Writing For Event Planning

During my tenure working with Invest India Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, I had the privilege of drafting several press releases for the Press Information Bureau - India (PIB). These experiences were instrumental in sharpening my communication skills and understanding the nuances of public information dissemination. Press releases are an essential tool for anyone working in #communications and PR. Here are 5 key lessons I learned about writing an effective press release: 1️⃣ Clarity is Key: Ensure that the headline and content are straightforward and easy to understand. The goal is to make the main message immediately clear to all readers. 2️⃣ Answer the 5 Ws and 1 H: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How – every press release should comprehensively address these aspects to provide complete context. 3️⃣ Structured Flow: Start with the most important information in the first paragraph and gradually dive into the details. This inverted pyramid style helps readers grasp the essence quickly. 4️⃣ Credibility Matters: Back up statements with data, quotes, or references. For example, in the press release on the '50 Brands Dedicated to the Nation Under the 'One District, One Product' Scheme', I ensured the messaging highlighted the government’s commitment to local entrepreneurship by including scheme details, its significance, and quotes from key officials. 5️⃣ Tailored for the Audience: Understand who will be reading the release – media professionals, stakeholders, or the general public – and adapt the tone and content accordingly. Crafting a press release and mastering it can be a significant professional asset for communicators. I hope to gain more such skills going forward. To all the PR folks in my network, what’s your go-to tip for writing or evaluating a press release? Would love to learn. #PressRelease #Communication #PublicRelations #ProfessionalGrowth #GovernmentOfIndia #PIB #MarketingStudent

Most press releases suck. And believe me I know — I've seen too many. Now I write them myself, and here are my principles for a good-enough press release. The first sentence should always answer 3 questions: Who? What? Why? Example from Reuters: WHO? Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz WHAT? is seeking to raise about $20B in what will be the largest fund in its history, WHY? to capitalize on global investors' interest in backing US artificial intelligence companies. The main part (body) must be simple, factual, and stick closely to the news you’re announcing. No opinions, and minimal background info. A press release breaks news; background isn’t news anymore. So any background info should be placed near the end and kept to 1–2 short paragraphs. Keep your paragraphs classic — no more than 3 lines each. Add headlines when everything else is written. It’s just easier. Use numbers, arresting words, and the active voice. Aim for 10–13 words. In English-language headlines, use present tense and drop articles when possible. Avoid words like “outstanding,” “unique,” “amazing,” “leading,” “disrupt” — they don’t add value. “Solution” is also just no. Please. Quotes — much like dialogue in books — are the voice of your press release. They add color, detail, and show motivation. Write them the way people actually speak. Avoid platitudes like “pleased to announce,” “proud,” “excited,” and “happy.” One quote must be solely about the news (place it in the 3rd or 4th paragraph). The second one, from a different speaker, should point to the “bright future” — put it at the end. All in all, keep it short and sweet — one Google Doc page is perfect (font: Arial, size: 11). My comms team has landed press releases in TechCrunch, Sifted, Forbes, VentureBeat, and Business Insider. You can trust me.

One of the most basic yet most undervalued skills in Communications is writing Press Releases (PRs). It is disturbing to see both big and small organisations struggling to come up with a press release that truly captures the narrative. Most press releases do not make it to headlines only because they are badly drafted. As a journalist, I would spend 3-4 seconds looking at a PR and then decide whether it warrants closer attention. Sharing some tips that can help comms folks write better PRs. 💡 Your lede (the first para) should answer 4Ws (what, when, where, who) about the event/narrative. Also suggest a tight headline to that effect. 💡 The second para should give a brief outline of what led to this- or the 'how' part. 💡Identify a story/news peg and contextualise it- why are you telling this story now? (this can be a national or international development, a research finding, a significant project outcome etc. It is super important to contextualise it- for example if you write about informal workers and health during summers, you can link it to heat waves and extreme temperatures). 💡 How does it impact the audience? This is the most important yet neglected part. How does a rural woman undertaking sustainable farming impacting an urban family eating that food? Or how does the plight of ASHA workers matter to health outcomes at scale? Quantify where needed. 💡 Always include community voices- Whether it is an event or a report release or a programme outcome. You need to bring in the voices of people who are affected by the issue. This needs to go beyond one line tokenistic responses. 💡 Simplify jargon. If you are using words such as carbon credits, green and blue infrastructure, it is important to say what it means in a short sentence. Not doing so will limit the reach to a niche group of journalists exclusively reporting on an issue which is detrimental to wider outreach. 💡 Share resources that go beyond your work. Wherever relevant, share additional resources. Journalists want to read more about the domain always and it is nice to support them by sharing some vetted resources that may not necessarily be developed by your programme or org. but are good to give context of the issue. 💡 Always share contacts and stay available for questions and queries - I have made excellent media relationships because someone saw my contact and a PR and reached out in future for stories. 💡 In case of reports, always have a short executive summary- it helps clear the clutter and saves time- remember reporters work on tight deadlines and don't always have the time to read a 200-page report. 🗒️ Most importantly- Read, re-read and proofread your PR. A badly written PR with mistakes is a major put-off. Run it by your colleagues and make sure you prepare in advance so that you make it as wholesome as possible. A PR should be a starting point of narrative building and not an end output in itself 🙂 #socialimpactcommunications #pressrelease