When working with a PR agency, you might notice how they write for a press release is a bit different than the standard way you would write a letter, brochure or billboard.
PR professionals write in Associated Press (AP) format. The newspaper uses AP as their standard to keep consistency and accuracy.
You might also notice that once a person’s name is mentioned in a release, they will be referred to by their last name for the remainder of the release. Again, this is according to AP format.
Last, press releases use a ‘boiler plate’ or paragraph at the end of the release that usually describes the company’s mission statement, contact information and general overview.
The term boiler plate dates back to the early 1900s and refers to the thick, tough steel sheets used to build steam boilers. Printing plates of text for widespread reproduction such as advertisements were cast or stamped in steel ready for the printing press and sent to newspapers.
Some companies also sent out press releases as boilerplate so that they had to be printed as written.
Now you will know what to expect from your PR agency when drafting your next press release!