A press release is a written statement companies issue to entice the media to cover a company story. There are many different kinds of press releases, including those that promote a charity, announce a product launch or a new hire, and those that introduce a merger or acquisition. Though each type has its own requirements for effectiveness, the best ones consider all audiences who may be interested, objectively showcase the newsworthy angle, and offer journalists a plethora of resources to develop their angles.
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For your inspiration and learning experience, here are 15 examples of press releases:
Crisis Communications Press Release Examples
1. Target
Target crisis press release example
Target’s crisis press release does a great job of describing the story’s value for journalists and offering them an easy process for covering it. In
writing the press release
, Target begins by clearly outlining the story within the first couple of sentences, stating “the retailer today announced new safety measures to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.” It then goes on to clearly lay out their crisis response plan. As it does, the retailer considers all stakeholders who may be impacted—including employees and customers.
Once the response plan is clearly defined in the introductory graph, the rest of the release offers lots of information journalists can use to round out their stories, including a quote from the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Target and a breakdown of each of the plan’s components with more information about each. A media contact ensures that journalists can reach out with any questions they need to have answered to cover the story.
2. Zoom
Zoom crisis communications and acquisition press release example
Zoom’s acquisition press release is part of an ongoing response plan to rising security concerns around the Zoom software. As such, the
elements of the release
were strategically crafted as part of an ongoing crisis communications plan. Zoom does a great job of bringing new stakeholders up to speed, showing its commitment to improving the security of its software, and providing ways readers can continue to receive updates.
The press release subhead, “Transaction Marks Key Milestone in Zoom’s 90-Day Security Plan,” offers the readers two benefits; while brief, it both peaks journalists’ interest in reading more and brings unaware readers up to speed. This helps to continue the ongoing conversation around Zoom’s crisis response plan.
To ensure effective communication during both the acquisition and crisis (and in keeping with crisis communication best practices), Zoom errs on the side of too much communication as opposed to too little. They do so by both including a link to their website page where updates are regularly published and direct contact information to a key company representative so journalists and stakeholders can ask questions.
Charity Press Release Examples
3. DonateLife America
DonateLife America charity an event press release example
DonateLife America’s event and charity press release does an excellent job of using links to direct journalists to information around the angles they are most interested in covering. In accordance with
best practices
, the release does not offer a one-size-fits-all story, but allows journalists to explore the angle their audiences would most value. Links direct journalists to the people, organizations, and campaigns involved, including social media campaigns, partner websites, and the digital presence of key influencers.
Finally, DonateLife America showcases the event as newsworthy by pointing out it will be hosted by the White House, is aimed at saving American lives, and will include the involvement of the aforementioned influencers and organizations. Here, too, the brand uses links to peak interest and offer more ways journalists can get involved: for journalists who can’t attend in person, the release call to action provides a link where journalists can join by webcast.
4. Gojo
Gojo crisis communications and charity press release example
The Gojo press release immediately offers the who, what, when, why, and how of the news story. The company then does an excellent job of convincing readers they should care when it positions their news as a solution to a major community problem. To this effect, they clearly state they are donating 65,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to local hospitals readying for a large influx of patients during the months a global pandemic is predicted to be the most devastating.
Once they’ve made their case that community audiences should care about their news, they then offer a contact solely dedicated to journalists wanting to learn more. In effect, they pique a reader’s interest, then dedicate resources to make sure journalists get their needs met to effectively cover the story. The result is a press release that is to the point and impactful.
New Hire Press Release Examples
5. eBay
eBay new hire press release example
In the first paragraph, eBay’s press release does an excellent job of establishing why this new hire should pique journalists’ interest: Jamie Iannone was the Chief Operating Officer of Walmart eCommerce. The new hire brings expertise that better positions the company in the ecommerce space.
It then further develops the newsworthy angle by expanding on the expertise and impressive career behind Mr. Iannone while instilling trust and optimism in customers, investors, and employees who may be uneasy about change. Quotes expound on this optimism with the Chairman of eBay Inc.’s board expressing confidence in the new CEO’s ability to “lead in eBay’s next chapter of growth and success.”
