Sunday, May 2, 2010

Press Release Professionalism

For a recent assignment, I had to learn how to use a social media site to build an online media release. While I was completing the task, I realized how there is absolutely no room for error. Once you decide to distribute the release, then it is out there and there is no taking it back. With this in mind, I realized how stressful writing a good press release could be because so much could go wrong.
For instance, here are some of the basic things to worry about: spelling & grammar. But the list does not stop there. When reporting a release there is usually an appropriate format to follow. Only the most recent and relevant information regarding what you are "releasing" about should be listed. The person writing the press release needs to make sure that all of their information is up to date and they are not citing/reporting anything wrong. Therefore, a lot of research must be put in ahead of time. Furthermore, a release should include relevant pictures, quotes, info about the organization providing the release, and tags/links to relevant sites (if written online). The pictures must also be current and relevant and speak to the viewer without a lengthy explanation needed. Quotes should again be current, correct and the right person should be being cited. Info. about the organization should be short and to the point. Maybe a mission statement? Finally, tags/links (if written online) should direct the reader to a site that gives more information regarding what was covered in the release or sites to places that were covered in the release.
Now, I know I only have minimal experience with this. But I think the aforementioned should be carefully thought about everytime a release is given. If the criterion is given strict attention then a successful release could be the product. If not, another release might be being written to cover the failure of the last one.

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