Press Release Examples

As trade shows published the e-mail addresses of the pre-registered working press, they gave the green light to public relation agents to use e-mail as their primary vehicle to make initial contact with the press. Rather than generate tons of paper, and absorbing the expense of sending it, exhibitors could have their "new HOT" product announcements zapped to hundreds of journalist around the globe in a flash.

But, as the PR e-mail flood gates opened, the press core combated it by using the delete key with a liberal apathy. Most of the carefully crafted press releases hit the trash bin within seconds of arriving at their destinations. (See pet peeves of the press.)

PR folks need to have some guidelines when submitting their press releases, so the PR effort and expense can hit the mark.  Below are some examples of effective press releases. They illustrate the use of simple formats that will not overwhelm a journalist who may receive hundreds of press releases a day.

The comments in red are explanations of the purpose of the statements, and are not included as part of the press release.

Example #1 
Target Audience: Newspapers, Radio & TV

sainthood.com  Offers Cyber Sainthood On The Internet <Direct Headline>

War buddies reunite to form Internet company

Toluca Lake, CA, --Thirty years ago, Capt. George Proudfoot and First Lieutenant Bob Schmitt were sharing the cockpit of a Marine F-4 Phantom jet flying combat missions over Viet Nam. They recently joined forces again to create Halo Effects, Inc. Today they announced the launch of their Web site Sainthood.com. The site provides individuals with a unique way to recognize someone--by nominating them for sainthood.

"Let's face it, becoming a real saint is just too difficult for people of average (even above average) goodness." said Proudfoot, "If Mother Theresa is still waiting, what chance do the rest of us have? Sainthood.com was created to make it possible for the saint in your life to get immediate recognition." 

At Sainthood.com, you nominate someone for Cyber Sainthood by supplying a saint name and a citation listing the reasons the person is deserving of this honor. The new saint will receive either a Proclamation of Sainthood certificate or a link to their personal Cyber Shrine (or both). The resulting products from Sainthood.com will show the saint's name, the citation, and other personalized information. Both the certificate and shrine will have the saint's feast day, so it can be properly celebrated each year. In addition, if a photo of the new saint is sent by e-mail or regular mail, the photo (with appropriate halo) will appear on the shrine and certificate. The end result is a beautiful, highly personalized form of recognition and appreciation. 

One of the early Cyber Saints, St. Page of Lochmere, said: "Being made a saint was truly amazing. I have my sainthood certificate hanging in my office and am insisting my friends use my proper title while referring to me now."

Sainthood recognition is a wonderful gift for a birthday, or other special occasion. Sainthood Certificates start at $24.99, and Cyber Shrines at $9.95. Although Sainthood.com is set up primarily for on-line ordering through a secure Internet site, orders can also be made by phone, fax, or mail.

The two founders of the company had gone their separate ways after the Marine Corps, but decided to go into business together when Schmitt got the idea for the company after an impulsive promise to thank a friend who he felt "was a real saint." He said, "I promised Dawn I'd log on to the Vatican's web site to recognize her 'saintly' patience with my car hobby, but the Vatican wasn't user-friendly and didn't offer on-line canonization. I then realized we could offer something unique on the Internet that would be both fun and special."

Visit the Website at www.sainthood.com to get more information, or contact Bob Schmitt at (877) 289-4276, bob.schmitt@sainthood.com., or George Proudfoot at (408) 719-8739, george.proudfoot@sainthood.com 

<Less than 500 words> 
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Note to the editor: for further information, please contact:
Contact: Contact Name 
e-mail: E-mail address 
URL: URL address 

Example #2 
(Published as feature story in a publication group with 1 million subscribers) 
Target Audience: Internet General 
International Business Gathering Place  <Direct Headline> 

Now there is a place for business people to meet and exchange contacts, ideas, and resources in their quest to expand their business globally. The INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LIST is a free, and open-to-the-public moderated discussion, announcement and message list for professional business people around the world who would like to expand their businesses and their business contacts in other countries. 

What you will find in the INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LIST: Contacts, partners and business-people around the world - agents, sales representatives, licensees, distributors, resources including global, regional and national information sources from countries around the world plus questions/answers to your international business questions. Use this list to make new contacts, ask questions and ask for or give help, find new business partners and share business intelligence and resources with successful executives and traders around the globe. 

You need not have any experience in international business to take part. You can learn from those who do. Feel free to ask questions. And don't worry if English is not your first language. The content is the most important thing, not your language skills.  Besides, thanks to subscribers to the list, the INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LIST has been translated to many languages. 

TO SUBSCRIBE: The list is available in two formats. You can receive individual messages as they are posted or you can get a digest of a number of messages combined to form one big message. A digest is often the easiest to scan at one time. 

Send the message SUBSCRIBE in the SUBJECT: line to... How to instructions  INTLBIZ-REQUEST@LOFCOM.COM 

<Less than 250 words> 
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Contact: Contact Name 
e-mail: E-mail address 
URL: URL address 

Note: Click here for actual releases with the results they produced.