Youth Venture

A press release is a written communication prepared for distribution to members of the media and press. Its purpose is to announce something newsworthy. You can enhance your Venture’s visibility by sending a well-timed press release.

Who should I send a press release to?

Typically, they are sent to assignment editors at newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and/or television stations. However, press releases can also be sent to community groups, partners, or funders for informational purposes.

What information does a press release contain?

Most journalists prefer to receive press releases in a standard format. This helps journalists read and understand them quickly. Therefore, formatting a press release correctly will help ensure that it gets read. Press releases should be written in the following format:

• The Headline is the title of your news story. A strong headline is important because it can capture a reporter’s attention. A headline should contain a single point and use active verbs in the present tense.
• The Dateline contains the city and state, and date. The dateline always comes at the beginning of the lead paragraph.
• The Lead Paragraph contains 3-5 sentences that gives the most important information of the story (who, what, when, where, and why). The lead paragraph should be interesting enough that the reporter wants to keep reading, but if the reader does not continue on, they should know everything they need to know by reading the first paragraph.
• The Body explains the information in greater detail. The body should include interesting and significant details that pertain to your Venture or the event you are promoting. The body should not include any new important information that is not mentioned in the first paragraph.
• Quotes: You can include a quote in the body of the press release. Quotes should be used to provide credibility to the statements that you make and to add a personal touch. Quotes from team members or those you serve can be included here.
• The Boilerplate is 1-3 sentences that describe your organization and what you do. This information should always go at the end of the press release.

Additionally, your press release should be:

• No longer than one page.
• Single-spaced with no paragraph indentation.
• Written in the third person. Don’t use “I” or “we” unless in a quote.
• Written using a business tone. Avoid hype or exaggeration.
• Tied to an event or current activity. For example, Venture Teams could announce the receipt of an award, the achievement of a specific milestone, a new partnership, or an upcoming event.
• Clear enough for an audience that may not know anything about your Venture.
• Sent to a reporter via email, if possible. Note: Many people won’t open attachments from a stranger, so copy and paste your press release into the body of your email.
• Proofread! Make sure that someone else re-reads your work to avoid mistakes and make sure the press release is read-able. What makes sense to you might be confusing to someone else.

Note: You can use the Youth Venture tool, Sample Press Release as a guide to writing your own press releases. For more information on where to send press releases, see downloadable pdf. "Press Releases_page 2".

“You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart.”
-John Ford

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