ABSTRACT
The intent of petition writers is to draft a resolute statement-often a request or demand-that will accomplish several purposes: As vehicles of advocacy in public relations, petitions often are used to exert public pressure on the recipient. When organizations want to give their opinion on a matter of public or organizational interest, they often issue a position statement. With some writing formats for earned media, advocacy is improper and opinion is suspect. Effective opinion pieces generally position the issue within a wider context of interest to publics and readers. After providing the background, give a clear statement of the organization’s official position, along with a justification for this position. Effective position statements feature clear writing enhanced by design elements that help the reader absorb the message. Public relations writers sometimes use a contingency statement, also called a stand-by statement, to prepare the organization for various potential situations.
