Writing examples for public relations from Comstrat 383: Media Strategies for PR

Maggie Rasch Maggie Rasch

Feature Story: Unveiling the Layers of American History

The White Springs Ranch Museum and Library Archive in rural Idaho tells the stories of the Lorang’s Family chronicles.

Nestled in the heart of rural northern Idaho, the White Springs Ranch Museum and Library Archive holds untold stories from early settlers during the mid 19th century to the late 20th century captured through collections of old letters, photographs and other documentations. 

The National Historic site and century farmhouse features the Lorang family, who collected artifacts and journaled their life in the Palouse for over 140 years. Personal stories during historical events like World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, Space Race, Civil Rights, and the Cold War are brought to life through this family’s documentation. 

John and Mary Lorang migrated West from Wisconsin until they purchased land in Idaho where John built the farmhouse. What started as writing love letters as teenagers, the Lorangs quickly became serious historians by keeping everything of daily life from magazines, postcards, receipts, books and newspapers. This tradition of preservation continued in the family for the next 100 years.  

Over an estimated nine thousand letters were found onsite when Latah County originally purchased the farmhouse in 2004 to be listed on the National Historical Registry. Each letter can range from five to twelve pages. Four hundred books have also been found since then with additional documentation. 

“We find something new everyday,” said Diane Conroy, a curator at the White Springs Ranch. 

The museum is now working to transcribe all the documentation online to be a first-hand resource of historical events. Since 2004, local college students from University of Idaho, Washington State University, and Lewis and Clark College have volunteered at the library archive weekly to digitize the documents. 

According to the White Springs Ranch official website, the museum is primarily supported by grants and donations by students and faculty from the nearby universities and colleges. The Idaho Heritage Trust and other grants provide yearly assistance with preservation, restoration and events.

One of the museum’s largest events is the annual “Little House on the Prairie Day.” Stories at the cabin are brought to life by reenactors for visitors to engage with as they tour the facilities and learn about the Palouse pioneers. A new upcoming event in collaboration with Washington State University’s Center of Civic Engagement (CCE) invites WSU students to demonstrate 19th century children’s toys to local children. This event will be at White Springs Ranch located at 1004 Lorang Rd, Genesee, Idaho on Apr. 27th with more details on their website.

The White Springs Ranch is open to visitors from 1:00 p.m. to sunset on Sundays and Tuesday by appointment. Learn how to support or volunteer White Springs Ranch on their website

“It’s truly incredible,” said Conroy. “It puts you immediately in the emotional headspace of that time.” 

Nature of Assignment

Write a feature story about the White Springs Ranch in Genese, Idaho. All information must be gathered during interview with Diane Conroy and online research. Use quotations, tell a story and have a call to action.

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Maggie Rasch Maggie Rasch

Fact Sheet: Milestone Decisions Story

Nature of Assignment

Create a fact sheet to aid the journalist in the media pitch. Choose a topic that would inform the journalist for more background and context. Strive for visual appeal using two stock free images. Follow a theme with previous assignments as well.

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Maggie Rasch Maggie Rasch

Media Pitch: Milestone Decisions Story

Nature of Assignment

Create a pitch to a selected journalist from the Media List about Milestone Decisions. The goal is to persuade media outlets pursue a story and therefore earn the visibility of the client.

Subject Line: Rep. Brandon Mitchel to Visit Moscow Nonprofit to Discuss Equitable Support for DSPs in Idaho  

Dear Laura,  

My name is Maggie Rasch, and I’m writing to express an upcoming story that you should look into. I read your recent coverage of the expansive school facilities bill at the legislative session in Boise. I deeply admire your statehouse reporting, and I think you would be a perfect storyteller for Milestone Decisions. 

Milestone Decisions, a nonprofit with 24/7 care for disabled adults, is hosting Idaho District Six Representative Brandon Mitchel in April to discuss the shortage of direct support professionals (DSP) within the state of Idaho due to the current laws, which prohibit Medicaid and other funding for the profession. During their meeting at the Idaho State Capitol on  Feb. 1st, Mitchel agreed to visit Milestone Decisions at one of their locations in Moscow, Idaho after discussing with a team of  residents and employees about the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) and DSP career pipeline.

Milestone Decisions has been actively advocating for the Supporting our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act in Idaho, and they believe this is a large step in the right direction for the DSP crisis. A certified nurse assistant (CNA) provides the same job description as a DSP, yet the pay gap is extreme between the two professions. 

A great person to contact for more information about this story is Thea Fuhs, the Milestone Decisions Team Advocate. She attended the trip to the Capitol, and she is extremely insightful about the cause and company. Here is her listed information. 

Email: thea.fuhs@milestonedecisions.com 

 I will be following up by the end of March with a scheduled date in April of the visit. Feel free to contact me for more information, and we can discuss more.  

Thanks,   

Maggie Rasch, Journalism and Advertising student at Washington State University  

Cell: (971)-295-7037  

Email: Maggie.rasch@wsu.edu 


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Maggie Rasch Maggie Rasch

News Release: Milestone Decisions Visits Boise to Advocate for Disability Support Workers

January 2024 Press Release

Nonprofit Milestone Decisions Takes Advocacy to Idaho's Capital, Urging Legislators to Boost Wages for Disability Support Providers

MOSCOW, JANUARY 2024 -  Milestone Decisions, the nonprofit with 24/7 care service for disabled adults, is sending twenty representatives to Boise, Idaho on Jan. 31st and Feb. 1st to advocate for bills supporting the direct support professional (DSP) shortage to Idaho State Legislators from the 6th District. 

The representatives will participate in “Operation Advocacy” by LINC, which will provide a storytelling workshop prior to the day of action in conjunction with the Consortium of Idahoans with Disabilities (CID). The group from Milestone Decisions hopes to educate Rep. Lori McCann and Rep. Brandon Mitchell about the shortage of DSPs due to low funding and supplies in the industry. Three bills will be proposed to increase Medicaid, the primary source of income for DSPs, and therefore enhancing the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) and DSP career pipeline. 

This will be the second year Milestone Decisions attends Idaho’s capital for DSP activism. The group will consist of ten DSPs and ten clients. 


“We hope to make this an annual thing until we see change,” said Thea Fuhs, the Milestone Decisions Team Advocate. “We are much more prepared with Operation Advocacy and are excited to meet with Brandon Mitchell again since his interest he showed us last year.”


To help Milestone Decisions and other DSPs in the state of Idaho, call Legislators from district six to show support for the proposing bills: the Better Care Better Jobs Act, Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act and the Supporting our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act. 

About Milestone Decisions

The nonprofit offers residential habilitation services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities where they provide individualized services and supports that encourage individual choice and provide the greatest degree of independence possible in both Moscow, Idaho and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. As caregivers, their focus is ensuring that all their clients experience meaning and fulfillment through support and positive interactions with their staff and the community. Find more information on their website.

Nature of Assignment

Create a news release from information gathered by Milestone Decisions Team Advocate, Thea Fuhs, about the nonprofit and Operation Advocacy. Research and reflect the core news values:  timeliness, impact, prominence, proximity, conflict and human interest. 

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Maggie Rasch Maggie Rasch

Media List: Milestone Decisions Press Release

Media list for above press release.

Nature of Assignment

Build a list of the ideal reporters and other press media contacts with whom you can envision building a relationship in a public relations capacity (and send the pairing news release to). 

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