Tips for writing a news article or press release

Tips for writing a news article or press release

  • Think about
    • Why is it important? (Is it new or a first, for Australia or the world? Will it change our lives? Does it affect many people?)
    • Why is it interesting? (Is there a human angle? Is it visually interesting? Is it topical?)
  • Be thorough with research and sourcing. Make sure your information is sound, and the audience knows where it came from.
  • Write clearly. Use short or even single-sentence paragraphs to engage the reader’s attention.
  • Use as little jargon as possible.
  • If you are writing about a specific technical field, think of what is known outside the field and what you need to explain.
  • Where technical words are essential, translate them into concrete examples or analogies.
  • Do not oversell. It can be tempting to oversell a story to grab attention. Make sure your story is accurate and balanced (see Media and communications for more information on key challenges for this type of writing).
  • Use anecdotes and human interest stories.
  • Use colourful, ‘dinner party’ images (see Tips and tricks for writing for more information on this writing tip).

In a media release talking about fitting contact lenses in Japan, the researcher first wrote:
Japanese eyeballs flatten more slowly than Caucasian eyes, resulting in a steeper periphery.
The PR writer edited this to:
Japanese eyeballs are shaped like tennis balls, whereas Caucasian eyes are shaped more like footballs.

Return to top

User login

... or purchase now

An individual subscription is only A$60 per year

Group and student discounts may apply

Australian manual of scientific style Start communicating effectively

Purchase