MIAMI – Nonprofits can get help improving their news releases on a new web site created by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The Knight News Release Workshop offers a step-by-step guide to thinking about, writing and polishing a clear and useful release. The site is at www.newsreleaseworkshop.org.

“It’s important that nonprofits explain the good work they do in plain and effective language,” Marc Fest, Knight Foundation’s vice president for communications, said. “In an era of increasing demand for transparency in the nonprofit sector, this site will help organizations tell their stories effectively.”

The workshop helps nonprofits by dissecting model news releases, comparing well and poorly written headlines and giving tips on drafting effective quotes.

In a list of “things to avoid,” the site steers writers away from jargon, a pitfall for many nonprofits that address complicated issues. A checklist helps writers polish their drafts. The site also encourages using Flesch Scores, a computerized tool to maximize a release’s readability.

Users also can leave online comments to add their own tips and ideas.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation promotes excellence in journalism worldwide and invests in the vitality of U.S. communities where the Knight brothers once owned newspapers. Visit www.knightfoundation.org.

Knight News Release Workshop: www.newsreleaseworkshop.org