Press Release Template

{"cards":[{"_id":"46109cf7d3ad949e3d00006f","treeId":"53ce6aa0631acaa33c08007e","seq":314673,"position":0.5,"parentId":null,"content":"**Press release checklist**\n\n- **Assess** if the story has news value and if a release is appropriate.\n- **Research** the target press and media. Review publications to get a feel for the tone and style. Identify deadlines.\n- **Identify** the key facts – ask who, what, why, where, when, how?\n- **Draft** a template structure for your story.\n- **Decide** who should be quoted from your organisation and if third-party quotes would be useful.\n- **Check **whether a photo can support the release.\n\n"},{"_id":"53ce6aa0631acaa33c08007f","treeId":"53ce6aa0631acaa33c08007e","seq":314514,"position":1,"parentId":null,"content":"**What is the aim of a press release?**\n- Your **aim is to get coverage** and raise awareness among your target audiences.\n- There are **key elements** that a journalist looks for in a story — and the **human interest angle is key**. \n- Do you have a human interest angle, and can you** show** that **your news has an impact on people?**\n- Release must be drafted along very clear guidelines designed to make it as easy as possible for journalists to use your material.\n"},{"_id":"53ce6aa0631acaa33c080080","treeId":"53ce6aa0631acaa33c08007e","seq":314548,"position":2,"parentId":null,"content":"**What should go into a press release?**\n\nAnswer the following questions about your news:\n- **Who?** Who are the key players — your company, anyone else involved with the product? Who does your news affect/who does it benefit?\n- **What?** What is new?\n- **Why?** Why is this important news — what does it provide that is different?\n- **Where?** Where is this happening/is there a geographical angle/is the location of business relevant?\n- **When?** What is the timing of this? Does this add significance?\n- **How?** How did this come about?\n\n- Write the answers then compile in short, punchy **(no more than 25 words)** sentences.\n- Getting **benefits** of your news across is key.\n- If you can capture the essence of the story in **less than 50 words** you're on the right track.\n- **First paragraph** should be max **2 sentences**, each **25 words or less**.\n- Info needs to **flow logically** from the intro."},{"_id":"53ce6aa0631acaa33c080081","treeId":"53ce6aa0631acaa33c08007e","seq":319835,"position":3,"parentId":null,"content":"**What angle should I focus on in the release?**\n\n- Most important thing in a press release is to **write for your target audience**. \n- To do that you MUST know your **target audience**.\n- When thinking about your **target audience**, consider the **knowledge they have** about your product/company and the **language they'll understand.**"},{"_id":"53ce6aa0631acaa33c080082","treeId":"53ce6aa0631acaa33c08007e","seq":314652,"position":4,"parentId":null,"content":"**How do I structure and present the release?**\n\nKey ways to structure and present your press release are below:\n\n**Timing — for immediate release or embargo?**\n- Indicate at the top whether for **immediate** release or to be released **on a given date**.\n- **Immediate** release is preferred by journalists as it requires **less planning.**\n\n**Give the release a title**\n\n- Just as with any written piece, it will **require a title**. \n- Job is to **grab attention** and **encourage the journalist** to **read more**.\n- Double spacing and wide margins\n"},{"_id":"461389e487585d8b97000029","treeId":"53ce6aa0631acaa33c08007e","seq":317087,"position":1,"parentId":"53ce6aa0631acaa33c080082","content":"**Structure and presentation?**\n\n**Title**\n- **'Newsy'** title providing a taster of what's to come and **engaging** the potential readers.\n\n**Subtitle**\n- Further elaborating on the header and providing a **lead-in** to the body copy. \n\n**Body copy**\n- About **300 words** including pieces from the quote at the bottom. "},{"_id":"46107dcbd3ad949e3d00006c","treeId":"53ce6aa0631acaa33c08007e","seq":314656,"position":5,"parentId":null,"content":"**How many paragraphs?**\n\n- **As few as needed** to get the point across.\n- **Avoid waffle** and keep the copy **as tight as possible.**\n- **Key information** needs to be put in **the first paragraph**\n- **Test of Success**: Can the story be **understood** from the **first paragraph** alone?\n- Second paragraph **expands** on the first by **providing detail**\n- Third paragraph often **contains a quote**.\n- Fourth paragraph outlines **final information**"},{"_id":"46108a58d3ad949e3d00006d","treeId":"53ce6aa0631acaa33c08007e","seq":314666,"position":6,"parentId":null,"content":"**How to end the press release**\n\n- Signal it with the word **'Ends'** in bold. \n- Follow with **'For further information, please contact'** and provide details.\n- Provide a **mobile number**.\n- Further information can be provided in a **'Notes to Editor** section.\n- Example: background info on the company **(boilerplate)** or notification that **photos are available.**\n"},{"_id":"461095b5d3ad949e3d00006e","treeId":"53ce6aa0631acaa33c08007e","seq":317155,"position":7,"parentId":null,"content":"**What writing style should I use?**\n\n- Sentences that are **25 words in length**, preferably fewer.\n- The release should give the journalist the **essence of the story.**\n- Get the **content** right and **write to publication style**.\n- **Factual** tone, **short** and **concise**.\n"}],"tree":{"_id":"53ce6aa0631acaa33c08007e","name":"Press Release Template","publicUrl":"bp-press-release"}}