Press Releases

How to Write a Press Release

You are aiming to catch an editor's attention and subsequently the public's attention. Keep it snappy and keep sentences short. A good photograph can help a great deal. See our advice on good photographs.

Look at a newspaper before you write. Notice the short, sharp headlines. See also how the main facts of a story are detailed in the first paragraph and how further detail is added in the paragraphs that follow.

Some Basic Rules

	Make sure that the subject matter can be considered as NEWS.
	In the press release, answer the 6 basic questions - who, when, where, why, what and how?
	Get the basic facts across in the first paragraph. A good maximum for this paragraph is 26 words. Add detail in further paragraphs
	Keep sentences and paragraphs short. Provide any facts and figures that help to highlight the importance of your news and set it in context
	Date the press release and give a name and daytime contact number in case a journalist wants more details
	Print the press release with double line spacing - allowing editors to write alterations between the lines. The margins on left and right should be at least 25mm (1 inch). Send it to the NEWS EDITOR.
	DO NOT include any information that can allow a young person's home address to be obtained.

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Last updated: July 12th, 2008
Published by:  Lichfield Web Design