Writing a press release is an essential skill for any political professional. It is an effective way to communicate with the media and the public about your campaign’s message, events, and accomplishments. However, it can also be a daunting task, especially if you are new to public relations. In this post, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to write a press release that gets your message heard.

Start your press release with a strong headline

The headline is the first thing the media and the public will see, so it’s important to make it strong and attention-grabbing. The headline should be short, clear, and to the point. It should give the reader an idea of what the press release is about and why it’s important.

Write a compelling lead

The lead is the opening paragraph. It should provide a summary of the key points in a clear and concise manner. It should answer the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions in the reader’s mind. The lead should be interesting and compelling, encouraging the reader to read on.

Provide the details

After the lead, you should provide more details about the event or announcement. This is where you can go into more depth about the who, what, where, when, why, and how. You should provide quotes from key people involved in the event or announcement, such as the candidate or campaign manager. This will give the release more credibility and make it more interesting to read.

Include relevant background information

If the press release is about a particular issue or policy, you should include relevant background information to provide context. This could include statistics, historical information, or other relevant facts. Providing context will help the media and the public understand why the issue or policy is important.

End with a strong conclusion

The conclusion should summarize the key points and reiterate why the information is important. It should also include information about how the media or the public can get in touch with the campaign for more information. This could include contact information for the campaign manager or a link to the campaign website.

Format the press release properly

A well-formatted press release will make it easier for the media to read and understand. The headline should be in bold, and the first letter of each word in the headline should be capitalized, and end with three hash marks (###) centered on the page. We recommend using the Associated Press style for press release writing.

Include contact information

Finally, you should include contact information for the campaign manager or another key contact person. This should include a phone number and email address where the media or the public can get in touch with the campaign for more information.

Writing a press release is an essential part of any political campaign. A well-written release can help you get your message heard by the media and the public. By following these steps, you can write a press release that is clear, concise, and attention-grabbing.