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What is a press release?
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Who is the media?
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How is a press release different
from an advertisement?
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How can I increase my chances of
getting a press release
published?
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Why do I need a press release
distribution service?
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How much does MREM's services
cost?
What is a press release?
A press release is an announcement or
message that a company sends to
the newspapers, magazines and
radio and TV stations to
be published or aired. It could
announce its third quarter
earnings, for example, or a
product it plans to launch.
An effective press release
distribution programme can
dramatically increase a company's sales
and greatly enhance the image of
its business or products.
Who
is the media?
Most industries use media to
mean everything connected to publicity.
But in the context
of this brochure, media refers
to publications like newspapers
and magazines and electronic
media like television, radio
and websites, which are used to
display and deliver news and
information to readers, viewers
and Internet users.
How is a press release different
from an advertisement?
A press release that appears as
a news report creates
credibility. Most readers are
more likely to trust press
reports announced by independent
authorities such as columnists,
reporters or broadcasters.
Readers see an advertisement, on the other
hand, as a sales or marketing medium. You pay
nothing for publicity generated
from press releases. But, you
must spend large amounts for
an advertisement to appear in a newspaper
or television.
How can I increase my chances of
getting a press release
published?
A well-written press release
that covers an event or
announcement that is newsworthy
has a greater chance of being
picked up by the media.
You should write the report like
you would write a news article.
Answer the who, what, when,
where and how of a story in the
first paragraph.
Your title must be interesting
enough to lead the reader to the
rest of the story. Keep the
release no more than 300 words
long. If you are attaching
photographs, write a caption for
it. Identify the people in the
photograph correctly by their
name and designation.
Why do I need a press release
distribution service?
A press release distribution
service makes it a more
convenient, cost effective and
successful way of sending a
press release to the media.
MREM, for instance, has a
direct link with the newspapers,
radio and television stations.
It uses a combination of
telephone data lines, a
broadcast fax system, the
Internet and satellite
transmission to deliver your
press release - and photographs
- directly to the computer
terminals of journalists and
editors.
This way, your press release gets
to appear on an editor's
terminal, increasing its chances
of being seen and picked up for
publication.
How much does MREM's services
cost?
MREM first assesses your needs
for publicity from your public
relations programme. You will be
advised to either use MREM's
packaged services and pay an
annual subscription fee or pay
for services as and when you use
them. |
