Components of a Press Release

Although there are many appropriate forms for press releases, there are basic parts of all press releases that should appear the same. The following is detailed information about what sections should appear in your press releases:

Release Time
This isn't where you put what time it is when you wrote your press release. This is where you put the date and time after which a press release may be released. Common release time examples would be "For Immediate Release" or "Embargoed Until..."

Headline/Title
This section is pretty self-explanatory. Be sure to make your headline attention-grabbing, yet honest and descriptive to your content.

Summary
The summary is traditionally where you put a summary of the press release for the news editor to read. It is often now used as a teaser for readers as well.

Dateline
This is the part where you put the date and location from which your release was distributed. This is often the lead-in to the main body of the press release when it is published.

Main Body
This is the part of the press release where you actually give the news. Go with a direct approach, answering right away all of the possible questions a reader may have such as how, what, who, why, when, and where. Follow that up with the supporting evidence, witness accounts, and quotes.

Boilerplate
This is a paragraph where you give information about the topic of the press release. You can include background information about the main company, individual, or group written about in the press release.

Sales Pitch
This is a one-sentence attempt to close the sale or call the reader to the desired action and a sentence with brief media contact information for you or your media relations person.

Contact Information
This is where you give the full contact information for you or your media relations person.

Closing
This is just where you put ### at the center of the page to tell the news editor that this is the end of the press release. 

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