How to write and distribute a press release

1. Press Releases & Press
Conferences
Maximize Media Exposure

2. Press Release Template
• An official statement issued
to newspapers or other
media outlets giving
information on a particular
matter
• Notify assignment editors at
newspapers, radio stations,
television stations, or
television networks
• Structural elements include:
Headline, dateline,
introduction, body, “End”,
media contact information.

3. Press Release Template
• An official statement issued
to newspapers or other
media outlets giving
information on a particular
matter
• Notify assignment editors at
newspapers, radio stations,
television stations, or
television networks
• Structural elements include:
Headline, dateline,
introduction, body, “End”,
media contact information.

4. Press Release Template
• An official statement issued
to newspapers or other
media outlets giving
information on a particular
matter
• Notify assignment editors at
newspapers, radio stations,
television stations, or
television networks
• Structural elements include:
Headline, dateline,
introduction, body, “End”,
media contact information.

5. Press Release Template
• An official statement issued
to newspapers or other
media outlets giving
information on a particular
matter
• Notify assignment editors at
newspapers, radio stations,
television stations, or
television networks
• Structural elements include:
Headline, dateline,
introduction, body, “End”,
media contact information.

6. Press Release Template
• An official statement issued
to newspapers or other
media outlets giving
information on a particular
matter
• Notify assignment editors at
newspapers, radio stations,
television stations, or
television networks
• Structural elements include:
Headline, dateline,
introduction, body, “End”,
media contact information.

7. Press Release Template
• An official statement issued
to newspapers or other
media outlets giving
information on a particular
matter
• Notify assignment editors at
newspapers, radio stations,
television stations, or
television networks
• Structural elements include:
Headline, dateline,
introduction, body, “End”,
media contact information.

8. Press Release Template
• An official statement issued
to newspapers or other
media outlets giving
information on a particular
matter
• Notify assignment editors at
newspapers, radio stations,
television stations, or
television networks
• Structural elements include:
Headline, dateline,
introduction, body, “End”,
media contact information.

9. Media Contacts
• Foster relationships with local
reporters who empathize with
crime victims
• Subscribe to media database
provider
• Follow local reporters on
Twitter & Facebook and ask
them to follow back
• Create an Excel database &
include as much contact
information as possible
• Utilize contact list when
appropriate.

10. Press Release Distribution
• Use media contact list
• Create Press Release
in MS Word
• Distribute directly from
MS Word via email
• Open Mailings tab
• Select Step by Step
Mail Merge Wizard
• Follow required steps
• Confirm distribution in
MS Outlook.

11. Press Conference
• A press conference is a
tool designed to
generate hard news
• Hard news can
advance the cause of
your organization
• Hard news is a story in
the print or electronic
media which is timely,
significant, prominent,
and relevant.

12. When Children Are Kidnapped
• 76% of abducted/murdered children were found within a
12 mile radius of their last known location
• 46% of abducted/murdered were found within a mile and
a half
• 50% of alive/murdered cases the child was located
within 10 miles
• 75% of alive/murdered cases the child was located
within 32 miles