With the explosive growth of online video, effective and ethical storytelling is more important than ever. Whether you’re a journalist covering a news event, or a public relations practitioner delivering a product or a message, you must be able to define your story and present it on multiple platforms. In my book, "Power Performance," you’ll learn:

• the role of the storyteller in history and in high tech multimedia
• how to develop the story for print, video and online platforms
• storytelling for public relations
• presentation skills for appearing on camera
• global and ethical issues

Why I Co-Wrote This Book

I began teaching all aspects of news writing at USC in 1991. Sadly, most of the available textbooks were limited to “how to write news in English for Americans.” After a bit of instruction, most of my students could turn out decent sentences. The real challenge was developing their stories with the most compelling pictures and interviews, and then learning how to present the story. Multimedia made it necessary to develop those skills on multiple platforms for a global audience.

As an international journalism educator, I teach reporters to go beyond the official press release to discover how the news affects real people. I consult public relations practitioners on ways to define their product or message through storytelling. A lot of them asked, “Is there a book I can read?”

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to find outstanding professionals who were willing to speak to my classes. Students told me those sessions helped them understand the role of the journalist and the public relations practitioner. I wanted to share this wisdom with students everywhere. My hope is that they will use this knowledge to develop an ethical framework for effective journalism and public relations, no matter where future technology may lead. This book is a good place to start.

Words of Wisdom From “Power Performance”

Reading this book is like a social networking opportunity with some of the best journalists and PR people in the business. Our Power Profiles give you insight into how they started their careers, became successful storytellers, and adapted to the changing technology of multimedia.

Some excerpts:

The Reviews Are In

A couple of early reviews of "Power Performance":

“A clear, thoughtful, tip-filled tour of the unfolding world of multimedia news. Working pros help the authors guide students toward success in these challenging new forms of storytelling.”
--Jim Upshaw, University of Oregon

"The book is a valuable resource for students and professionals alike. Engagingly written, it combines clear instruction with an impressive synthesis of research and historical context on this multifaceted topic."
--Lee Hood, Loyola University Chicago

Buy the Book

From now until December 31st you can order the book at wiley.com. Add "Power Performance" to your cart and use the discount code VB237 to get 20% off the paperback cover price of $39.95. Your price: $31.96.

Instructors: Order your free examination copy here or email your request, with your course details, to Rachel Herbert at SSHtextbooks@wiley.com.