Ok so we have to write a press release, but where do we
begin? If you found yourself in a position like myself this task can be very
overwhelming. So let’s break it down. Based on the Business Communications
textbook we can break down the process of Press Release writing into several
components.
The Components of a Press Release!
- You need an attention-grabbing headline or lead.
- What are you writing about? what are your 5Ws and 1H?
- Who are we talking to? Who is your target audience?
- Location! Location! Location! You need to figure out your outline and how your content will be placed and flow in your press release
- It not only has to sound catchy, but it needs to visually catch your readers eyes
- If you want your reader to take you seriously you need to walk the walk and talk the talk. Your press release needs to look and sound credible[1]
In addition to this I will also add a few interesting and
helpful techniques and important “to do” during this blog series.
Where to start? What are you writing about?
So let’s get started. I am going to mix it up a little bit;
to write a press release we need to know what we are writing about before we can get to any of the other components. We are going
to start at the 5Ws (Who, What, Where, When, Why and their friend How), this will help you plan out what our message is that we
are conveying to our audience. I know what you are thinking; we did this in our
elementary school days. It is a very simple task to do, but many writers
overlook this important component of a press release. I believe it is an
essential place to start for a press release, it is a foundation you can build
off of.
The YouTube video “Writing Process Animation”[2] for a blog was very helpful in planning out how to write a blog. Some of these techniques can be helpful and applied to your press release, but what I would like to emphasize is his reference at 8:05 minutes into the video. The introduction and conclusion come last.
We need to know the facts to influence a strong introduction and conclusion and in this case the important facts are the 5
Ws that a reader can pull out of your press release. The 5 Ws will allow you to
target the key pieces of information you want your reader to know as well as
help build the body of your press release.
There it is! Start with your 5Ws and their friend H. This will act as a
skeleton as you form your purpose of your message. We will get into that in the
next post.
For now what are your 5Ws and 1H for your press release?
- Who
- What
- When
- Where
- Why
- How
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