Solid writing skills are the stock in trade for communicators. Clients expect creativity and versatility when they hire a communications firm. So, writing a compelling news release, an interesting speech for a business executive, or the home page of a Web site is expected. On all these fronts, and more, the Fuse team delivers.

News releases

Traffic Injury Research Foundation’s Road Safety Monitor

Challenge:
TIRF is one of a number of organizations that releases survey results on Canadians’ perceptions of road safety. When competing with close to 500 other news releases every day, grabbing the attention of reporters, editors, and producers is challenging at best.

Action:
Fuse writes news releases that grab the attention and lead straight to the story. Fuse’s releases tell the news and help paint a compelling picture of the story. For TIRF, Fuse writes releases that demonstrate how their work is different and how it relates to Canadians from coast-to-coast.

Results:
The combination of well-written news releases and personalized story pitches has helped Fuse secure more than 300 news pieces for the Traffic Injury Research Foundation’s Road Safety Monitor.

Newsletter articles

Bell Canada

Challenge:
Bell Canada has a very specific corporate culture with a unique language and messaging. They needed a resource with the experience to understand not only what makes a good news story, but how that news story must connect to the company’s business objectives and the employees who work hard to achieve them.

Action:
On a quarterly basis, Fuse develops a series of articles for Bell News, including letters from the President to employees. This involves extensive research, interviews and a style of writing unique to Bell.

Results:
Fuse has become an efficient resource for the Bell News editor. Products are delivered on time, on budget, and require little or no editing.

Speech writing

City of Ottawa, Mayor’s Office

Challenge:
Understanding both political and government objectives from a communications perspective is a unique skill. In 2002, the City of Ottawa required a speech writing resource who would understand complex issues and be able to articulate them clearly and effectively.

Action:
Experts in Fuse have extensive experience in writing speeches for political leaders, government officials, and private sector executives. For Mayor Bob Chiarelli, we developed addresses based on sound research and interviews with key City staff, together with information gathered about the events. We have written on subjects as diverse as the homeless and affordable housing, business planning, and the arts.

Results:
The Mayor’s office has stated they are pleased with the quality of the content and the style of the speeches. Work has always been developed on time and on budget.

Royal Canadian Mint

Challenge:
The Royal Canadian Mint communications group needed the services of a new speech writing resource to assist in the launch of new products. Often, it is difficult to say something unique about a new product, especially when the launch ceremony includes several speakers focusing on the same subject.

Action:
Fuse Communications takes a creative approach in these circumstances. We conduct research that provides a unique ‘take’ on the subject matter. For example, for the launch of the commemorative tulip coin we tied the history of the tulip in the Russian and Asian steppes to Canada’s challenging climate.

Results:
These speeches were delivered by senior ministers and received warmly at large events organized by the Mint.

Bell Canada

Challenge:
Bell Canada President John Sheridan required the assistance of a seasoned speech writer to craft several speeches, ranging from subjects describing predictions for Canada’s economic future to fundraising events at which Bell Canada was a key sponsor.

Action:
The Bell Canada Communications group hired Fuse so they could tap into our speech writing skills and knowledge of Bell Canada. Developed on tight deadlines, these speeches required careful planning and research, as well as attention to detail.

Results:
Reports from Bell Canada Communications were positive. Mr. Sheridan delivered the speeches as written and they were well received.

Fact sheets

Banfield Seguin

Challenge:
Advertising agencies often require the services of seasoned writers to help them deliver a full range of products. Copywriting, especially technical writing, is a craft that is best performed by experienced writers who can easily understand what needs to be conveyed to a specific audience.

Action:
Fuse Communications has provided copywriting services for a series of technical fact sheets. Source documents usually provide the base for what information will be included in fact sheets.

Results:
Banfield Seguin’s clients have been pleased with the quality of their written documentation.

Proofreading and comparative reading (French/English)

Human Resource Development Canada (HRDC), Human Investment Branch, Learning and Development Unit

Challenge:
Bilingualism requirements in many organizations, including all federal government departments, mean that all documentation must be produced in French and English. Ensuring that the French translation matches the English original often poses a challenge for unilingual employees.

Action:
Fuse employs fully bilingual resources and has provided HRDC with comparative reading services for a number of documents. Using the English original as the base for comparison, Fuse has reviewed French translations for quality and accuracy.

Results:
The client is satisfied that the French document it sends to print or to its audience matches the English original.

Report writing

Treasury Board Secretariat/Public Service Alliance of Canada Joint Study on Term Employment in the Public Service

Challenge:
When the TBS/PSAC Joint Committee in charge of studying the use of term employment in the Public Service embarked on its study, it knew that the services of a professional writer would be required to accurately convey its findings and recommendations.

Action:
Fuse Communications used source documents, reports from the various phases of research, and worked closely with the project authority, to write a consistent and coherent final report.

Results:
The final report and its recommendations became a new policy on term employment in the Public Service.