Q Media Writing PR Assignment 2 News release assignment Instructions: 1. Write a news release that is 1.5 pages long double-spaced. 2. Tina Moulton is the chief operating officer of Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha Inc., which manages the Omaha Ronald McDonald House. 3. Moulton wants you, the public relations director, to write a news release announcing the organization’s plans to build a new Ronald McDonald House in Lincoln, Nebraska. 4. You should attribute the information to Moulton. 5. In addition to the information below, you will also need to go these websites – www.rmhcomaha.org and rmhc.org – for more information, including boilerplate information about the organization. Include a website address in the boiler plate. 6. Include at least one direct quote in your news release. 7. Make sure you follow the format as specified in the “How to Write a News Release” handout. 8. Correct AP style errors and use correct attribution with quotes, paraphrases and partial quotes. Use correct punctuation and use “said.” Here are the details: The house will be located one block east of St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Lincoln. It will include private rooms for 12 families. Each private room will include beds, furniture and a bathroom. In addition, the house will include a living room, dining room, kitchen, toy room, laundry room and computer room. It will be 15,000 square feet. A study of patients with children at St. Elizabeth determined a need for a Ronald McDonald House in Lincoln. The house will serve families who live 35 or more miles from the hospital. It also will serve families with children at Lincoln’s other hospitals. Families will be asked to pay $12 dollars per day to stay there. This is a voluntary payment. Construction will cost $1.5 million, and $600,000 has been raised already. Major donors are Tom Smith, a Lincoln attorney; the Joplin Foundation; and the McDonald’s restaurant owners in Nebraska and southwestern Iowa. Construction is to begin in July and be completed in 12 months. The following is from an interview you had with the chief operating officer, Tina Moulton: “We needed to do a better job of serving the families who come from central and western Nebraska and use the services of Lincoln area hospitals. Ronald McDonald House Charities is all about helping families with children in need. Bringing our work to Lincoln only adds to the number of people we will be able to help. “Where there is a need, Ronald McDonald House will fill it. When there is a family in need of affordable and comfortable housing while their child receives medical care, Ronald McDonald House is there with welcome arms. “We are the quieter side of the Golden Arches known internationally. The Ronald McDonald House will serve families in Lincoln with open arms, providing a haven for them as they go through difficult times.”