What is a press release?
Can news reporters always be present when something "news-worthy" happens?Who will report if the newsperson is not available?
In any business or organization there may be some news-worthy happenings that you may need to write yourself and email to the media to see if they believe their audience would be interested in what you have reported on.
For Example: If I own a dentist office and we get hire an extra dentist to our staff, the community might be interested in this information.
Or, if my company or organization collected warm coats for school children that needed them, that might be the kind of positive news that media might want to print or broadcast.
Writing press releases is part of the job description of public relations.
Remember! Due to the ease of sending press releases via email, publishers receive an abundance of press releases, so yours needs to really stand out and grab their attention from the beginning!
See samples below for formatting guidelines:
HHS DECA Press Release Sample
Brownsville Press Release
Sample 2
Notice each are written in 3rd person!
Who produces a press release?
Who uses the press release?
Assignment:
Time to create your own press release!
Create a press release for one of the following topics...
- Summer Experience
- Start of School
- An event of your choice (confirm topic with Mrs. Davis)
Grading Rubric for Press Release: 30 points Total
2 Points - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/Formatting
2 Points- Headline
2 Points - Location/Date
Lead Paragraph: Be sure to shade each in your beginning paragraph! See the example here.
2 Points- Who?
2 Points- What?
2 Points- Where?
2 Points- When?
2 Points-Why?
2 Points- How?
2 Points - Supporting paragraph details
2 Points- Boiler Plate
2 Points- Contact Info (yours)
2 Points- ###
2 Points- Word count
Be sure to write in "Third Person" point of view. Click this link to review:
