A press release is an official statement sent to journalists and other news media to announce something newsworthy, such as a launch, event, result or change. It is written in the third person, leads with the most important facts, and ends with a short boilerplate paragraph and media contact details.
A press release, also called a media release, is a short structured document that an organization sends to the news media to share new information or make an announcement. Its job is to hand a journalist the facts of a story in a form they can check, quote and build on. It is a tool for informing reporters, not a piece of advertising.
The usual parts, in order, are contact details, a headline, a dateline (place and date), an opening paragraph that answers who, what, when, where and why, supporting paragraphs with detail and one or two quotes, a boilerplate 'About' paragraph, and an end mark such as ###. Guides commonly put length somewhere between 300 and 800 words, and shorter is usually better, because editors decide in seconds whether to read on.
A release does not guarantee coverage. It works when the news is real, the facts are specific and checkable, and the sender has chosen journalists whose beat fits the story. It fails when it is a slogan with a date on it, or when it buries the news under company history.
How to: 1) Write the single news fact in one plain sentence. 2) Build the headline and first paragraph from that sentence. 3) Add supporting facts, one quote from a named person with a job title, and links to original material. 4) Add a boilerplate and a contact who will really answer. 5) Check every claim and ask whether you can prove it. 6) Publish it on your own newsroom first, then send it to the people who cover the topic.
QUESTIONS
What is the purpose of a press release?
To give journalists and other readers a clear, checkable account of something newsworthy so they can cover it accurately, quote it, or contact you for more. It informs. It does not guarantee that anyone will write about it.
How long should a press release be?
Commonly one page. Guides often cite 300 to 800 words, with 400 to 500 typical. Shorter is usually better, provided the who, what, when, where and why are covered and a working media contact is included.
Who wrote the first press release?
Ivy Lee is often credited with the first one, issued in 1906 after a Pennsylvania Railroad accident near Atlantic City. Sources describe it as 'often considered' the first, so treat it as a widely repeated origin story rather than settled fact.
Is a press release the same as a blog post?
No. A blog post is owned content written for general readers. A press release is a formal statement written for journalists, in third person, with a dateline, quotes, boilerplate and contact details. The same news can appear in both forms.
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