Written by Julie Jackson, PR and communications specialist for Hampshire’s third sector and mission-led SMEs
Press releases can be an effective way of communicating with your local community. Here are ten top tips on how to write a press release that gets published in your local newspaper:
1. Make the press release snappy and be sure to answer Who? What? When? Where? Why? in the first/second paragraph.
2. Read the release through the eyes of the journalist – is is newsworthy and does it pass the ‘So what?’ test?
3. Include a human-interest angle.
4. Consider the readership profile of the local newspaper – will the readers be interested in what you have to say or is there a more effective way to reach your target audience?
5. Check and double check that your press release contains no spelling mistakes and is grammatically correct.
6. Avoid using clichés and hackneyed expressions – make your release fresh and original.
7. Follow local journalists on Twitter and read stories with their byline so you gain an understanding about their style and interests.
8. Send a photo with your press release but make sure it is in keeping with the style of image used by the paper; that the quality is good; the angle is interesting and original and that the people in the photo have given their permission for you to use the image. Remember to caption your photo and spell names correctly.
9. Plan the timing of your release. If you publish it on social networking sites at the same time as you send it to your local newspaper, the news will be old by the time the paper has a chance to publish it which will make it far less desirable and usable.
10. Email your press release to a named journalist.
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Content updated 8 June 2023