Chapter 40
How to Write a Great Press Release
A Sample Press Release Template
What Is a Press Release?
A press release is pseudo-news story, written in the third person, that seeks to demonstrate to an editor or reporter the newsworthiness of a particular person, event, service, or product.
How Is a Press Release Used?
Press releases are often sent alone, by e-mail, fax, or snail mail. They can also be part of a full press kit, or may be accompanied by a pitch letter.
What Is the Proper Press Release Format?
Here's a sample press release template you can use to format your press release correctly:
What Should I Put in My Press Release?
Stop right now and click here to read our in-depth advice about packaging yourself as newsworthy. This is an important step—so don't skip it!
Figure 40.1
Note: The three #'s mark the end of the press release.
Let's stick with the theme presented in that report: You run a vitamin web site specializing in weight-loss products. Through the process described in the report, you've nailed down a nice, newsworthy topic—teenagers and how they deal with issues of weight. But that's a broad topic, not a story.
In the report, we provided a number of ideas for potential stories. Let's pick the first one and craft a press release.
The story: What do kids think about a “thin is in” society?
As you sift through your message boards looking for quotes, ...
