Creating a press release, any experience`

[Tiggeroo]

I am vp or our cross country and track booster club. We have a large race coming up as a fund raiser. Due to the city delaying final approvals again, we were unable to announce it with more then 4 weeks notice. In order to get higher attendance I want to get some press attention. The local paper asked me to send them a press release. I also want to forward it to several mid sized papers and would love to get a mention on the local news station. I am a writer and have done quite a bit of busineess writing but never a formal press reease. Does anybody have a sample or a template that I could use to put this together. I do a search on line but all I get are companies who will sell you this info. Thanks alot if you can help.

 

[frndshpcptn]

Go to any company's website, for example...www.kodak.com. On Kodak's website they will have a press room where you can view the company's press releases. I know they have one, Sony has one, Canon has one...most big electronics companies do...they are free of charge and are used by reporters when writing stories about those companies.

I think Sony's is www.sony.com/news

 

[oogieboogie]

This is a sample of what the bank releases. This comes straight from our PR guy. Use your letterhead, but essentially it looks like this:



IMMEDIATE


<contact person>
Public Relations
(330) xxx-xxxx


LEADING ECONOMISTS DEFINE CHALLENGES TO COME
Your company to host fourth annual economic luncheon

AKRON, Ohio – January 9, 2003 – Dr. Frank J. Navratil, Dean of the Boler School of Business at John Carroll University and Michael F. Bryan, vice president and economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, will discuss the condition of the local and national economy and provide insight on 2003. The luncheon, entitled “Uncertain whether it’s Clear Sailing or Rough Seas ahead,” is slated for Wednesday, January 29, 2003, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven, located at 6111 Landerhaven Drive in Mayfield Heights.

“Your company is dedicated to helping Northeast Ohio business owners succeed,” said xxxx, Your company president. “It is important for business people to get a perspective from top economists on key market indicators.”

The event is free and advanced registration is required. For more information and to make reservations, contact Your company by phone (xxx) xxx-xxxx, or register online at http://www.[I]Your company[/I].com/ecoluncheon. The ‘economic luncheon,’ is sponsored by Your company and Inside Business Magazine.

Your company Corporation (Nasdaq: xxxx) is a diversified financial services company, with assets of $10.5 billion as of September 30, 2002, and x banking offices in xx Ohio and Western Pennsylvania counties. Your company provides a complete range of banking and financial services to consumers and businesses through its core operations.

-END-

 

[herc]

I have done a number of them and oogieboogies example is spot on.

 

[wickey's friend]

I agree -- the example is great.

Load the "Who, what, where, when, why and how" in the first paragraph -- should be one sentence, or at most two sentences.

Fill in the rest of the information, using the most important info in the next paragraph, on down to the least important.

Editors will use what they need, so don't be surprised if they don't run all of it. Of course, smaller papers may run all of it verbatim.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

That form is perfect. And Wickey's friend has great advice.

Have fun, I love writing press releases!

 

[Tiggeroo]

Thanks so much guys. I have done alot of writing, including articles for our local paper. Just never something like this. My work looks very similar to that example though. Now I have to find the right people to get it to. I need to get as much coverage as possible.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Here's what I put together. Can anybody critique it and suggest any changes? Team logo and Press Release would be on top. Also formatting didn't transfer to here. Thanks.

From: Tina Boardman, Track Booster ***
Date: 8/19/2004
Re: 2nd Annual 5k Wonder Run and Gerard Desiderio Fitness Walk
Ocean City High School Track/XC Team’s Annual Bridge Race Is Honoring the Late Gerard Desiderio
Ocean City, NJ August 20th 2004 - Once again on Sunday Sept. 19th the Ocean City High School Track Boosters’ Association will be hosting a 5k run and fitness walk over the Longport Bridge, just in time for the Bridge’s second anniversary. In a tribute to a great community member who was instrumental in helping to establish the run it will be renamed the Annual 5k WONDER Run and Gerard Desiderio Fitness Walk.
Our community was saddened by the untimely loss of Mr. Desiderio. Gerard was Chairman of the Cape May County Bridge Commision. He was also Chairman of the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization from 1990 to 1996. In keeping with his commitment to community service he was an active member of the Sea Isle Ambulance Corps. And personally responded to more then 50% of the calls in 2003. Mr. Desiderio was also the founder and sole sponsor of the Sea Isle City St. Patrick's Day and Columbus Day parades. While these are just a few of Mr. Desiderio’s community services it is for his assistance in establishing our race, and therefore his support of our local youth athlete/scholars that we are commemorating him here. This was a considerable undertaking, as it requires the combined support of Ocean City, Egg Harbor Twp. And Cape May County. Together they close the bridge to automobile traffic for the race, and provide police support.
The race provides considerable support to the booster club. This club provides benefits for the Ocean City High School Cross Country, Winter Track, and Spring Track and Field programs. The OCHS running program is known for it’s commitment to excellence, having gone on to the highest level of state championships and producing successful college runners. Many of our athletes are also academic successes as well. They frequently give back to the community as evidenced by the former students who volunteer their spare time to work with young runners. This past year the Booster Association presented over $4500. worth of awards to our local graduating student/athletes. The event will be a fun-filled morning. Participants vary from those who are competing for the top prize over-all or in their age category, to those happy to enjoy the traffic free walk over the beautiful bridge and take in the view. The after race snacks, random drawings featuring many prizes, as well as awards to top finishers promise to lend a festive flare to the day’s activities. We anticipate a great turn-out both by people looking to support our local kids and runners who want to participate in a great event.
Early registration will cost ___ and forms can be gotten by calling ____. There will also be a walk-in registration on race day for an additional cost of ___. Registration will begin at ___:00.

 

[tar heel]

I've been doing news releases for 20+ years, have taught college students to write them and have received them on the other side at a newspaper. Try to make yours less dense than the bank one. Be straightforward and make sure all the most important information gets in the first three-four paragraphs.

I'll admit I would edit the release Oogie Boogie posted. That first paragraph needs to be broken up and reworded IMO, and the word "entitled" has got to go. Most newspapers use AP style, so news release writers should, too, and using "entitled" to mean "titled" is a big no-no.

 

[tar heel]

Tiggeroo,

It's fairly different from how I would do it, but pretty good IMO. You did a good job of getting interesting information about him in and making it sound more interesting than just a race. I would make sure it is double spaced and break up the paragraphs even if fairly arbitrarily. Also, get the time the race starts in there near the top.

 

[Tiggeroo]

You did a good job of getting interesting information about him in and making it sound more interesting than just a race

The idea is to do a tie-in with the naming. They wouldn't cover the race but they might cover a race being named after a prominent citizen. I tried putting the time and place in the front paragraph but it felt too wordy. I might have to re-write it quite a bit to get that to happen. Is it ok if by double spacing it, I end up with 2 pages?
Tarheel, as a writer I tend to mentally edit everything I read. Sometimes I pick things up and cringe. I could add more interesting details about the team and coaches but that too seemed to wordy. My goal was to put in enough info about Desiderio to get their notice (there's alot more on public record) and then explain how this race benefits the local kids. These papers cover our kids races pretty regularly so they have access to alot of info about that as well. I'm hoping if they decide to run something they will call either a booster club member or a coach and get some info. Thanks for your help. I'd appreciate any criticism. Any tips for getting the papers to run something. I would like to get the Phila. paper to run something in their South Jersey section, even if it's just an announcement.