News Release, 101

Writing a news release is not complicated and, with a little practice, almost anyone can do it effectively. Here are a few points to remember.

WRITE the news release! Don't submit a bunch of names of Scouts who earned a bunch of badges at a pack meeting and expect the newspaper editor to put a story together for you. Give them a complete package that is well written and "easier to use than to throw out."

IMPORTANT STUFF FIRST! Always open your news story with the things the reader needs to know: who, what, where, when, how/why! This is not a novel and you don't need one or two paragraphs (or even one or two sentences) to "set the scene." Readers won't stay with it and editors will toss it out.

KEEP IT SHORT. One page, double-spaced (about 250 words) is more than enough for most news releases. Remember, we're trying to tell the general public about our program in terms that they can understand and relate to and that will hold their interest.

USE "ENGLISH." Don't get bogged down in Scouting terms to the point that the average reader can't follow the story anymore. And never abbreviate. We don't have a UL or SPL, but we do have a Unit Leader or Senior Patrol Leader.