Press Release

A press release is a formal, written statement distributed to media outlets, journalists and news services to announce something newsworthy about a company or organization. It follows a standardized format that includes a headline, dateline, lead paragraph, body, quotes, boilerplate and press contact information.

Press releases are one of the most common tools in public relations. Companies use them to announce product launches, funding rounds, partnerships, key hires, acquisitions, awards and other news events. A well-written press release gives journalists the facts they need to decide whether the story is worth covering.

Standard structure of a press release

• Headline: a clear, factual title that tells the journalist what the news is
• Dateline: the city and date of the announcement, for example "PARIS, France, April 12, 2026"
• Lead paragraph: the five W questions (who, what, when, where, why) in 2 to 3 sentences
• Body: details, context and supporting facts
• Quotes: one or two quotes from leadership or stakeholders
• Boilerplate: a standardized company description at the bottom
• Contact: name, email and phone of the PR contact

When to send a press release

A press release is appropriate when the news is genuinely newsworthy: a product launch that changes the market, a funding round, an acquisition, a notable partnership, a leadership change or an event of public interest. Sending a press release for minor updates dilutes credibility with journalists.

Related terms

• Boilerplate - A short, standardized paragraph at the end of a press release that describes the company.
• Dateline - The line at the beginning of a press release that states the city and date of the announcement.
• Lede - The opening paragraph of a press release or news story, designed to summarize the essential facts.
• Embargo - An agreement between a company and a journalist that the journalist will not publish a story before a specified date and time.