Human Interest

Subject: Human Interest
From: Michael Clark <mclark -at- MTU -dot- EDU>
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 13:14:04 -0400

G'Day folks,

In an interview last month for a permanent, full-time tech writing
position, I wrote a sample press release and then a home work assignment
(brief documentation on a little program). Today they responded that
they are interested in me, but that the press release and documentation
had little to no "human interest," which is what they were looking for.
They invited me to give it another crack, which I accepted, but I feel
totally unprepared for a second dance because I don't know what "human
interest" means in the context of documentation, or what information is
appropriate for a press release other than bare facts. Both assignments
are purposely vague, which irritates me because I see tech writing
assignments as exactly the opposite, but I want the job, so I wanna try.

So my question is, how do I add human interest to my writing style when
it comes to the press release and the documentation?

Thanks,
Mike

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