Finally, the company offers a bio of the new hire, positioning him further as a leader capable of offering the company a bright future. The resulting effect is a press release that eases the anxiety change can induce, creates confidence in the future, and piques the media’s interest in a good-news story centered around a household name brand.
6. Gerber
Gerber award press release example
Gerber’s press release announcing their 2019 “Spokesbaby” does an impressive job of telling a well-rounded narrative that time-strapped, deadline-driven journalists can publish as is. It includes a touching story, a compelling image, and feel-good quotes from key players. The result is a newsworthy release that leaves readers satisfied but still looking forward to more. So, not only can journalists publish a story now but, in doing so, they earn the right to fill their publication space with follow-up news as the story continues to develop.
The release accomplishes a ready-to-publish effect by telling a complete and compelling story. In journalistic style, it first discusses a brief and objective summary of the story, then goes on to walk readers through the development of the story, including quotes from both the company and the family of the award recipient. Finally, after bringing readers up to speed, it gives them a sneak peek into how the story will likely develop going forward. Journalists can then follow the story and publish updates as it develops.
Product Launch or Improvement Press Release Examples
7. Chevrolet
Chevrolet product launch press release example
Chevrolet’s product launch press release is almost as impressive as their new Corvette. The text within the press release is only three sentences, but the rest of the press release consists of multimedia and even interactive media that immerse journalists in the luxury vehicle, offering more information than a 500-word press release ever could. Journalists can push play to watch the behind-the-scenes process of designing the luxury vehicle and car commentary by the product’s designers.
After being immersed in the product, journalists can then pull quotes spoken by the designers in the video to develop their stories. And, with a click of a button, they can download the image and the video to upload to their publications or social media posts. The multimedia inclusions mean greater engagement for journalists’ pieces, meaning they’re more likely to want to cover the story.
8. Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Energy product launch and event press release example
Coca-Cola offers an experience in their product launch press release announcing the debut of its Coca-Cola Energy drink. The result is coverage that will bring in more buzz and business around their product launch. Readers are immersed in the product launch with interactive features. They can click on images from their product launch commercial to enlarge them. They can also click on a link to watch the commercial themselves and access long-form content with more quotes, statistics, and information around their product launch plan.
Finally, journalists are given a sneak peek into the launch event that is to span the country. If journalists show up at a product launch event near them, they can try the product themselves via a free sample. Journalists and readers are also given details about the major event to take place in Grand Central Terminal in New York, letting them show up and experience the grand product launch themselves, and offer a review of their experience when writing their stories.
9. Yarnspirations
Yarnspirations product launch press release example
Yarnspirations’ product launch press release stands out by effectively positioning the announcements as an industry disrupter and, as a result, newsworthy. In the end, deadline-driven journalists with little time to read an entire release can make an immediate decision as to whether the news will be valuable to their audiences or not. Then, they can immediately access information and experiences to explore their angles in more depth, without having to go on a time-consuming search for more information.
The new products offer options to target demographics the industry has not been able to reach before (namely, men and children). It also uses patented technology to make a product that has remained quite the same for decades cutting-edge. These newsworthy angles are immediately introduced in the first paragraph of the release.
Other elements around the initial paragraph are also immediately provided to prove the story’s newsworthiness. The title incorporates the word “innovation” to grab attention and the subheading teases journalists with big industry news, using the word “revolutionize” to entice them to read on. While the release offers two angles to suit different stakeholders, regardless of which angle journalists choose, quotes by key company representatives highlight the revolutionary angle of both, thus helping journalists fill out their stories.
10. Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A brand achievement press release example
Chick-fil-A’s product-improvement press release follows all the current best practices for a press release, including brevity, an objective tone, a call to action (CTA) that is both valuable to the brand and its readers, and a high-resolution proprietary image. It stands out by offering all the points a journalist wants to know when it states why the story is newsworthy and why journalists’ audiences will care.
The story is clearly positioned as newsworthy when it states that Chick-fil-A is the largest quick-serve brand to sell only no-antibiotics-ever chicken. Then, by revealing the move was a direct result of their customers requesting it, the press release also tells journalists that their target audiences have already expressed an interest in the story by filling out a survey to express their outcome preferences and so will want to follow the company’s response.
