Press Release Template and Instructions
Purpose:This tool provides a template and instructions for developing press releases to disseminate information via news media about research, conferences, and other initiatives.
What is a press release? A press release is an official statement issued by an organization directed to members of the news media for purposes of announcing something apparently newsworthy.
Why is it important? According to a blog post by Miranda Tan (2012), press releases have increasingly become more important because of their ability to announce new products or services, expand public knowledge, instant world-wide distribution, portability and convenience, search engine optimization as well as viral possibilities.
How to write a press release? The template placed in the following page provides step-by-step instructions on how to develop a press release. The instructions for completing each section of the press release are in brackets.
Audience :This tool is designed primarily for researchers from the eight coalitions funded by NWO/WOTRO and coordinated by the Knowledge Translation Network (KTNET) Africa project. The tool can be adapted by other researchers and the general public.
Resources:Include information about the research or event you plan to publicize using a press release.
[LOGO of Your Coalition/project (optional)]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: [Name]
[Date] [Phone Number]
[Email]
[MAIN TITLE OF PRESS RELEASE]
[Subtitle]
[CITY], [COUNTRY] — [This is the Introduction paragraph about the event, a study, or other initiative you want to publicize focusing on what is unique. To help generate interest from the news media, you want to make it engaging and newsworthy with such information as the “Five W’s”—(W)ho, (W)hat, (W)hen, (W)here, and (W)hy—when applicable.].
[Details in this paragraph should be an extension of the introduction. It should provide specifics about the topic and mention of your coalition/project. This paragraph could include the following sample sentence: The event/topic will feature research findings produced by the Accelerate Project, <insert example a>, <insert example b>].
[This paragraph could include quotes from someone with authority that comments about the event/topic. Be sure to include their credentials. Quote could be followed by one sentence that summarizes the comment, or highlights a positive characteristic about your topic relating to the comment].
[This paragraph should provide more details, including how people can get involved with your topic/event and generally how your topic can be integrated into a community, if possible. This paragraph could be used to appeal to the social aspects of your topic. If there is a website link that is different from that of your coalition/project, you should include it here.]
***
About [Name of Coalition/project]
[Boilerplate language about your coalition/project; can include some completed studies that may interest your audience]. For more information, visit [website link].
Links to additional resources on how to write a press release:
http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/participation/promoting-interest/press-releases/main
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-to-write-a-press-release-with-examples/
https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/why-press-releases-are-more-important-than-ever
https://www.shopify.com/guides/make-your-first-ecommerce-sale/press-release