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Author: Elizabeth Scafuro

PR Tips | The wrong way to shorten a quotation

Especially when it comes to writing op-eds, incorporating quotations from experts can be a great way to bolster your arguments. Unfortunately, an 800-word op-ed doesn't leave much room for lengthy block quotations. So writers often shorten quotes by using ellipses. However, if you find yourself doing this, be extremely careful. When you chop up a quote, it's easy to alter the meaning completely. This can be an honest mistake or, worse, a purposeful manipulation. To see how someone’s words can be misrepresented by an artfully placed ellipsis, look no further than a recent Amazon letter released online at ReadersUnited.com. The letter makes the argument that today's book publishers are attacking Amazon's eBooks in the same way that the literary community opposed the introduction of paperbacks, which were much cheaper than the alternative hardcovers at the time.

PR Tips | How to get your op-ed in the New York Times

"How can I get my op-ed in the New York Times?" That's one of the most frequent questions I'm asked. And for good reason. The publication boasts a circulation of 1.25 million, making it one of the top papers in the United States. While it's nearly impossible to guarantee placement in any publication, there are some important guidelines aspiring op-ed writers should follow if they want to increase their chances of getting published in a top outlet. In fact, I recently came across a piece in the New York Times in which Trish Hall, editor of the paper's Op-Ed and Sunday Review sections, offers a few important tips to writers. Below is what I've found to be some of her most helpful points. So if you've ever wondered how to increase your chances of catching an editor's eye, keep reading …

PR Tips | The Funny Side of PR

As part of the final push before the health care exchanges officially closed, President Obama made a bold, strategic, and surprisingly comedic move to drive young people to HealthCare.gov – he appeared on Zach Galifianakis' online talk show parody, "Between Two Ferns." The show, which airs on the comedy website Funny or Die, is better known for hosting actors and comedians such as  John Hamm, James Franco, and Steve Carell. While it wouldn't be out of place to see these celebrities promoting an upcoming project, the president's decision to appear with Galfianakis to promote the health care exchanges was certainly a novel idea.