This activity is important because external$-$informational messages, such as announcements, are common types of good news or neutral messages in business. As a business professional, you should know how to write these types of messages.

The goal of this exercise is to demonstrate your understanding of how the direct approach is used to write an external$-$informational message.

Read the case about announcing a new employee and answer the questions that follow.

You work for Teegan Legal Services, SC$,$ a law firm with $20$ attorneys on staff. Attorney Jennifer Freeman was just hired by your firm. You have to write an announcement that welcomes Jennifer to the firm and introduces her to clients and potential clients. The announcement will go on your website and social media platforms, and it will appear as an advertisement in the local news paper, too.

You have composed the following draft just to get to get all of your ideas written down:

TITLE: Teegan Legal Services, SC$,$ Welcomes Jennifer Freeman

Teegan Legal Services, SC$,$ is a full$-$service legal firm with attorneys who specialize in many types of law, including family, divorce, tax, criminal defense, workers$$ compensation and disability, and medical malpractice.

To learn more about us or schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys, please visit our website at www$.$tls$.$com or call us at $405-333-9999.$

After graduation, Jennifer practiced law for $14$ years with Ripley$-$Witter, SC$,$ in Oklahoma City prior to joining us at Teegan Legal Services, SC$.$ Jennifer is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and the Oklahoma County Bar Association.

Jennifer received her law degree from the University of Iowa School of Law in $2006$ and is licensed to practice law in Iowa and Oklahoma.

Literacy is a cause that Jennifer is passionate about, and she volunteers for many literacy initiatives.

When she is not working, Jennifer and her partner enjoy gardening, hiking, and enjoying the many cultural events in the Oklahoma City with their twin sons Jonah and Micha.

Please join us in welcoming Jennifer Freeman to our legal team at Teegan Legal Services, SC$.$

Now that you know what you want to say, you have to organize the information into one complete and coherent announcement. How will you organize the statements in this message so that you use the direct approach? Have you forgotten any information? Answering the following questions will help you ensure that you have a message that communicates your news, meets your readers$$ needs, and projects a positive image of Teegan Legal Services, SC$.$