The media release is the workhorse of government communications. It's often the first thing a new communicator is asked to write — and frequently the first thing they get wrong. Not because it's complicated, but because the format has conventions that aren't obvious until someone teaches you. This guide covers the essentials: what goes where, what reporters actually need, and how to avoid the mistakes that get releases ignored.
What a media release is (and isn't)
A media release is a formal document announcing something newsworthy to the media.
