press release

As a part of my Get Lit! internship, I wrote a press release announcing the plans, schedule, and main events of the 2021 virtual festival.

Especially due to the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Get Lit! needed to spread the word about their exciting virtual happenings as much as possible. A press release is an effective way to do this concisely and formally, so I used my knowledge from my journalism and public relations courses to write an effective press release announcing the festival.

Using the parameters established by my internship supervisor, I researched the 2021 festival events, authors, and general happenings to gain a better understanding of the newsworthy highlights and other important information. I also made sure to read past press releases so I could emulate the same voice and write in a consistent format.

I then drafted the press release, linking to events and schedule information, and edited in accordance with AP Stylebook standards. A challenge I faced in the project was providing links to additional information, but not overwhelming readers with too many links. I decided to limit my linking to the Get Lit! webpage, festival schedule, author bios, and festival events. After receiving feedback from my supervisor, I completed the necessary revisions and edits before sending her the final draft.

A slightly edited version of my work was later published on InsideEWU, Eastern’s primary online news and resources platform, under the headline Get Lit! Festival Runs Through Sunday.