How to Use AI to Write a Press Release

Leveraging AI to Enhance Nonprofit Communications: Insights from Robert Grosshandler and Judson Moore

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In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the landscape of digital communication, nonprofits are uniquely positioned to benefit from these advances. Robert Grosshandler and Judson Moore recently hosted a webinar exploring the intersection of AI technology and nonprofit communication efforts, particularly focusing on writing effective press releases with AI assistance.

The Emergence of AI in Nonprofit Communications

During the webinar, Robert Grosshandler introduced the series, expressing his enthusiasm for the potential of AI to transform nonprofit operations. As AI technology becomes more accessible, organizations are finding innovative ways to integrate these tools into their daily workflows, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in reaching their goals.

Judson Moore, with a rich background in community activism and tech entrepreneurship, shared his journey from a child of community theater to a tech-savvy director of cause relations at I Give. His experiences reflect a deep commitment to using technology to support community and international cooperation.

Practical Applications of AI for Nonprofits

The primary focus of the webinar was on the practical application of AI in writing press releases. Judson demonstrated how AI could be used to automate parts of the writing process, significantly reducing the time and effort required to create effective communications. He emphasized the importance of input quality, noting that the better the input provided to AI (such as details about the event or announcement), the more accurate and useful the output will be.

Moreover, the webinar showcased how AI could handle various aspects of press release production—from drafting initial texts based on key input parameters to refining the content to match organizational tone and style. This adaptability was highlighted through a live demo where Judson used AI to craft a press release for a fictional upcoming theater season, illustrating how AI can generate both standard and creative content, such as rewriting the announcement in the whimsical style of Dr. Seuss.

Challenges and Considerations

While AI presents significant opportunities for nonprofits, the webinar also addressed potential challenges. One of the key points was the need for careful review and editing of AI-generated content to ensure accuracy and alignment with organizational goals. The technology is not foolproof, and human oversight remains crucial.

Additionally, concerns about the ethical implications of AI, such as copyright issues and the originality of content, were discussed. Participants were encouraged to consider these factors when deciding how and when to integrate AI tools into their communication strategies.

Future Prospects and Learning Opportunities

Looking ahead, Robert and Judson expressed optimism about the future of AI in nonprofit communications. They announced plans to continue the webinar series, reflecting strong interest from the community and a commitment to exploring further applications of AI.

The session concluded with a Q&A segment, where attendees asked insightful questions about specific AI tools, copyright considerations with AI-generated images, and best practices for integrating AI-generated content into broader communication strategies.

Conclusion

The webinar by Robert Grosshandler and Judson Moore provided valuable insights into the practical uses of AI in nonprofit communications. As AI continues to evolve, it offers tremendous potential to enhance how nonprofits communicate with their audiences, streamline operations, and achieve their missions more effectively. However, it also requires careful consideration of ethical implications and a commitment to maintaining the human touch in communications. Nonprofits willing to navigate these complexities will find AI an invaluable ally in their ongoing efforts to make a positive impact.

Questions and Answers

During the webinar, a number of great questions were collected. Here are the answers to those questions from our panel of experts.

To include images in your press release, you can insert them into your document using any standard word processing software like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. If you are creating the press release in an email marketing tool, most platforms provide an option to upload and embed images directly.

It’s important to consider AI as a tool that supplements human effort rather than replacing it entirely. While AI can significantly enhance efficiency, it’s crucial to maintain oversight and conduct thorough reviews to ensure reliability before implementation.

AI is appropriate for automating routine tasks, generating creative ideas, or handling large data sets where it can identify patterns faster than humans. However, tasks requiring emotional intelligence, subjective judgment, and deep expertise should still rely heavily on human input.

Provide clear, concise, and relevant data to the AI tool. The more specific your data input, the better the AI can analyze trends and provide meaningful insights. Ensure the data is well-organized and representative of the patterns you’re looking to identify.

Most AI platforms allow you to specify the tone and style of the output. When setting up your request, clearly indicate that you prefer a direct or earthy tone. This helps the AI adjust its language processing algorithms to meet your requirements.

Key considerations include data privacy, the accuracy of AI outputs, ethical implications, and the potential for AI bias. It’s vital to use AI responsibly, ensuring it complements human decision-making without undermining ethical standards.

Detecting AI-generated text can be challenging, but there are tools and methods being developed to identify such content, based on writing patterns and inconsistencies that are typical in AI-generated texts.

Crafting effective prompts involves being specific and clear about your expectations. Provide detailed descriptions and context to help the AI understand the goal of your request. It might require some trial and error to remail or provided as links during or after the session.

Yes, AI-generated images can potentially infringe on copyrights, especially if they closely mimic the style of specific artists or copyrighted materials. It’s important to use AI responsibly and ensure compliance with copyright laws.

Chat GPT can be accessed through OpenAI’s website, and Microsoft CoPilot is available through Microsoft’s official site. Both platforms may require you to sign up and, depending on the service, may also offer free or paid versions.

Judson Moore

Judson Moore

Director, Cause Relations
Rob Grosshandler

Rob Grosshandler

Founder