Award Press Release Examples
11. NASA
NASA award press release example
NASA’s press release impressively includes all the bells and whistles to make exploring the discussed news topic captivating. A high-resolution image lines the top of the release, pulling readers in before the title is even read. Next, the title highlights the feel-good newsworthy angle of the release: a school-aged child, Alexander Mather, was awarded the honor of naming NASA’s next Mars Rover.
Next, journalists get to hear from those involved in selecting the name, including the young space enthusiast himself, with a two-minute interview in high-resolution video form. Quotes sprinkled throughout offer a behind-the-scenes look into the selection process. Journalists are further told that Alex will be present for the launch of the Mars Rover, giving them a reason to continue following the story. Finally, CTA links provide ways journalists can follow the story, learn the history of the Mars Rover, and learn of future events around it.
12. Michaels
Michaels vendor recognition press release example
Michaels’ vendor recognition press release offers a well-rounded story for journalists by including quotes from both Michaels’ Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Trend and the Director of Sales of the recognized vendor brand. Elements within this press release are designed to induce lots of engagement with the story and the brand, including instant-Tweet opportunities and a call to action asking readers to visit the company’s website or download their app.
What uniquely positions this press release are all the social media elements it includes. A key quote is blocked and offers a “Tweet this” button so readers can instantly start spreading the word about their news. Further, linked images of Michaels’ social media announcement of the news are included. When clicked, readers are taken directly to the Twitter platform and the tweet the company shared, making it incredibly easy for readers to engage by sharing, reacting to, or commenting on the Twitter announcement.
Merger, Acquisition & Partnership Press Release Examples
13. Manna Development Group
Manna Development Group acquisition press release example
This acquisition press release follows a
traditional format
of brevity and answering the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the acquisition. It stands out by using its quotes to instill confidence and relieve change anxiety in Panera Bread stakeholders. In the end, the press release encourages stakeholders to let go of fears around the change and, instead, focus on the possibility of a brighter future resulting from the acquisition.
For example, quotes ensure readers that the acquired Panera Bread stores will retain their current leadership and that the company has worked long enough with Manna Development Group to know the acquiring company will follow through with this promise. It further offers optimism in the future by highlighting the resources and expertise the acquiring company can offer Panera Bread stores, customers, and employees.
14. Kohl’s
Kohl’s partnership press release example
Kohl’s does an excellent job of creating a very short but informative press release. The first paragraph lists the who, what, when, why, and how of their new partnership announcement in just two sentences. This brevity here offers an objective, fact-only release without a self-promotional tone.
It then immediately begins offering resources journalists can use to create well-rounded stories, including multiple quotes from both companies’ executive suite representatives and contact information for both companies where journalists can ask follow-up questions. It also includes website links within the boilerplate where journalists can learn more about each company. Here, too, the company does an excellent job of offering objective, fact-based body paragraphs; only the quotes deviate from the objective, journalistic style of the press release.
15. Keurig
Keurig merger press release example
Keurig’s merger press release stands out by outlining the newsworthy angle of the story and then offering resources journalists can use to craft a news piece around it. It does so by first pointing out that the merger transforms the company into the seventh-largest beverage company in the United States. This tidbit tells journalists the transaction marks a shift in the industry, making it valuable to the company’s investors who will want to hear the news.
It then goes on to offer quotes that highlight why consumers should care, which food industry journalists can take to mean their audiences will likely care as a result. For example, the post-merger brand, Keurig Dr. Pepper, offers a quote from its CEO telling consumers the change will mean the company can “satisfy any beverage need or consumption occasion—hot or cold, at work or play, at home or on the go.”
In offering these points, Keurig does an exceptional job of defining their audiences and answering “what’s in it for me” for both. This means journalists are more likely to cover the story because the release offers a newsworthy angle no matter who the reader is, be it company investors, employees, competitors, or consumers.
Bottom Line
Journalists are often working on tight deadlines; they need stories they can immediately recognize as newsworthy and can easily and quickly be researched and covered in a timely manner. This means that, while the press release should be short and objective, it should provide plenty of resources to captivate journalists and help them explore the topic. Some ways to offer these resources include multimedia, links, and quotes to support the stated newsworthy angle.