Writing a Press Release: Inverted Pyramid Style

A term you'll hear in newsrooms, in editing meetings, in Journalism 101, but almost nowhere else, is "inverted pyramid."

The "inverted pyramid" style is the goal of every newspaper reporter, and, if you want free publicity, it should be the goal of your press release as well.

What is an inverted pyramid? It is the structure of the press release. It simply means that you should put the most important or enticing information in the first few sentences of your press release, and then unfold the rest in descending order of importance.

For example, if you are announcing a new financial planning product or service, put that up front:

"A new financial planning service will help local families increase their retirement savings."

Unfortunately, many people have a tendency to put less important information in the first sentence of a release. For example:

"Chet Thompson, CFM, a financial planner located in Glendale, today announced a new service called 'PlanWise.'"

What's more important? Your name, your location, and the name of your service, or the fact that it will provide a better retirement? All of your contact information is important, and should be in the release, but it's not as interesting as what your service will do.

Reporters scan a release quickly: burying your "best" stuff near the bottom always backfires. A press release isn't a mystery novel-you aren't going for a surprise ending.

ned steele works with people in professional services who want to build their practice and accelerate their growth. The president of Ned Steele's MediaImpact, he is the author of ned steele To learn more visit ned steele or call 212-243-8383.

move in cleaning service Mundelein ..
In The News:

Quick iPhone and Android battery optimization techniques help your device stay powered all day by turning off hidden features that secretly drain power in the background.
Kodiak Driver autonomous truck achieves perfect 98 safety score, matching top human fleets in groundbreaking AI evaluation by Nauto's VERA system.
New 401k catch-up contribution rules in 2026 will change taxes for high earners over 50. Learn how scammers exploit these changes and protect your retirement savings.
Kurt Knutsson's guide covers social media privacy protection through location settings, account privacy controls and two-factor authentication to prevent scams and data breaches.
Revolutionary retinal implant restores central vision in 80% of patients with advanced macular degeneration, offering hope where treatments once only slowed blindness.
Learn how to use passkeys on Windows and Mac computers without cameras or fingerprint readers. Discover secure authentication methods that replace passwords.
Tesla's FSD v14.1.2 update reintroduces Mad Max mode, enabling higher speeds and more frequent lane changes than the standard Hurry profile setting.
A phishing email scam targeting American Express customers shows how cybercriminals use fake urgent messages to steal personal and financial information.
Facebook's new Meta AI feature analyzes your camera roll photos to create polished collages automatically, but requires cloud processing and raises privacy concerns.
A New Jersey teenager filed a major lawsuit against AI/Robotics Venture Strategy 3 Ltd. over ClothOff, an AI tool that created fake nude images from her social media photos.
Microsoft reports Storm-2657 cybercriminals sent phishing emails to 6,000 addresses at 25 universities to steal payroll credentials and redirect funds.
Astronomers have discovered asteroid 2025 SC79, a skyscraper-sized space rock orbiting the sun in just 128 days. the second-fastest known.
The Fox News AI Newsletter delivers the latest developments form the world of artificial intelligence, including the technology's challenges and opportunities.
A cyberattack on SimonMed Imaging exposed personal information of 1.2 million patients, including medical records, financial details and identity papers.
Spotify's managed accounts for kids under 13 now available in at least seven countries, allowing parents to filter and block explicit content and songs.
Friendly text conversations about BBQs and social events can lead to WEEX gold trading scams that target older adults with fake investment opportunities.
California company Skyeports creates self-healing glass spheres from Moon regolith that generate solar power and support plant growth for sustainable lunar living.
Cleafy researchers discover fake VPN streaming app Mobdro Pro that installs Klopatra banking Trojan, giving attackers full control over Android devices.
Police departments across the U.S. and Canada are adopting virtual reality training to better prepare officers for high-pressure, real-world situations.
House Bill 469 would prevent AI systems from owning property, serving as executives, or gaining legal personhood in Ohio under Representative Thaddeus Claggett's proposal.
Public voter records expose retirees' personal details to election scammers who create targeted cons using names, addresses, and voting history data.
Instead of fearing what comes next with artificial intelligence, think outside the box. Here are high-earning AI jobs that don't require a computer science degree.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says polite words like "please" and "thank you" cost millions annually, while direct prompts may improve ChatGPT accuracy by several points.
Chattee Chat and GiMe Chat exposed intimate conversations and photos, revealing users spent up to $18,000 on AI companions before the breach.
New Instagram parental controls allow families to manage teen screen time and content limits through the Family Center with stricter safety settings.

Public Relations Writing: Write Better Press Release Headlines With More Impact in Less Time

Public relations writing when writing press releases can be a... Read More

The Art Of Persuasive Pitching

Media placement is an art. Practicing it often requires as... Read More

Easy to be Foolish About PR

In fact, here are three really foolish goofs made by... Read More

Dont Put Up With Junk PR

In public relations, "junk" is more about attitude and lack... Read More

PR tips for business

Question: Why should your business issue a press release? Answer:... Read More

Is This Any Way to Run Your PR?

You bet!Especially for business, non-profit and association managers who REALLY... Read More

The Ten Ps of PR

Everyone is talking about the Ps of successful marketing, so... Read More

What is GuerrillaPR Anyway?

Public relations is the art, as one of my colleagues... Read More

Online Business Press Release Writing Tips And Ideas

Press releases are one of the most cost-effective ways to... Read More

Creating Event Magic through Planned Video Production

Once upon a time, there was a young, stressed out... Read More

PR: Your 500 Pound Gorilla

What else, for goodness sake, could you as a business,... Read More

Dont Waste Money on Public Relations

Demand that it pull its own weight in your boat... Read More

Underestimating the Power of In-House PR

Do small-business owners always have to rely on large PR... Read More

Making the News - Tips from A News Journalist

What makes a good media release and how do you... Read More

How To Make Time For Public Relations

"Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly... Read More

Post Your Press Release Online ? For Free!!

Are you launching a new product or website? Announcing a... Read More

Is There a Plumber in the House?

I don't know about you but I get really frustrated... Read More

Top Five Publicity Myths

Most people consider getting publicity the most important part of... Read More

Say What?

As the comedian Steve Martin once said, "some people have... Read More

Turn Your Business? New Year Resolutions in PR Revolutions

As eyes look forward to a new business year, many... Read More

Leveraging Media Coverage - Your Tool For Business Growth

Media relations, simply put, is the business of building and... Read More

Are You Newsworthy?

Non-news professionals often have a hard time understanding why their... Read More

Writing a Press Release: The Medias Dirty Secret

There's a dirty little secret about press releases that the... Read More

How Managers Hit PR Paydirt

As a business, non-profit or association manager, you'll know it's... Read More

The Right Hook

Have you fantasized about spreading word of your business on... Read More

insured cleaning company Highland Park ..