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Press Releases · Wave 1

What Is a Press Release? Definition, Purpose & Examples

A clear explanation of press releases, what they are for, when to use them, and when another format is better.

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A press release is a concise, factual announcement prepared for public distribution, often to communicate a newsworthy development about an organization, product, person or event.

What a press release is for

Its job is to make the essential facts easy to understand and easy for relevant audiences to verify.

What it is not

It is not automatically an article written by an independent newsroom, and distribution does not guarantee media coverage.

Common reasons to issue one

Launches, partnerships, appointments, funding, events, milestones, research, awards and material company updates are common triggers.

When not to use one

If there is no meaningful new information, a blog post, customer email, social update or landing page may be a better fit.

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