I’ve asked my first year students to write a letter for publication in a newspaper. (This is ethical because they write as themselves, choose their newspapers and write on a topic that interests them.)
Lucy Brown, Gemma Waters and Lucy Thornhill have appeared in national newspapers. Amy Grimshaw has been in the Leeds Student newspaper.
As a secondary objective, I’m keen that they should be searchable in Google (Gemma Waters already is as one of our CIPR student representatives).
PR Studies 
Letters are very much under used by PRs. One project that I’ve frequently given LMU PR placement students is to identify a publication and topic and then ghost a letter on behalf of one of our clients.
The Google task is a good one.
Not too long ago, I wrote a release that got published in a Sunday red top. When I say published, it wasn’t the release I wrote in its entirety, but it still had the key messages in it. What a feeling!
With regard to the Google task, it isn’t too hard if you have an unusual name. Sadly, I share mine with a C-list Hollywood actor and a Australian Hockey player to name only two.
What I have found out though, is how to get clients’ press releases in Google News and Yahoo! News. It’s always good to show them the online cuttings as well as the off.
Not too long ago, I wrote a release that got published in a Sunday red top. When I say published, it wasn’t the release I wrote in its entirety, but it still had the key messages in it. What a feeling!
With regard to the Google task, it isn’t too hard if you have an unusual name. Sadly, I share mine with a C-list Hollywood actor and a Australian Hockey player to name only two.
What I have found out though, is how to get clients’ press releases in Google News and Yahoo! News. It’s always good to show them the online cuttings as well as the off.
Sorry about the double post. TypePad told me there was an error on my first attempt. 🙂
Hello from a PR university student
Hi, my name is Lucy Thornhill and I’m a first year Leeds Metropolitan University student. I am studying public relations and, as part of my course I am spending some time with Bruce Marshall Associates. Presently I am working at