even more shocking in high school: 13.3 percent to 31.7 percent.

The article states “Many schools are mandating anti-bullying programs and policies, and we think they need to take this opportunity to address other forms of deviant behavior, such as substance use.”  Maybe the first step to solving the bullying problem is to stop the drug abuse.

http://education.ky.gov/school/sdfs/pages/bullying.aspx

http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/alcohol/study-finds-link-between-school-bullies-and-substance-use

Living on a Budget

There is so much on your mind when you come to college.  How do I study?  How do I stay healthy?  How do I make new friends?  The last thing you want to worry about is how to save money.  Luckily, you shouldn’t have to worry about that.  It’s very easy if you just stick to a few simple rules.

The first rule is to wait until your parents are in town to buy most things.  I know you are an adult now and want independence from your parents, but I promise that mindset will change in college.  When you are running low on groceries and don’t think you can cough up the extra cash to go to the supermarket, that’s when you invite your parents for a visit.  They will happy to see you and happy to help their sweet little angel that they’ve missed by taking you grocery shopping.

The second rule is to find a job.  The best job is one on campus.  It is hard enough to manage your time in college so why not get a job on campus where they are more prone to work with your schedule.

The last rule is to find free/cheap ways to have fun.  It is always tempting to go out to eat or to the movies with your friends, but before you do, think of a cheaper alternative.  There are always free activities going on around campus like sporting events or mini festivals.  These things might even end up being more exciting than your routine expensive night out.

College will be stressful; there’s no denying that, but hopefully by remembering these simple rules money will not be one of these stresses.

Lead Writing Exercises

A. At three pm, October 8 Duane LaChance of Gross Engineers suffered a third-degree burn while installing new pipes on the roof of the plant, accidentally torch wrenching a power line carrying fifteen thousand volts.

B. Famous rock singer, Peter McCartney, checked into the Riverside Hospital on October 8 for exploratory throat surgery after his voice was reduced to a whisper after his performance the night before.

C. At the Hattiesburg Board of education meeting on October 8 the committee put a new dress code in place, discussed a report on low enrollment, and accepted a bid from the Farmer’s Dairy.

D. A plane crash October 8 at Kennedy International Airport left five people dead and only two escaping injury.

E. Pulitzer Prize winner, Norman Meeman spoke about how to become a great writer on October 8 at the William Oxley Thomson memorial Library.

In class interview

Realizing what matters

 

Summary: Kelsey Dudding is a public relations major.  She is very interested in travel and cannot stand the idea of the nine to five job.  Her parents and her love for the Lord has led her to decide on this major.

Kelsey Dudding, a Louisville, KY native, is a sophomore at Western Kentucky University.  She is public relations major and a Non-Profit Administration minor.  Many variables have lead Dudding to these choices.

Dudding emphasizes that she is very much against the American dream in the way of material prosperity.  She is not interested in acquiring material things, but more so on just doing something that makes her happy.  She states, “As long as I’m happy, nothing else matters.”

Dudding’s parent’s also influenced her decision of working in public relations.  Growing up, Dudding watched her mother, a schoolteacher, and her father, a businessman working their nine to five jobs everyday.  She saw how stressful and unhappy they were in their careers.  Dudding has much respect for what her parents do and what they’ve done for her, but by observing them, she realized that neither of their career paths were the one for her.  She knows that with public relations and non-profit work, she will be able to travel all over the world, fulfilling her dream.

Dudding says that she used to be somewhat materialistic, which made her parents skeptical of her working in public relations since it is not always a highly paid job.  Although, Dudding is still optimistic that she has chosen the right career path for herself because she has shed her materialistic ways.  When asked how she did this, Dudding responded with “knowing the Lord.”  She explains that in middle school and high school she was caught up in the world and was trying too hard to please others.  Once she became close with the Lord, she realized what really mattered to her: helping people.  This ultimately brought her to her decision of being public relations major.

Snowden Report Exercise

NSA whistleblower spills all

Former NSA infrastructure analysis, Edward Snowden, was interviewed on June 6 in Hong Kong regarding his whistleblowing activities.

Snowden explained that his job required him to see disturbing things way more frequently than the average person.  After a while he became overwhelmed by the wrongness he felt building up.  That’s when he decided that the public needed to see what was really going on at NSA.

Snowden says that everyone and anyone is a target and that “NSA and the intelligence community in general is focused on getting intelligence wherever it can by any means possible.”  He describes how even if you’re not doing anything wrong, you are constantly under surveillance and you can be attacked over anything you’ve ever done.

When asked why he did not do the whistleblowing anonymously, Snowden responded that he was willing to live unfreely by comfortably.  He moved to Hong Kong to do this, not because China is an enemy of the United States, he says, but rather that Hong Kong has a great emphasis on free speech and is very independent compared to western government.

Snowden closed out the interview by stating “What would it take to make you leave everything behind.”

Report Writing Exercise

A. Little Rock Air Force major killed in crash

 

An Air Force major stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base was killed in a jet aircraft crash at the Super Shopping mall on the western edge of town at 12:00 pm on September 19.

The victim, Rufus N. Hebernoowski, was piloting a jet aircraft when it crashed into the mall’s northern parking lot, destroying fifteen cars in its path.  Herbernoowski died, but no one on the ground was injured or killed.

Herbernoowski had no known connections locally.

 

B. Bowling Green City Council increases taxes

 

The Bowling Green City Council is increasing the city property taxes to 10 percent.  This increase will cause average taxes to go up by about $50 yearly.  This will go into effect on October 1.  The tax increase will go towards doubling the size of the city park.

 

C. Western Kentucky University faculty and staff receive 15 percent pay raise

 

Harold R. Drazsnzak, Western Kentucky University vice president for finance, made an announcement stating that all faculty and staff will get a 15 percent pay raise.  He says this is possible because of the increased revenues from the state.

The raises will go into effect this fall.  This will be the first raise for the faulty in two years and Drazsnzak says that “Without a doubt, our faculty is long overdue to get a raise.

 

D. Journalism students plan to boycott classes

The Journalism Student Association of Western Kentucky University met September 19 at 12:00 pm.  There was an attendance of approximately 200 students.

Members decided to organize a boycott of all journalism classes tomorrow to protest university tuition increases.  The tuition is supposed to go up by 10 percent beginning in the spring semester.  Journalism Student Association president, David S. Kuykendall, says “We are confident that all journalism students will boycott all classes.”

Writing Assignment #3

Robin Pittman has just been accepted into the Winter Term Study Away program with WKU.  She is going to Hawaii to complete a geography course.  She is very excited as she states, “The course looks like it will be fairly easy and the rest of the trip will be devoted to having fun and exploring Hawaii.”

Pittman is also nervous, though.  Her roommate, Olivia, is going with her, and last night Olivia had a dream about getting attacked by sharks.  Swimming with sharks is one of the activities they will be doing.  “I am worried that Olivia will not want to go after having this dream,” Pittman says.  Pittman thinks sharks are scary too, obviously, but she thinks it would be a lot of fun seeing them up-close.  “It will be like real life Shark Week!” she exclaims.

Pittman is nervous about flying, also.  She’s only flown on a plane twice and she was during middle school so she barely remembers it.  She is very afraid of heights.  “I couldn’t even look over the rail on the third floor of MMTH without freaking out,” she says.   Not only will she have to fly to Hawaii and back, but she also will have to take a helicopter ride during the trip.  Pittman thinks she can handle the plane, but says, “I’m sure I will have a panic attack on the helicopter.”  She knows, though, the more she faces her fears, the easier it will be for her in the future.

Besides all the worrying, Pittman is optimistic that this will be a great trip.  She’ll get to do lots of fun things like explore a volcano and take surf lessons.  She’s never done either of these, so she is looking forward to the new experience.

Pittman never had an interest in traveling until this summer when her brother and her friend from home traveled to different places around the world. “They showed me cool pictures and told me interesting stories, convincing me that I had to travel, too,” she explains.  She knows that Hawaii is just another part of the United States but she has never been outside of the continental United States, so that in itself will be a stepping stone for her.  Also, Hawaii’s culture seems to be very different than that of Kentucky’s or any of the other places Pittman has visited so she’s eager to see what it is like.

Pittman is already planning to visit different places in the future.  Next summer, there is a study abroad trip to Japan.  “The trip is focusing on digital filmmaking which is part of my major so I am very interested in it,” says Pittman.  It will be chance for her, not only to have a fun summer trip in a different country, but also to learn more about her major and future career.  “Hopefully, I can find more new exciting places to travel to each year or so,” she says.