Writing a Press Release - 1 format - usually white A4 paper - word processed - double spaced - at least 10 point font size - if it is more than 1 page write “more” at the end of the page - at conclusion write “end” or “###” to signify finish heading - name & address of organisation - name & phone no. of contact person (daytime and maybe also a night/home no.) dates - important so the receiver knows it is current and so it can be identified later - also release date: –FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (most are received this way) –FOR RELEASE Friday 14 January (not before this date) –FOR RELEASE Friday 14 January or thereafter ( still relevant after this date)

Writing a Press Release - 2 headlines - a summary of the release - are helpful to editors e.g. Outpatient Surgery Cuts Hospital Costs –write in present tense - past tense gives impression that item is not timely structure - first paragraph or two tell the basic story and the rest add detail - if the gatekeeper (receiver) doesn’t find the start interesting he/she won’t use story - if the editor cuts the length he/she will start at the end and cut back - if people only read the beginning they will get the main facts content - five W’s and 1H - who, what, where, why, when and how???

Writing a Press Release - 3 fact sheets - some editors hate to use press releases and always rewrite the stories - so sometimes a fact sheet listing the info. in the form of the 5W’s and 1H is better localize the story for regional media multiply by producing several releases from the same story for different media