Three interesting facts: (Chapter 5 PRCA 3330)
To Get Your News Release Noticed and Published:
1. Follow standard format:
- use standard letter sized white paper
- double space text for faxed or mailed copy; single space for emailed and Internet copy
- use 2 inch margins top and bottom; 1.5 inch margins on each side
- use 10 or 12 point standard type; Courier or Times Roman font
- write “more” at the end of each page if the news release continues
- type “###” at the end of your release
- use AP Style
- strive to keep news releases fewer than 400 words (one or two pages)
2. Provide interesting information: A news release can be on any subject that would affect or interest an audience, some topics are:
- Announcements
- Spot Announcements
- Reaction Stories
- Bad News
- Local News
3. Your material must be timely
- yesterday’s news is not news
- write in present tense
- localize the information- use information of local significance and names of local people wherever possible
A News Release has Six Components
- letterhead
- contacts
- headline
- dateline
- lead paragraph
- body of text
Classic Mistakes
- failure to provide a headline
- spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors
- using hype
- failure to make the first paragraph attention grabbing
- failure to provide verifiable documentation
Source: Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques by Dennis L. Wilcox
Public Relations Writer 