Creating an Effective News Release
A news release is a very important tool to get your story to the masses. Assignment Editors are always looking for story ideas to give to their readers. But remember, Assignment Editors receive over 100 faxes and emails of news releases a day so yours has to stand out. Assignment Editors rely on news releases to cover stories for the day. And reporters rely on news releases for background information to guide them with their interview preparation.
So what makes a good news release? A news release is an announcement of an event or something you want the world to know about. The following are great reasons to send news releases:
* Your company wins an award
* An employee is recognized for achievement by a national organization
* An employee passes a quality test
* You start a new business
* Your business changes locations
* Your company participates in a charity event
* Your business hits a financial goal or goes public
Here is the way news releases are designed:
Format
___________________________________________________
Time for release
Contact:
Name
Address
Phone
Email
Title
Body (3 paragraphs) - Include a quote or two.
####
___________________________________________________
The For Releases section just lets the media know the date you are releasing the information. Some will say immediate release or hold publication until: June xx, 1999.
Your Media Contact is the name and number of the person who should be prepared to field media calls and set up interviews.
Next is the attention-getting Headline, followed by the location of your business.
The Body should be broken into short paragraphs, followed by #### at the very end to let the newsperson know that’s the end of the information.
If possible, try to keep your information to one page. You want to make your news releases as easy to be read and understood.
Here is how it is to be written:
Your headline should get your readers attention to so he’ll continue to read the rest of it. It should be a real attention-grabber to give the reader a reason to read on. Your writing should be straightforward and to the point. You want your information to be simple and easy to understand.
Use short sentences and short paragraphs to tell the Who: the Company, What: is receiving something important, Where: the location, When: what time, How: tell how it will be done.
Sometimes it is a good idea to include a quote in your news release. Make sure the quote is relevant to the information in the news release.
Sending your release:
Some companies who will distribute your news release for you online are DigitalWork, EcommerceNorthAmerica, Free Publicity, news Announce, and a few others.
To send your release to the media, decide what publications and newspapers in your area you want to send it to. Then call the Assignment Desk at your local newspaper and television station. Ask if they prefer to receive their news releases by email or fax. Then get the person’s name so you know who to send it to.
What Next?
If the Media is interested in your story they will contact you for a follow up. The best thing you can do is to continue to send them out as often as once a month. Eventually you’ll get covered and what a lot of publicity that will bring.
Here is a sample:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Smoking Ban - Good or Bad
Ever since the no-smoking ban has been in place in NYC other states are joining the bandwagon to implement such a change.
Just as there are supporters to the ban, there are supporters against it. Everyone has a right to be in a public place without having to breathe the dangerous, foul-smelling fumes that come from those cancer sticks. There are those who claim they have a civil right to smoke anywhere they want.
Now the tobacco cartel is taking drastic measures to stamp out the no-smoking ban by lying to people about the harmful effects of smoking. On Friday, a new health study will appear in an English medical journal claiming that tobacco smoke doesn't cause cancer or heart disease. The tobacco cartel funded the research of this article to try and sway the no-smoking ban. They will do anything to help destroy America just to satisfy their need to fill their pocketbooks.
Just why is smoking such a controversial subject? Why was the ban needed to begin with?
Did you know:
* That each time a person smokes a cigarette, they take an average of five minutes off their life?
* Nicotine no longer has any medicinal uses. It acts as a stimulant, depressant, or tranquilizer.
* That Columbus and other early explorers were amazed to find that the Indians carried rolls of dried leaves that they set on fire? They then "drank" the smoke as it emerged.
* Other Indians carried pipes in which they burned the same leaves and "drank" the smoke.
* That 97% of deaths in this country are the result of cancer induced by smoking.
Ever since countless millions of smokers have tried to stop smoking. If smoking wasn't so addictive and dangerous, why are people trying to stop? Why are commercials on TV encouraging people not to smoke?
To find out the truth behind smoking and why the ban is needed you can read a very informative article by going to http://www.writeformedia.com/smoking.htm.
To interview the creator of the article, Harry Husted, you can reach him by calling 732-985-8170 or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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Harry Husted is a freelance writer and author. His writing projects include ghostwriting, copywriting, web site content, and DTP. His credits include articles for Internet Day, Internet World, Advertising Today, Advertising Age, L-Advertising, and a host of others. Harry is also an author of three books, Learn How to Repair Computers: Get Certified in 15 Weeks, How to Write Your Way to Millions, and How to Find and Start a Legitimate Home Business. He can be reached by sending email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit his site at http://www.creatingwords.com
This article is copyright (c) 2002 by Harry Husted, and may be reprinted in it's entirety as long as this byline and copyright statement is included.