Cheers...to the Bell Let’s Talk initiative and Jeers...to people who don’t understand the difference between news and an advertisement
Cheers...to the Bell Let’s Talk initiative
Bell Let’s Talk is a Canadian campaign that was established in 2010. Each year there is a “Bell Let’s Talk Day” where donations are made to organizations and projects across Canada that improve access to mental health care, supports and services. Every text, phone call, share, and the most popular #BellLetsTalk hashtag on Twitter results in a 5 cent donation. The social media trend has helped people speak up about mental illness with the goal of ending the stigma.
Wednesday, January 31 was 2018’s Bell Let’s Talk Day, which resulted in a record-breaking amount raised of $6,919,199. Although the campaign is based out of Canada, the United States has gotten involved too.
The social media trend is getting the conversation started. Getting the word out about mental illness and educating people on the services available is a great step to an anti-stigma world where people can seek the help they need. Cheers to Bell Let’s Talk on starting the conversation and continuing to do so.
– Ally Tiedemann, student writer
Jeers...to people who don’t understand the difference between news and an advertisement
Typically, we are loyal to our place of employment and any opportunity to get a good word out about said place is what we strive for. We might boast about it on social media, encourage people to visit, or even submit a press release to local media about what’s going on. In said press release, if you think you can include exclamation points after everything good you write and talk about how great your place of employment is, you’re wrong and said press release may get edited for actual news. If you don’t want it edited, we’d be more than happy to connect you with our advertising team.
So, what is the difference between news and an advertisement? Read on.
Take the Austin Daily Herald article from 2000, “There’s a difference between news and advertising,” into consideration. The author explains what they believe is the difference between the two and highlights examples from a school board meeting they covered a couple years back and sports coverage. They also touched on a meeting they were at where a person was later quoted correctly in an article, but that person didn’t like that particular quote for all eyes to see in the local newspaper so they debated whether or not the news media should be allowed at their work session. People don’t always appreciate honest reporting and that’s where the confusion seems to come in, the article read.
Here, at the Crookston Daily Times or even in the Valley Shopper, you can buy a whole insert and tell the world about your achievements. We may even write it for you, if you ask. If you don’t want to pay, but still want to get the word out, we may edit your submission for newsworthy information.
If the super awesome ABCD Alphabet Store is changing their hours of operation to accommodate their always loyal customers’ needs and want people to know that the over-the-top customer service will continue daily now in the wee early mornings to the moonlit nights, you can say that…if you pay for an advertisement. If you want it published as a press release and you don’t want to pay for an advertisement, we will edit it to say, “The ABCD Alphabet Store is changing their hours of operation to accommodate their customer’s needs and will now be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.”
Please learn the difference and don’t shoot the messenger.
– Jess Bengtson