The phrase "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE" should always be capitalized and should be as the opening line of the release. "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE" and the release date should always be justified to the left, while the contact information should be justified to the right.
A press release must include these three elements: (1) a brief description of the event or news; (2) your contact information (including an email address); and (3) the URL where the news can be found.
These elements should be presented in the order listed. If you have space restrictions, you can place some information in multiple paragraphs by separating them with several blank lines. Avoid using too many long sentences when writing a press release. This article has more information about how to write a press release.
The term "instant release" refers to information that is ready for publication and may be used by journalists as soon as it is received. You may want more time to gather further information, or you may prefer that the journalist publish the news at a later date. Either way, an instant release allows you to share your story instantly.
The purpose of an instant release is to inform people about events that may benefit your business or organization. By issuing an instant release, you can ensure that your news gets into the hands of as many people as possible. You can also use this method to announce corporate changes or developments that affect your company or organization.
A press release contains the following elements: topic sentence, supporting facts and figures, description of the problem (or what was done well), solution (or what will be done better), call to action. These components are not exclusive - one element can support another - but they do provide a framework within which to organize your thoughts and express yourself clearly.
Elements that appear in every press release include:
Title - name of the event or development being announced
Date - when the event took place or the development was accomplished
Structure - describes the main features of the event or development
When discussing a press release casually or referencing it in a phrase, the words "press release" are not capitalized. For example, "press release" is not capitalized in any of these samples. Because it is not a proper noun, such as a name or a location, it is left uncapitalized, as are all nouns.
However, if you're writing about the press release itself or its writer(s), then "press release" should be capitalized. In this case, "press release" is a noun that describes the document written by John's friend.
Format for a Press Release
You will organize your press releases by author or organization name. Include the year in parenthesis, followed by the month and day if available. The title of the press release will then be added. Remember to italicize the title and capitalize just the first word and proper nouns. You can also include links to websites in your press releases. These should be listed in the disclaimer section at the end of your press release.
To reference a press release, readers should search for it under "Related News" on the source's website. This is particularly important for news released during large events like conferences where many similar reports may be published.
Sources should be cited in press releases exactly as they are in academic papers: give the date of publication, identify the author(s) or editor(s), state the URL of the source (if available), and include any relevant notes. For example, if you are quoting from a book, mention that fact along with the title of the book and its publisher.
Press releases are usually not peer-reviewed before publication so there is no need to provide an assessment of their scientific quality. However, sources should be acknowledged even if they are official statements written by company employees because readers want to know about other views on an issue. Notes may be included to explain discrepancies between this statement and others issued by the same source.