For my first blog post...

I didn't really want my blog to focus on my job (except for the aspects I can't openly share in a professional environment), but for my entry into the blogsphere, I'm going to share with everyone a little piece I recently completed on press release writing.
It's nothing super innovative, just tips and tricks I've picked after a year or so straight of writing releases. I'm still no master at composing them myself, so we're in this together people.

Some Quick Tips & Tricks for Writing a Press Release

Writing a press release can easily turn into a daunting task. Gathering up the proper facts in one, quick go, fluffing details, finding interesting angles, all while maintaining a professional and journalistic voice doesn’t make for a cut and dry project.

Sound fun? Not so much.

But, there are ways to make the process less of a chore and more of a pleasant task.

First off, find your angle. No one wants to read standard information or simple event descriptions. Make sure to make your focus newsworthy and intriguing. For instance, instead of writing a press release on the opening of a restaurant, write it on why the new “hot spot” appeals to young, hip professionals or your average family on a budget.

Include your angle in the first sentence. Do not start a press release with the basic who, what, why, when, where theme. Make sure to efficiently and effectively describe why someone should continue seeking information on what you’re presenting, not just simply what it is. Let the journalist know who it is intended for and the readers know why it is geared towards them.

Avoid passive voice. Do not emphasize the process, but rather, the person or object that is performing the action. Phrases such as “to be”, “will be”, “has been”, and “had been” should not appear in your writing. Active voice is very important in press release writing- it helps items sound current and headline-worthy.

Avoid too much figurative language. It’s great to throw in some colorful adjectives. No one wants to read something which comes off as dull and plain. However, don’t go thesaurus crazy when writing a press release. Do not excessively use fancy adjectives. I believe it comes off as pretentious and overboard. Make sure no one reading it has to stop and scratch their heads or reach for a dictionary several times.

Do not embellish. One name I cannot stand for PR folks is “spin doctors”. I believe it is our job to highlight facts and present them in an interesting, unique light. There is no need to embellish in details. Relate anything possible to real-life, and make sure you can back up anything you write with dates, names, and real details. If something is worth writing a press release on, the news should be laid out for you, not hidden underneath phrases and jargon.

Elaborate in the body. The first half should be standard details, but written from an interesting perspective. The second half is where you can expand on the details, include extra draws, and introduce interesting facts.

Make sure to include plenty of references and contact information. A press release should give the reader a complete and precise overview of the subject. From there, the reader should be able to find most of the proper contact information for the subject and mentioned affiliates in the release. Include links to websites, social networking profiles, and phone numbers. That way any journalist can easily reference the materials without hassle or complications.


Don’t let writing a press release scare or intimidate you. It should be exciting, but still challenging, to discover interesting ways to relaying the information to journalists and the public. Remember, you’re not writing for your pleasure- you’re writing for someone else. Keep it simple and relatively short, but still have fun. Check your grammar and reference AP style as much as possible. What I can say about writing a press release that I feel is most important is give it voice. Preferably your own voice, since you are the one writing and possibly distributing it. Throw your personality and charm into it 100%. From there, it should come naturally and fairly easily.