press release
A short official announcement sent to journalists to share news about an organization.
Definition
A press release presents a news item in a standard format: headline, dateline, a lead paragraph answering who, what, when, where and why, supporting detail, a quote and contact information. Its purpose is to make a journalist's job easy by giving verified facts. It works only when there is genuine news such as a launch, partnership, result or appointment. Releases that read like advertising are usually ignored. Distribution should be targeted at relevant reporters instead of mass-sent. Include a quote from a named person, a link to supporting material and a clear contact, because reporters often work under tight deadlines.
In a sentence
The press release announced the opening of a second office.
Journalists asked for data to support the claim in the release.
