Editing Press release (section)

==Elements==

Any information deliberately sent to a [[Journalist|reporter]] or media source is considered a press release. This information is released by the act of being sent to the media. [[Public relations]] professionals often follow a standard professional format for press releases. Additional communication methods that journalists employ include pitch letters and media advisories. Generally, a press release body consists of four to five paragraphs with a word limit ranging from 400 to 500.<ref>{{cite web|last1=James|first1=Geoffrey|title=How To Write a Press Release, with Examples|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-to-write-a-press-release-with-examples/|website=cbsnews.com|date=10 November 2010 |publisher=CBS News|access-date=19 May 2016|archive-date=4 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204224750/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-to-write-a-press-release-with-examples/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, press release length varies and can range from 300 to 800 words.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prweb.com/editorial-guidelines/|title=Editorial Guidelines for News Releases|website=PRWeb|access-date=5 September 2016|archive-date=4 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204224752/https://service.prweb.com/resources/article/editorial-guidelines/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Common structural elements include:
* '''[[Letterhead]] or [[Logo]]'''
* '''Media Contact Information''' – name, phone number, email address, mailing address, or other contact information for the [[Public relations|public relation]] (PR) or other media relations contact person.
* '''[[Headline]]''' – used to grab the attention of journalists and briefly summarize the news in one to six words. 
* '''[[Dek (news)|Dek]]''' – a sub-headline that describes the headline in more detail.
* '''[[Dateline]]''' – contains the release date and usually the originating city of the press release. If the date listed is after the date that the information was actually sent to the media, then the sender is requesting a [[news embargo]].
* '''Introduction''' – first paragraph in a press release, that generally gives basic answers to the questions of who, what, when, where and why.
* '''Body''' – further explanation, statistics, background, or other details relevant to the news.
* '''[[Boilerplate text|Boilerplate]]''' – generally a short "about" section, providing independent background on the issuing company, organization, or individual.
* '''Close''' – in North America, traditionally the symbol "[[-30-]]" appears after the boilerplate or body and before the media contact information, indicating to media that the release has ended. A more modern equivalent has been the "###" symbol. In other countries, other means of indicating the end of the release may be used, such as the text "ends".

As the Internet has assumed growing prominence in the [[24-hour news cycle]], press release writing styles have evolved. Editors of online newsletters, for instance, often lack the staff to convert traditional press release prose into the print-ready copy.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/09/prweb2815314.htm | title=For Businesses Chasing Recognition, The Print Media Is Losing Its Allure | first=Ron | last=Goodden | publisher=PRWeb | date=1 September 2009 | access-date=8 June 2010 | archive-date=21 April 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421195017/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/09/prweb2815314.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref>