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Press Release Notes & Template

The emphasis in a press release—used to announce subjects and events of public, community, and business interest—should be timeliness. When composing, remember to:
* Keep as short as possible: 1 to 1-1/2 pages in length
* Include contact name, address, phone number, fax number, email information at top of the page
* Use a headline to provide an editor with the essential nature of your news
* Include a local fact in the headline and/or the first paragraph
* Summarize the main news point in the first paragraph or two
* Emphasize the distinctive aspect of the event or exhibit (i.e., the first-ever collaboration or premier program)
* Keep writing simple and concise
* Include quotes from officials that are informative, positive, and demonstrate benefits or impact of event/exhibit/program

Conclude releases about Year of the University Press activities with the following boilerplate statement, providing an overview of AAUP and ARL’s joint initiative as well as a cohesive message:

BOILERPLATE
This [exhibition or event] is one is a series of programs taking place on campuses across the nation, part of an unprecedented initiative to promote scholarly communications by the Association of American University Presses (www.aaupnet.org) and the Association of Research Libraries (www.arl.org). The associations have designated 2004 as the "Year of the University Press" and
throughout the year, libraries are helping raise the visibility of presses on campus by featuring university press works in exhibits, inviting university press authors and publishing professionals as speakers, and publishing articles about innovative library-press partnerships in library and campus newsletters. For more information
on this initiative visit http://www.aaupnet.org/arlaaup.

Press Release Template

Following is a sample press release for an exhibition tied to National Poetry Month (April):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: [insert contact name, phone number, and e-mail]

[insert name of UNIVERSITY PRESS] AND [insert name of LIBRARY]
CO-HOST EXHIBIT OF POETRY TITLES WITH LOCAL INTEREST
University’s tradition of publishing local poets on display during National Poetry Month

[insert date] – [insert city, state] -- As the nation’s annual celebration of poetry gets underway, an exhibition of more than [insert number] poetry titles by university faculty members and former students, and published by [insert name of press] will be on display at [insert name of library] during the month of April.

[insert sentence or two pointing out highlights of exhibition and/or number of first-time published poets or Press’s long history of supporting poetry]

The exhibition will be open to the public from [DATE] to [DATE] at the [LIBRARY], located at [ADDRESS].

The poetry books on display were selected by [insert name of organizer/curator].

Commenting on the work presented and honored in this exhibition, [insert official name] said, "[insert quote here]"

This exhibition of poetry from the campus of [insert name of university] is one is a series of programs taking place on campuses across the nation, part of an unprecedented initiative to promote scholarly communications by the Association of American University Presses (www.aaupnet.org) and the Association of Research Libraries (www.arl.org). The associations have designated 2004 as the "Year of the University Press" and throughout the year, libraries are helping raise the visibility of presses on campus by featuring university press works in exhibits, inviting university press authors and publishing professionals as speakers, and publishing articles about innovative library-press partnerships in library and campus newsletters. For more information on this initiative visit http://www.aaupnet.org/arlaaup.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Images and photos of featured poetry titles and poets are available upon request.