Press Releases Press Release Writing Style 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'boilerplate' in a press release?
- The headline section
- A standard paragraph about the company placed at the end (Correct answer)
- The contact information block
- A quote from the CEO
Correct answer: A standard paragraph about the company placed at the end
A boilerplate is a brief, standardized paragraph at the end describing the company's background and mission.
Question 2: When writing numbers in a press release, which is the standard AP Style rule?
- Spell out all numbers
- Use numerals for numbers 10 and above (Correct answer)
- Always use numerals
- Spell out numbers above 100
Correct answer: Use numerals for numbers 10 and above
AP Style requires spelling out numbers one through nine and using numerals for 10 and above.
Question 3: What should the lead paragraph of a press release answer?
- Only the 'who'
- Who, what, when, where, and why (Correct answer)
- Just the financial details
- Only the date and location
Correct answer: Who, what, when, where, and why
The lead paragraph must answer the five Ws—who, what, when, where, and why—to give journalists the full story immediately.
Question 4: Why should superlatives like 'best' or 'leading' be used cautiously in press releases?
- They are grammatically incorrect
- They can seem unsubstantiated and damage credibility (Correct answer)
- Journalists prefer long adjectives
- They increase word count unnecessarily
Correct answer: They can seem unsubstantiated and damage credibility
Unsubstantiated superlatives make a release sound promotional rather than newsworthy, reducing journalist trust.
Question 5: What is the correct way to attribute a quote in a press release?
- "Quote," he said. (Correct answer)
- "Quote" – Name, Title.
- Quote (Name).
- "Quote" by Name.
Correct answer: "Quote," he said.
AP Style uses a comma before 'said' and places it after the closing quotation mark.
Question 6: Which element helps a journalist quickly identify the end of a press release?
- A final headline
- The symbol ### or -30- (Correct answer)
- A second boilerplate
- A thank-you note
Correct answer: The symbol ### or -30-
The symbols ### or -30- are traditional press release end marks that signal no more content follows.
Press Releases Press Release Writing Style 2
What is a 'boilerplate' in a press release?