Service learning
PRESS RELEASE ASSIGNMENT (Team Project)
DUE DATE:
POINTS POSSIBLE:
ASSIGNMENT: Create a Press Release as a team that deals with the project you are
working on for the NPO (publicize your event, change of NPO management, etc.). The Press
Release should reflect an actual event.
IMPORTANT: Review the following website for an explanation of what a good Press
Release is and follow the format provided exactly.
www.publicityinsider.com/release.asp
In preparing the body of the Press Release, be sure to use the “Inverted Pyramid” style
(see below).
Following the format precisely, employing good grammar, sentence structure and spelling are
imperative to achieve a good grade on this assignment
INVERTED PYRAMID STYLE OF WRITING – This is a style of writing employed by news
journalist to ensure that the important substance (the meat) of a story is communicated.
Basically it is getting the most crucial news into a story/press release in the first paragraph
and filling in the rest of the story with the details and background in descending order of
importance.
As such, the first paragraph must contain the following:
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Who
What
When
Where
Why
(Sometimes How)
For example, if we are writing a press release about a fund-raising event for the American
Cancer Association, the first paragraph would read as follows:
On July 1 the American Cancer Association will be holding its 25 th annual fund-raiser
“Reaching for the Stars” dinner and dance at the Fig Garden Country Club beginning at 5
P.M. in support of its Fulfilling a Wish program for children who are cancer patients.
Succeeding paragraphs will contain information in descending order of importance.