In a press release, the boilerplate is the short standard 'About' paragraph at the end that describes the issuing organization. It is written in the third person, reused with little change on every release, and gives journalists a reliable summary of who the organization is.
Boilerplate is reusable text that appears with minimal change across documents. In press releases it is the closing 'About' paragraph that says who the organization is and what it does. Wikipedia notes the word came from printing: pre-made metal plates of advertisements and columns, supplied to newspapers, were called boilerplates by analogy with rolled steel plate used to make boilers.
A good boilerplate is short, factual and current. It names the organization, states what it does in plain language, and includes a link to its website or newsroom. Guides recommend writing it in the third person, not the first, because journalists may copy it into their own articles.
The temptation is to fill it with superlatives and claims that cannot be proved. That makes it useless to a reporter and, in some cases, risky, because unsupported claims can be repeated in coverage. Keep to verifiable statements and update it whenever the organization changes what it does.
How to: 1) Write two to four sentences. 2) Say what the organization is, what it makes or offers, and where it operates, using only facts you can support. 3) Add the website or newsroom link. 4) Save the approved text in one place and paste from it. 5) Review it every few months, and after any major change, so old details do not spread through every release.
QUESTIONS
What is a boilerplate in a press release?
It is the standard paragraph, usually at the end, that describes the organization behind the release. It is reused across releases so that journalists always have an accurate, approved description to work from.
How long should a boilerplate be?
Short: commonly two to four sentences. It should summarize what the organization is and does, include a web address, and avoid slogans. If it grows past a short paragraph, trim it to the facts a stranger needs.
Where does the word boilerplate come from?
From the printing trade. Ready-to-print metal plates supplied to local newspapers were called boilerplates, by analogy with the steel plate used to build boilers. The term later spread to legal documents, software and press releases.
Should the boilerplate be first person or third person?
Third person. Journalists may copy it into their own story, so it should read as a neutral description rather than as the organization speaking about itself. Use the organization's name, not 'we' or 'our'.
SOURCES
Last reviewed