Overview and checklist
All the content of your press release should be typed in a clear, basic font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, and double-spaced for clarity. Try to keep your entire release on one page. But if you really must go to a second page, make sure you indicate 'page two' in the top right-hand corner.
When you are finished, run this CHECKLIST:
PRESS RELEASE - in bold and all caps
HEADLINE - in bold
BODY- who, what, when, where and why
QUOTATION - from the horse's mouth
CONTACT - name and number in bold
PROOFED - basic font, double spaced, check spelling, page numbers.
Sending it out
You will need to type and format your press releases on a computer, probably using a word processing program, such as MSWord.
As you have targeted your journalists, you will only need half a dozen copies of your press release so you can probably print them from any computer.
If you do not have one, and don’t have a friend or colleague who will lend you theirs, head for your local library, where you can get internet access and a PC to use for free.
Some journalists will prefer to receive press releases by email. If you are sending your press release in this way, ensure the following:
It is in a format that the journalist can read (eg MS Word, Adobe Acrobat PDF)
It is free of viruses
It is sent to the right email address
Back up your work
A press release on its own can often get lost in a big office. As well as laying the groundwork by phone before you send it, don't be afraid to call up to check if it was received and if there are any further questions.
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