Styles of news releases
• Announcement (straight news, making an Announcement)
• Feature (combo info + entertainment)
• Hybrid (combo of Feature + Announcement )
Similar to the news releases
• Social media (web-based)
• Media advisories (breaking news)
• Pitches (exclusives to particular journalists)
Traditional (paper) heading
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On organization’s stationery with letterhead
News Release in BF (block left)
Double spaced
Continues with FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, next line date
Continues with FOR MORE INFORMATION, horizontal align
End with centered ‘###’ or ‘-30-’
Traditional (paper) format
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Double-space the text
Fewer than two pages (preferably one)
If more than one page, type ‘-more-’ at bottom of first page
If more than one, condensed head with page number upper
right corner
Traditional (paper) format
Organization Letterhead
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 20, 2012
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Catherine Jones
Public Relations Director
(555) 123–4567
[email protected]
Circle City Red Cross schedules downtown blood drive
Traditional (paper) format
HAMDEN, CT—The Connecticut Board of Regents has named Edward
Ballyhoo the new president of Quinnipiac University. Ballyhoo , formerly viceprovost of Weslaco College in Milwaukee, will begin his new duties March 18,
said Regents Director Roberta Kramer.
Ballyhoo , 54, served as vice-provost at Weslaco College for seven years.
Before that, he was the Burnett Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry at
Cortland University in Portland, Tenn. He earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from
Madrid University in 1986.
Ballyhoo will be sworn in on Sept. 18 at the Student Union.
“I'm both honored and challenged to assume the presidency of Quinnipiac
University,” Ballyhoo said. “I pledge to do my best for Quinnipiac .”
Ballyhoo succeeds Richard Warner, who retired Sept. 1.
###
Traditional (paper) content
• First sentence usually includes the 5 Ws, i.e.:
– Who – identify key people accurately and early on What – be specific
with only relevant details; it’s not just red wine, it’s a young Italian
red wine
– When – check dates, ensure that you need/do not need date in the
past or in the future
– Where – a setting, such as a venue, a city, an address (Park Avenue)
– Why – try to clarify or understand the situation or character
Traditional (paper) content
• And 1 ‘H’, i.e.:
– How – identify things to help clarify or explain the Why
• How much?
• How many?
• How long?
Traditional (paper) content
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First paragraph (‘lead’) includes the important info
Info less important in subsequent paragraphs
Include ‘lively’ quotation from organization (pertinent)
Be concise, precise
Be objective in voice (avoid opinion / subjective statements)
Where to Place News Releases?
• Target the publics you hope will read the message
• Target the specific media that reaches those publics
• Target the reporters in the specific media that reaches those
publics (education, health, sports etc)
• A bias to ‘crisis’ stories (24-hour cycle); you must
interpret/pitch it in a way to make it seem relevant