Press Releasesfrom story to distribution

About this presentation

• Who is Cathy Watson?

• What is a press release?

• What is newsworthy?

• Tips for writing a press release.

• Distribution – who will be interested?

Who is Cathy Watson?

What is a press release?

To an organisation:

• Free publicity• Profile raising• Informing• Reaching new

customers

To a journalist:

• Spam• Advertising• Space filler• Source of news• Introduction to

company

What is newsworthy?

Potentially:

• New – company, product, premises

• Research results• Takeover• Case studies• Major contract• Appointments• News of the moment

More subtly:

• Sponsorship• Fund-raising• Charity work• Community work• Staff achievements• By products

Tips for writing a release

• Get to the point quickly• Pyramid writing• Use short paragraphs and sentences• Keep punctuation and capital letters to a minimum• Include what, where, when, how and why• Full people details – who might know them?• Contact details• Send in body of email• Head and shoulders pictures• Be prepared to react quickly to help journalists

Distribution

• Your own website• Links from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn• Newsletter, e-newsletter• Local newspapers/websites• Press release sites• Specialist publications• Other selected newspapers/magazines

Remember

• The people most interested in your news will be your own customers, suppliers and staff. Don’t rely on other people to tell them.

• Consider publicity in newspapers, magazines, on radio and TV a bonus.

• Keep the media in touch with your progress

Thank you

•Thank you for listening•Any questions?