Member Training: Writing and Interviewing Skills for Writers and Bloggers

Writing and Interviewing Skills Workshop

Do you wish you could write great and engaging content for your website, blog, newsletter, or for a successful press release? Or do you lack confidence with writing or interviewing people for content?

If you answer yes to any of the above, this interactive and full-day workshop is ideal. This workshop is a masterclass to help you define your and your businesses and key message for the content you are working on, understand what makes good content for the press and readers and learn to prepare to carry out an interview to use for quotes, which help to make more engaging content.

This full day will enable you develop your writing skills and learn about targeting to a readership, therefore maximising the chances of achieving positive publicity. It really is a workshop you can’t afford to miss if you want to increase your chances for enagaing customers and the press.

Who is it For?

The course is suitable for business owners, managers or employees who are, or may be, required to write promotional material, press releases, articles or online content such as websites and blogs.

Content of Workshop

Agenda

09:00-09:15 Registration, Tea and Coffee

09:15-09:30* Welcome, H&S and Growth Hub ‘Who are we and how can we help’

09:30-11:00* • What the press wants • What makes a good story? • Defining your key messages • Writing a targeted press release.

11:00-11:15 Refreshment break

11:15-12:30* • Writing an article • Writing for social media • What now? How are you going to use your new writing skills? • Workshop evaluation.

12:30-13:30 Lunch

13:30-15:00* • Introductions (as interviews)

• Ways to use interviews • What makes a good story/relevant interviewee? • Defining your key messages • Planning an interview

15:00-15:15 Refreshment break

15:15-16:45* • Practice interviews • Using interviews and quotes in articles • Using quotes for social media • What now? How are you going to use your new writing skills?

16:45-17:00* Q&A

17:00 Close

*This event will provide 6 hours and 15 minutes of information, diagnostic and brokerage support and advice. This event is only able to be free due to ERDF Funding.

Course Objectives

At the end of the sessions each participant will: • Have increased awareness of the opportunities for publicity for themselves and their business, in the press and online • Be able to identify what makes a good PR opportunity • Be able to plan a feature and how to write it • Understand the requirements of a news release (including quotes, photographs etc) • Understand the needs of different audiences and how to write interesting copy • Learnt tips from a professional and experienced writer • Be able to identify what makes a good and relevant interviewee • Understand the need for balance and fairness

• Know how to identify and use client/customer endorsements • Be able to plan an interview and successfully carry it out • Know how to write-up an interview or use quotes • Understand the needs of different audiences • Have learnt tips from a professional and experienced interviewer

Participants will each receive a pack of specially written course support

Workshop Facilitator/Trainer – Rachel Sloane – www.rachelsloane.co.uk Rachel is an award-winning broadcaster in both commercial radio and BBC local radio, who produces corporate and training videos and writes features and reviews for magazines, newspapers and websites.

A qualified trainer (City and Guilds 730 – Further Education Teachers Certificate) she has over thirty-five years’ experience of training adults through the lively, challenging but enjoyable, practical workshops.

She is the author of the training e-book “The Useful Guide to Handling the Press and Media” (publisher: The Business Learning Foundation). Rachel has an established profile as an after-dinner and conference speaker, and as a cruise ship lecturer. She gives ongoing publicity support to the High Sheriff of Suffolk, Suffolk Community Foundation and the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust.

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