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If this were a real news release created for print, the body would be double-spaced. Paragraphs are indented in manuscript text style rather than using the no-indent/leave-extra-line formatting typical of business letters. Type should be at least 12 points. The body of this release is set in 12 pt Arial, with these side comments in 10 pt. |
Parents
Resource Center
1234 Fifth St. N. — Fargo, ND 58102 |
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Contact information should include specific names and phone numbers of people who understand and can answer questions. If necessary, several names can be provided -- including an after-hours contact. |
Contact:
Jennifer Nelson (701) 232-1234 e-mail prc@123.com |
| Embargo. Today this line is often considered an optional reminder of the embargoes once used to insure that all media released information simultaneously. | For immediate release |
| Headline summarizes story's focus for the gatekeepers. Not likely to be used by publication. | Fargo Parents and
'Li'l Punkins' To Share Halloween Fun Saturday and Sunday |
| Note that the dateline in a release usually does include a date (when it was written) along with the most logical location. This differs from journalism. |
Fargo, N.D. (Oct. 4, 2005) – Children and their parents celebrate the harvest season – and raise funds for a community parenting program – at Fargo’s first Pumpkins for Parents Festival this weekend (Oct. 9–10). |
| This lead reflects a hard-news approach, who-what-when-where. Note the inclusion of calendar dates after the text refers to "this weekend." Should arrive in newsroom well before week of event. This construction is easy to edit. | |
| More details follow in paragraph #2. Note the present tense verb (is scheduled) rather than using future tense (will sponsor/etc.). This is a news writing convention that increases sense of timeliness. |
The family event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Fargo Civic Auditorium. The festival offers pumpkin-style crafts, foods, games and music, as well as a Halloween costume parade, pumpkin-decorating contest and pumpkin bake-off. Admission to the event, a fund raiser for the Parents Resource Center, is $2 per person or $5 per family. |
| A direct quote often appears in paragraph #3 or #4. The quote offers a way to inject personal opinion, purpose and other "soft" content into an otherwise straightforward news story. Quotes (as well as all significant facts & opinions) must always be attributed to their source. |
“We want to help families to have another way to share safe Halloween fun together,” says Mary Anderson, director of the Parents Resource Center. “Our activities have been designed to build stronger bonds between parents and their little ones – and to have a good time.” |
| These paragraphs summarize highlights of a long and involved schedule for both days. The newspaper would be unlikely to use a full detailed schedule. These excerpts were chosen for their human interest, oddity and timely value. |
On Saturday, children can explore new ways of
decorating Jack o’Lanterns and play
“Pin the Nose on the Jack o’Lantern”
and other games. Families can cook pumpkin snacks and Halloween cookies
or get new inspirations for creative low-cost Halloween costumes. Music
and refreshments will be available. |
| "For more information" phone numbers are invariably included in stories about events, usually as the final published paragraph. Double-check that the phone number is right! Long numbers introduce high probability of errors. |
For more information on the festival, call the Parents Resource Center, (701) 232-1234. |
| This is boilerplate copy. It offers a little more information for the editor, along with a tempting target for those customary cuts of copy. Occasionally it finds its way into print — but not often. Make it sound human, and not like a mission statement composed by a committee of stuffed shirts. |
The Parents Resource Center works with young parents, many in single-parent families, and their young children. The program builds parenting skills through mentoring, education about early child development and introducing young families to resources in the community, from day care and health services to recreation. |
| This signifies the end of the release. [-30-] and [END] work just as well. If the story went onto a second page, this page would end with the notation [— MORE —], and the top of the next page would carry a "slug" (ident of story) and [page 2]. |
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If
you have photos available or other minor notes from the editor, you
might include a line or two at the bottom of final page. Be sure to set
it off with a different font, size or case.
But if you have a lengthy message — pitching a feature story or offering to make arrangements for photos and coverage on the first day of the event, for example — it's better to attach a cover letter. |
NOTE TO EDITOR: We have excellent photos of some of our volunteer leaders making pumpkin crafts and decorations — and will be happy to provide them for your review. You can also get your own similar feature shots during preparation session the week of Oct. 10. For details, please call Jennifer Nelson at 232-1234. |
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MC307 syllabus
This page was last edited by Nancy E. Hanson 10/04/05 |