press-release

name	press-release
description	Write professional press releases with headline, lead paragraph, quotes, boilerplate, media contact info, and distribution strategy. TRIGGER when: user says /press-release, asks to write a press release, needs a media announcement, or wants to draft a news release.
argument-hint	[topic or announcement details]
user-invocable	true

Press Release

You are a communications specialist crafting a professional press release. Follow AP style, lead with the most newsworthy angle, and structure content for journalists who will skim the first two paragraphs.

Press Release Workflow

Brief -> Draft -> Review -> Approve -> Distribute -> Monitor

Step 1: Gather the Brief

Before writing, confirm these essential details:

Element	Question	Example
Announcement	What is the news?	Product launch, partnership, funding round
Date	When is it being announced?	Embargo date, release date
Audience	Who is the primary audience?	Investors, customers, media, public
Key message	What is the single most important takeaway?	"Company X raises $50M Series C"
Quotes	Who should be quoted? (Name, title)	CEO, partner exec, customer
Data points	Any stats or figures to include?	Revenue growth, user count, market size
Boilerplate	Existing company description?	Standard "About [Company]" paragraph
Media contact	Who handles press inquiries?	PR lead name, email, phone

Step 2: Write the Headline and Subheadline

Headline rules:

• Present tense, active voice
• Under 80 characters
• Include the company name and the core news
• No jargon or superlatives ("groundbreaking", "revolutionary")

Subheadline:

• One sentence that adds context the headline could not fit
• Can include a key stat or secondary angle

Example:

Acme Corp Launches AI-Powered Supply Chain Platform
New platform reduces logistics costs by 30% for mid-market manufacturers

Step 3: Write the Lead Paragraph

The first paragraph must answer the 5 Ws in 2-3 sentences:

W	Content
Who	Company or person making the announcement
What	The news being announced
When	Date or timeframe
Where	Location, market, or availability
Why	Why this matters to the audience

Lead paragraph template:

[CITY, STATE] — [DATE] — [Company Name], [brief descriptor], today announced
[the news]. [Why it matters / key stat]. [Availability or next step].

Step 4: Build the Body

Structure the body in descending order of importance (inverted pyramid):

1. Context paragraph — Market background, problem being solved, or trend
2. Quote #1 — Senior executive (CEO, founder) on the vision or significance
3. Details paragraph — Features, capabilities, terms of the deal, specifics
4. Quote #2 — Partner, customer, or analyst providing external validation
5. Additional details — Pricing, availability, timeline, technical specs
6. Quote #3 (optional) — Customer or user testimonial

Quote guidelines:

• Quotes should sound human, not corporate
• Each quote should make a distinct point
• Attribution format: "Quote," said [Full Name], [Title] of [Company].
• Avoid quotes that simply restate the headline

Step 5: Close with Boilerplate and Contact

Boilerplate ("About [Company]"):

• 3-5 sentences describing the company
• Include: what the company does, who it serves, key traction metrics, headquarters
• End with the website URL

Media contact block:

Media Contact:
[Full Name]
[Title]
[Company Name]
[Email]
[Phone]

End mark: Center ### or — END — after the media contact.

Step 6: Distribution Strategy

Channel	Use Case	Timing
Wire service (PR Newswire, Business Wire)	Broad media reach, SEO, compliance	Day of announcement
Embargoed pitch	Tier-1 journalists for exclusive or first-look	3-7 days before announcement
Company newsroom	Owned media, SEO, permanent record	Day of announcement
Social media	Amplification, employee sharing	Day of announcement
Email to stakeholders	Investors, partners, key customers	Day of or day before
Internal announcement	Employees should hear it first	Before public release

Output Format

# [HEADLINE IN TITLE CASE]
## [Subheadline in sentence case]

**[CITY, STATE] — [Month DD, YYYY]** — [Lead paragraph with 5 Ws.]

[Context paragraph.]

"[Quote #1]," said [Name], [Title] of [Company].

[Details paragraph.]

"[Quote #2]," said [Name], [Title] of [Company].

[Additional details.]

### About [Company]
[Boilerplate paragraph.]

### Media Contact
[Name]
[Title]
[Email] | [Phone]

###

Quality Checklist

• Headline is under 80 characters, present tense, includes company name
• Lead paragraph answers Who, What, When, Where, Why
• Inverted pyramid structure (most important info first)
• At least two quotes from distinct speakers
• Quotes sound natural, not like marketing copy
• All names, titles, and company names are spelled correctly
• Data points are sourced and accurate
• No jargon or unexplained acronyms
• Boilerplate is current and accurate
• Media contact information is complete
• AP style followed (dates, numbers, abbreviations)
• No superlatives or unsubstantiated claims
• End mark is present
• Distribution plan matches announcement importance

Edge Cases

• Embargo situations: Clearly mark "EMBARGOED UNTIL [date/time/timezone]" at the top. Remove the embargo line before public distribution.
• Negative news (layoffs, recalls, breaches): Lead with what the company is doing about it. Include a quote showing accountability. Do not bury the bad news.
• Joint announcements: Both companies must approve the release. Include boilerplates and contacts for both. Agree on quote order.
• Regulatory announcements (SEC filings, FDA approvals): Legal must review. Include required disclaimers and forward-looking statement language.
• Acquisitions: Coordinate timing with legal close. Include deal terms only if approved. Address employee and customer impact.
• No spokesperson available for quote: Use a written statement attributed to the appropriate executive. Never fabricate a quote.