Press Releases Quiz # 3

What is a 'boilerplate'?

Short background of the individual, group or company

The topic of the news

The headline

Contact information

The body of a press release traditionally ends with:

A long dotted line.

Three X's.

Three "#" symbols.

A short dotted line.

A newspaper is guaranteed to run a press release if:

The facts of the release are accurate.

There is no guarantee a paper will run a press release.

The "news factor" of the release is engaging.

The subject of the release is a friend of the editor.

What would be a typical press release length?

4 to 5 paragraphs

4 to 5 pages

1 paragraph

No more than 2 paragraphs

If your company is publicly traded which of these should you include in the press release?

The exchange

All of these

The stock symbol

The International Securities Identifier Number

A press release is "embargoed" if:

The press release writer wants the information held until a specific date.

The press release is missing important information.

The press release writer wants to send additional information later.

The press release is ready for immediate publication.

At a newspaper, you should send every press release to:

The most relevant reporter based on the subject.

The business editor.

The sales department.

The managing editor.

What does "-more-" indicate?

That there is more than one location

That there is more than one page

A hyperlink for more information

A news release should generally be ___ pages in length.

1

3

As many as you need to get the article dones

1/2

2

What is the correct goal of crisis communications?

To build positive public opinion and support while maintaining the reputation of the organization.

To sugar coat the truth.

To sell more products.

To do damage control.

For press releases, what is a pickup?

A kind of truck.

A story, article or blog post that has passed an editorial filter.

When a journalist wants an exclusive story.

Something you say to a cute girl at a bar.

In an online press release, where do you want to link the first instance of the brand and/or product name?

To the website's "contact us" page

To the home page

To the website's blog

It is not recommended to include links in online press releases

Where should you include the company logo in a press release?

In the 'media kit' section

At the top

In the boilerplate

It's best not to include images in press releases

A good press release differs from a sales letter most in that:

A press release is practically identical to a sales letter.

A press release presents facts without hyperbole.

A press release is not intended to help market a product or service.

A press release never includes pictures or video.

The same release can be re-sent to the same media outlet unsolicited:

The same release should never be re-sent to the same outlet.

If you want to be certain they read it.

If two days have gone by and the outlet hasn't covered the story.

If two weeks have gone by and the outlet hasn't covered the story.

Unembargoed information in a press release is considered public:

As soon as you approve the final article to be printed.

As soon as the reporter confirms facts with you.

As soon as a newspaper prints it.

As soon as it is sent.

What should be included at the end of the press release?

Date

Author's name

Contact details

Company information

Where should the first quote appear?

After all the key facts and figures

Grouped with at least three others

Within the first 200 words

In the boilerplate

At the end

Press releases that do not include a contact telephone number:

Are rarely used to create a story.

Are fine if the story is really interesting.

Are preferred by magazines and other print publications.

Are fine if you include direct quotations.

What should a press release contain?

Links to media coverage

Short sentences

Attachments for reporters

Questions

True or False? You should not add more than one link to your press release.

True

False

Where should the boilerplate go?

First paragraph of the press release

Right before the last paragraph in the press release

Right after the first paragraph

Last paragraph of the press release

What is the release date?

The date the release was sent.

The date the company wants lots of orders.

The date the company would like the reporters to begin publishing the information.

The date the release was written

Good news releases are written in the:

Narrative style.

Inverted pyramid style.

Stream-of-consciousness style.

Pyramid style.

What is a "Close"?

The symbols that indicate the end of the press release

The closing sentence

The contact details

The closing paragraph

True or False? You should always repeat your message at the end of the press release.

True

False

For an online press release, what is a conversion?

When someone clicks on links to your web site.

When you get someone to change religions.

When someone completes a contact form, makes a purchase or downloads a media kit

When someone likes your Facebook page.

True or False? The heading of the press release should be in uppercase.

False

True

What should be the only statement in uppercase letters in the press release?

Location

Heading

Author's name

Date of when you would like the press release to go public

Which of these are free PR services?

Online PR News

Businesswire

PR Web

PRNewswire