Writing Effective News Releases: How To Get Free Publicity For Yourself, Your Business, Or Your Organization [Paperback]

Catherine V. McIntyre (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0941599000 | ISBN-13: 978-0941599009 | Publication Date: July 3, 2008 | Edition: 2

Would you like to have your business featured in hundreds of newspapers and magazines, and on radio and television stations around the country? Would you like your name, service, event, or organization advertised at little or no expense? You can with a good news release. The author gives clear, step-by-step instructions to help you understand the essential elements of a good news release and provides numerous examples that have proven to be successful. You will learn what information to include and what mistakes to avoid, how to structure the release for greatest effect and how to incorporate news values that will make your news release newsworthy and spark the interest of editors and program directors. Includes dozens of valuable tips on dealing with the media to assure the best results from your efforts. A must for any business, club, or organization.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Many businesses have reported significant increases in sales as a direct result of stories generated from news releases. Studies have shown that responses to editorials derived from news releases are about seven times as effective as paid advertising, yet cost only a fraction of the amount. People trust editorials as unbiased reporting. Advertising, on the other hand,is looked upon with skepticism because people know the advertiser is trying to sell something.

WRITING EFFECTIVE NEWS RELEASES is aimed at teaching you how to get needed publicity with little expense. The book provides a cookbook approach to news release writing that focuses on using news values that are essential for any well-written story. It is loaded with actual examples of news releases which have proven effective in generating publicity. It also includes many insights and helpful hints on working with the media and creating newsworthy ideas. -- Home Office Opportunities

Oh Boy! An entire book on news releases. This is a very, very important book, and here's why: The media needs news. It sounds simple, but it's true. News releases are the tools of the trade for TV, radio, Cable, newspapers, and company newsletters. So many people seem to do news releases wrong, and with hundreds coming in a day, a good news release can make the difference between great exposure for your service, product, or event, or no exposure.

The book's biggest selling points: lots of actual news releases are shown and critiqued, arranged intelligently by type of release (TV/radio; non-profit groups, business releases, etc) . Other books have only skimpy info on news releases, this one seems like "the bible"!

The addition of an excellent resource section, full of useful reference books, makes this essential for anyone needing free publicity. Highly recommended. -- Cliff Martin, COSMEP Newsletter, The International Association of Independent Publishers

Written by former reporter and newspaper columnist, Catherine McIntyre, the publication offers a cookbook approach to news release writing that focuses on conveying news value, so your stuff gets ink. The book's loaded with examples of releases that have been effective publicity generators. Also includes helpful hints on working with themedia. -- WHAT'S WORKING -- United Communications Group --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Catherine V. McIntyre is a successful newspaper columnist and reporter as well as an experienced advertising copywriter.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Piccadilly Books, Ltd.; 2 edition (July 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941599000
• ISBN-13: 978-0941599009
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 10 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #710,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Resource!, July 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Writing Effective News Releases...: How to Get Free Publicity for Yourself, Your Business, or Your Organization (Paperback)

When I started looking for information on news releases I read a lot of books on the topic. This book, without question, was the best of the bunch. The author is a newspaper reporter and advertising copywriter and knows what it takes to grab the attention of news editors. Before I read this book I tried for a year to get my news releases puiblished. After reading this book I learned what mistakes I'd been making. Now almost every release I send gets printed. The author outlines a foolproof formula for creating newsworthy releases regardless of the topic. Contains loads of examples of news releases that have proven to be successful. Other books I've read were kind of boring and hard to read, but this one is written in a down-to-earth style that's sparked with humor throughout. A thoroughly enjoyable and useful book. Highly recommended!

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Women's Organization, February 24, 2001

By 

E.Margetts (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writing Effective News Releases...: How to Get Free Publicity for Yourself, Your Business, or Your Organization (Paperback)

Our women's organization had received no publicity for ten years. Then obtained a copy of WRITING EFFECTIVE NEWS RELEASES and followed the suggestions in the book. Every news release we have sent in since has resulted in newspaper pieces on our group. Even inexperienced people can understand how to write a good news release,because there are so many good examples to follow. Anyone who wants to get publicity should be able to benefit by getting this book.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent advice, July 15, 2005

By 

Catherine Johnson "cijohn" (Irvington, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Writing Effective News Releases...: How to Get Free Publicity for Yourself, Your Business, or Your Organization (Paperback)

I read Catherine McIntyre's book before writing my first and only press release, to publicize my church's program for children with autism.

I did everything Ms. McIntyre told me to do.

That press release won my church a story and photos in the New York Times.

I should add that I'm a professional writer, so I had a leg up on the topic.

But I'd never written a press release in my life. I don't think I'd even read one.

McIntyre told me what I needed to know.