A press release still earns coverage when it is genuinely newsworthy and easy to work with. Test the essentials: headline craft, datelines, quotes, boilerplates, multimedia, and smart distribution steps.
Which headline approach is most effective for a press release?
All‑caps hype without facts
Clear, specific summary of the news and value
Vague teaser that hides the news
A pun that omits the key announcement
What belongs in the first paragraph (the lead) of a news release?
The core facts answering who, what, when, where, why
Quotes as the opening line
Background history before any news
Boilerplate first
Which dateline choice is correct for standard press releases?
CITY only after the boilerplate
A timezone code without a city
Month Day, Year — at the very end
CITY, Month Day, Year — before the first sentence
How should an embargo be indicated on a press release?
Hide the embargo in the last paragraph
Only mention embargo in the email subject
Rely on verbal agreement without notation
Place “EMBARGOED UNTIL [date and time] [timezone]” prominently at the top
What makes for useful quotes in a release?
They include unsubstantiated superlatives
They stuff keywords for SEO only
They repeat the headline verbatim
They add context or insight beyond the facts in the lead
Where does the company boilerplate belong?
At the end of the release under a boilerplate section
In the headline
As the second sentence of the lead
Inside the media contact line
Which element helps reporters act on your news immediately?
A generic contact form only
A media contact with name, email, and phone
A postal address only
An unmonitored inbox
How can multimedia best support a release?
Avoid visuals entirely
Embed huge files as attachments to every email
Use watermarked assets only
Provide links to images, logos, or b‑roll with usage guidance
What is a sensible way to use AI when drafting a release in 2025?
Skip editorial standards because AI wrote it
Use it to inflate claims
Let it publish automatically without review
Use it for first drafts or summaries, then fact‑check and edit before sending
Which option improves discoverability without hurting readability?
Use concise keywords and links where natural, not stuffed
Repeat the same keyword ten times in a row
Write for bots, not people
Hide links in images only
Starter
You’ve got the outline. Focus on a clear lead, dateline, strong quotes, and a helpful boilerplate with contact info.
Solid
Solid newsroom‑ready structure. Sharpen headlines, tighten copy, and attach accessible assets to speed pickup.
Expert!
Masterful. Your releases are clear, verifiable, and easy to use—embargoes labeled, assets linked, and purpose evident.
