Tips for writing a press release:

It is always useful to remember that local journalists will receive hundreds of press releases every week, so you have to try and make your story stand out from the rest.

When writing a press release, treat it like a professional document. The first section should just give a general overview; then follow this with the detail. If you follow the steps below you should produce a concise professional article suitable for a press release.

Paragraph one

Simply tell the full story in a nutshell, like you would create an executive summary for a document like a business or strategic plan. Keep it short, concise and punchy.

Paragraph two

This should begin to expand on the first, building on the detail.

Paragraph three and if necessary four.

These should provide the additional detail. They should be followed with a good quote if possible. The quote should back up what has already been highlighted lending further credibility. The quote should not provide new information.

The quote should act, as full stop to the document, and any information provided beyond the quote should be additional background.

Your title should reflect the information provide in the first paragraph, but should not use exactly the same wording.

Remember most good press releases will be no longer then one to one and half pages long, but if it is shorter don’t worry, the idea is to be concise, punchy and to the point. Use everyday language and keep your sentences short and simple.

As long as the content answer the six questions above, the shorter and snappier the article the more interest it will be of to journalist.

Once you have written your article, and finished it with a suitable quote, you should add a section called ‘Notes to Editors’. This section will include contacts details of two people who can provide additional information about the article.

Finally you will need to insert a ‘boilerplate’, which is a brief description of the organisation. Below is STARS boilerplate, which can be copy and pasted for your use.

The STARS charity aspires to raise public and professional awareness of syncope and reflex anoxic seizures. It is hoped that this will not only create a better support system for existing sufferers, but will also improve knowledge and understanding for those who care for someone with one of the above conditions and for potential sufferers. At present there is no other organisation in the world offering support, information and advice for those affected by these conditions. See www.stars.org.uk.