Writing a News Release or Fact Sheet
A good news release is written like a good news story. It starts with a
direct lead that puts the 5 Ws and an H at the top, and it uses inverted
pyramid organization. For more on organizing a news story, review
basic news writing in Chapter 6.
A news release from the National Institute for Automotive Service
Excellence (ASE) is shown in Figure 21.1. Note that the release has a
news lead that contains the 5 Ws and an H:-^ Who: automotive repair technicians
-^ What: want to change the image of their profession
-^ Where: Herndon, Virginia
-^ When: data released on July 12, 1995
-^ Why/how: responded to a survey by Stanford and ASE
The information is in descending order of importance. Additional
information is highlighted in fact sheet style. This informative report
on a survey simply states the findings. Like an objective news story, it
does not state the source’s opinion. If the writer had said, “ASE is proud
and happy to share the results of our special survey,” it would sound
as though ASE were trying to make itself the center of attention rather
than focusing on the information.
News releases may quote company spokespersons or experts express-
ing opinions or offering interpretations. Quotations should be short
and punchy and not take longer than 10 seconds to read aloud if
there’s a possibility they may be used in a broadcast story. This news
release from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH), for instance, quotes the NIOSH director:
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
recently released an alert which details hazardous jobs for ado-
lescent workers. The document reveals that motor vehicle deaths
accounted for the greatest number of work-related deaths of 16-
and 17-year-olds between 1980–1989. Motor vehicle deaths include
delivery services, road construction work, and work at gas stations.
Other leading causes of death include machine related incidents,
electrocutions, assaults and violent acts, and falls. Related research
indicates that many adolescent workplace deaths may be associated
with activities prohibited by child labor laws.
“While the benefits of working are clear, we must recognize that
thousands of adolescents are injured or killed in the workplace each
year,” said Dr. Linda Rosenstock, NIOSH Director. “Work should be
a fulfilling and educational life experience for young people, not a
life threatening one.”
News releases that announce upcoming events are called media
alerts. Media alerts give data such as the time and place of the event
and why it is being held. If the media alert concerns a person who
will be appearing or making a speech, biographical background and
the topic of the speech are important. Quotations from someone who
knows the person or the person’s reputation may be included.
494 MIXED MEDIA
media alert
a news release that announces
an upcoming event