A press release is an announcement, usually with supporting information, and contacts for further information, which is disseminated to media; print, broadcast or digital. The information is free for the use of any media who choose to run it.
Press releases are often utilised by promoters and marketers to get free promotion, but they are also used by politicians, business leaders, government agencies, and anyone wishing to access media.
A press release is more likely to be picked up by media if it is written in a publishable form and doesn’t have to be reworked. Sometimes a press release is picked up because there’s a hole to fill and your release is more or less the right size, and doesn’t require extra work. In other words it’s cheap copy.
Well written press releases are valuable tools. Use a press release to get the word out.
News release example: