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Insight Horizon Media

Are press releases written in AP style?

Author

Daniel Johnson

Published Mar 19, 2026

Are press releases written in AP style?

Press releases must follow AP style for grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Press releases are also written in third person in the active voice. The release should begin with a headline, which is followed by a dateline that includes the city and state of the event.

How do you format an AP press release?

How to Write an AP Style Press Release:

  1. Plan your press release content.
  2. Provide release instructions.
  3. Write your headline and subhead.
  4. Start your body.
  5. Add a boilerplate.
  6. Include contact information.
  7. Determine who you want to send your release to.
  8. Distribute your press release.

How do you write a press release?

Once you’ve determined you should write a press release, follow this style guide.

  1. Demonstrate newsworthiness.
  2. Know your audience.
  3. Craft a strong headline.
  4. Avoid clichés, jargon and dead phrases.
  5. Include images and multimedia.
  6. Keep your keywords in mind.
  7. Stay concise.
  8. Include quotes.

What tense is a press release written in?

present tense
The release should include a headline, or title, which must be in present tense even though the story is in past tense. When beginning the body of the release, a dateline should be inserted first.

What font should a news release be?

This is the body of your press release. You should double-space your text and use a 12 point font, such as Times New Roman or Arial. Leave plenty of white space in your press release — use at least one to two inch margins around your page.

How do you write a news story AP style?

A good grasp of the basics will ensure that your news story achieves the AP goals of consistency and clarity.

  1. AP Punctuation. Use a period and a single space at the end of a sentence.
  2. AP Style for Proper Nouns.
  3. AP Style for Dates and Times.
  4. AP Style for Numbers.
  5. AP Style for Place Names.
  6. AP Values.

How do you write a 2021 press release?

How do you write a press release?

  1. Find a newsworthy angle.
  2. Write an attention-grabbing headline.
  3. Write your opening sentence (aka, lede)
  4. Craft two to five strong body paragraphs with supporting details.
  5. Add quotes.
  6. Include contact information.
  7. Write boilerplate copy.

What is press release give example?

A press release is an official (written or recorded) statement that a company makes to the news media, and beyond. We are talking about the same thing whether we call it a “press announcement,” a “press release,” or a “news release.”

Can you write a press release in the first person?

Use “you,” “we” or “I” – except in the quote. Just like a news story, a press release should be written in the third person. Use words like “customers,” “consumers,” “users” and/or plain old “people.” The only place where a first, or second person narrative is OK is in a quote from a company representative.

Should you justify a press release?

This section is usually formatted as you see above. “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE” should always be capitalized and be the first line on the release. “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE” and the release date should always be left justified, whereas the contact information should be right justified.