The Press Release: Is it alive or dead?

Legend has it that the press release was born following a train wreck in 1906, in Atlantic City, N.J., that left more than 50 people dead. The train was owned by Pennsylvania Railroad, one of Ivy Lee’s clients. In response to the disaster, he convinced the railroad to issue a statement about what had transpired. In doing so, he set in motion the practice of the press release for companies to address issues important to them, or, in the case of the railroad, to offer an explanation of the facts about an event. The New York Times was said to have been so impressed by Lee’s release that the newspaper printed it exactly as Lee had written it.

In this episode, Maroon PR explores the value of the press release in today’s 24/7 digital media world. Although it’s rare for media outlets to use press releases verbatim, is it still an important tool for both PR pros and journalists in reporting facts or building a story? Listen as we discuss the topic.