Knowing when to coordinate broad coverage versus offering first rights is a core PR judgment. Check your grasp of embargo and exclusive best practices.
What does an embargo allow PR teams to do?
Hide news permanently
Publish on social first, then notify media
Share information with reporters now but hold publication until a set date/time
Pay to delay negative coverage
Which detail must be explicit in an embargo notice?
The CEO’s travel itinerary
A flexible window editors can choose
Exact lift date, time and time zone
Internal budget codes
What’s a common consequence for breaking an embargo?
Receiving bonus ad inventory
Losing access to future briefings, credentials or materials
No impact at all
Being guaranteed the next exclusive
When is an exclusive generally the better choice over an embargo?
When details aren’t finalized at all
When one outlet’s deep dive will deliver outsized reach or authority
For routine minor updates
When you have legal filings under seal
What should you provide under embargo so reporters can publish at lift?
Only a teaser with no facts
Press kit, quotes, data, visuals and spokesperson access
Anonymous rumors and no assets
A paywall link without context
How should you label a subject line for an exclusive pitch?
Use vague clickbait
Leave the subject blank
Hide exclusivity until after acceptance
Clearly mark it as EXCLUSIVE and state the core story
Why do scientific and medical announcements often use embargoes?
To bypass peer review
To avoid answering any questions
To restrict public access indefinitely
To enable careful reporting and synchronized release across outlets
If multiple outlets already have the story, what’s the right move?
Cancel all outreach
Shift from seeking an exclusive to sharing a media advisory or broader briefings
Insist it’s exclusive anyway
Threaten outlets for prior coverage
What timing mistake most often causes embargo confusion?
Forgetting to convert the lift time for each recipient’s time zone
Including a direct phone number
Providing too many visuals
Sending calendar invites for interviews
What KPI fits an embargoed multi‑outlet launch better than a single exclusive?
Number of paywalled impressions bought
Internal training hours logged
Website dark‑mode usage
Synchronized day‑one reach and share of coverage across outlets
Starter
Good start—review the fundamentals and tune your checklists.
Solid
Strong grasp—polish the details to boost consistency under pressure.
Expert!
Excellent—your instincts and execution match best practice.
