Start putting together your press release. A press release should answer the following questions: Who was / is involved? What happened / will happen? When did it / will it happen? Where did it / will it happen? How did it / will it happen? ('How?' is not always relevant.)
Summarize the answers to these questions. Do this in one or two sentences of the first paragraph.
Include your most interesting and quotable material in the second and third paragraphs. This will be the material which reporters can use in an article.
Provide more detail in the rest of the release. Also provide some brief background information about your group: who you are; what your objectives are; and what you have already accomplished.
Remember that news outlets are looking for news, and for stories that grab people's attention. So press releases are most effective when they announce something new, deal with something that is topical, or provide 'human interest' — personal stories that will get people’s attention.
Make sure your press release contains contact information. This is so that reporters can get in touch with you to find out more if they want to.
Call the media outlet you want to reach before an event or the launch of a project. Find out the name of the news editor, producer or specialized correspondents and gather contact information and other details. This will mean you can ‘issue’ your press release to the right people.
Find out what the deadlines are for each media outlet. Give reporters as much notice as you can, and then remind them the day before the event.
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