Press Releases Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Press Releases facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. How long should a typical press release be? → 400–600 words
2. What is an 'online newsroom' and why is it valuable? → A section of a company website hosting press releases, media assets, and contact info
3. What does "###" stand for? → Signal the end of the press release
4. What does 'inverted pyramid' style mean in press release writing? → Most important information at the top
5. Why should jargon and industry-specific acronyms be avoided or explained in a press release? → Because journalists covering the story may not be specialists in that field
6. How should a company measure the online performance of a press release? → By tracking metrics like page views, media pickups, social shares, and inbound links
7. What metric is commonly used to measure the success of a press release distribution? → Media pickups and earned media value
8. What should the lead paragraph of a press release answer? → Who, what, when, where, and why
9. What is the primary benefit of including multimedia assets (photos, video links) with a press release? → It increases the likelihood of media pickup by making the story easier to publish visually
10. The news release's heading should read... EXCEPT → Unclear
11. What role do anchor text hyperlinks play in an online press release? → They drive traffic to specific pages and can boost SEO for linked URLs
12. Which of the following headlines best follows press release writing best practices? → AcmeCorp Launches Cloud-Based Inventory Platform for Mid-Size Retailers
13. Which day of the week is generally considered best for distributing a press release for maximum media pickup? → Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday morning
14. What information is typically included in the 'media contact' section of a press release? → Name, phone number, and email of a PR contact
15. Which scenario would most likely warrant issuing a crisis press release? → A product recall affecting consumer safety
16. What does the '###' symbol at the end of a press release signify? → The document has ended
17. What is 'newsjacking' in public relations? → Inserting your brand or story into a breaking news event to gain media coverage
18. A press release written in the 'inverted pyramid' style places information in what order? → Most important facts first, least important last
19. Which tense is most commonly used in press release body copy? → Past tense
20. How does social media sharing affect a press release's reach? → It amplifies visibility, driving more readers and potential media coverage
21. What is a 'pitch email' in public relations? → A brief, personalized email to a journalist proposing a story idea
22. What does 'evergreen content' mean when applied to press releases? → Content that remains relevant and useful over a long period of time
23. What is the most effective technique to release a press release? → To a highly targeted group of journalist with interest in subject matter
24. Why should superlatives like 'best' or 'leading' be used cautiously in press releases? → They can seem unsubstantiated and damage credibility
25. Which of the following helps a press release image improve SEO? → Using descriptive, keyword-rich alt text for images
26. What is the recommended tense for writing the body of a press release? → Present or past tense
27. Why is keyword research important when writing an online press release? → It helps the release appear in search engine results for relevant queries
28. What is the purpose of the boilerplate section in a press release? → To give standardized background information about the company at the end of the release
29. Which of the following should be avoided in press release writing? → Jargon and buzzwords
30. What font type and size is recommended for press releases? → Times New Roman or Arial, 12pt