The Making of a Press Release: Part 2 of 3 (Formatting)

Some formatting tips for your press release.

1. Use company letterhead if possible. Standard white paper will do if no letterhead paper is available.
2. Use 12 point font usually Times New Roman.
3. Create a headline and bold the font.
4. Provide a person's contact information at the top left corner with name, address (optional), telephone number and email address. The person listed should be the writer or someone who is knowledgeable about the content and intent of the press release so that the press can contact that person if they need more information or clarification.
5. Provide a dateline to start the 1st paragraph that includes originating location and date ie San Diego CA: May 7, 2000.
6. Double space so the reader (news member) can make notes and edit your content.
7. To inform the reader of additional pages add the work more at the bottom of each page that has a continuation.
8. The first paragraphs, which may be the only one read, should be an immediate attention getter and between 3 and 5 lines (not sentences).
9. If a paragraph will be split between two pages, move the text so the whole paragraph is on the follow-on page.
10. Follow the Associated Press Style Book and any published standards by the news or media source that you are sending the release to.

To learn more about PLANNING a press release see Part 1 of 3; and to learn more about the CONTENT of the press release see Part 3 of 3.