ABSTRACT
Fact sheets provide information stripped down to the bare facts, making them the easiest and quickest way to disseminate information. This chapter deals with three of the basic writing formats: news fact sheets, background fact sheets and media memos. A media news advisory, also called a media alert or a press advisory, is a straightforward memo notifying the media about an upcoming newsworthy activity related to the organization. Dentsu Public Relations, Japan’s largest agency, notes that a news release that reads like a finished press story is viewed with annoyance and distrust among Japanese media. The writing in media advisories is straightforward, allowing the information to speak for itself. Advisories generally are not full of hype with promotional styles of writing. Public relations writers can use a story idea memo to invite editors and news directors to develop features about interesting people associated with their organization.
