For 20 years of my life I wrote press-releases. Well, many times I also wrote content for websites, magazines, intranets, whatever the boss asked me to write. Ended up that I never became the boss. Writing in Portuguese was easy and natural, I do it better than most of people, and does not cost me much. If I have time to research, even better. Otherwise we just connect words that make sense, and it was called content. Empty content nowadays that bots can analyses the quality of content! In the new age of bots, I’m proud to say I am used to be a old style productive content maker. And I don’t use Chat GPT – but you should!
Nowadays you input the information for your release in two sentences and upload the images, the press release should come ready. As 1980’s baby, I am the last generation that does not domain ALL tools… I don’t do even the design. The world has changed and for me, Journalism is made now in my second language. I learned English during 1h Tuesdays and Thursdays’ afternoon classes, after school, from my 7 to 14 years old. Actually, my mom says that my second language is German, that I used to speak with them from 0-5 and now is forgotten inside my brain. And now I know the reason I didn’t want to keep speaking German – was the language mom and dad were using to fight, so I would not understand. Very smart, couple! As a rebel kid, I need to go and learn German now. It’s time. German, and French and Italian, since they’ll will be easy.
What I came here to say is that anyone can write a release in any language, and use the format that is the same worldwide. Start with the most important information that is also in the title, explaining what is this about, then you bring the support reasons why this is so important, and don’t forget to explain who is the company and what does it do so well in the first paragraph. From here, if written as it should, you’ll need a quote from at least one speaker, some data from the agency/association with authority, and some comparison to another country or state or same situation or person. Finish with the boiler with the company’s highlights and you have your press release!
Used to take a day to send a release by fax to the newspapers in 1998… I was the intern doing that task most of my day for Persona Communications, a PR agency in fashion, in Sao Paulo. We had the best stylists by that time! And nowadays you press one button to send to thousands of channels at the same time. Thanks, technology. The intern in 1998 was not the best use of time to learn about the job.
Public Relations is marketing dressed on a pseudo Journalist costume. I wish I was an investigate or medical Journalist, but what I have experience in is to take care of the brand’s image, what people are talking about the brand, reputation and all that non-tangible invisible bullshit that has the huge visible impact. Everything you do a lot, you become good at. Nowadays I’m learning how to talk to old people on the phone. Yeah. Immigration sucks.
I was never asked to write a press release in English, but I’m up to that. Would be good to improve my English, but as soon as I have 3 thousand dollars available hanging in my bank account, and I can feel safe again, I am going to Hawaii!! And I will keep my basic English going on, since simplicity has its charm.
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