Send a news release to local media outlets (such as newspapers and radio stations) when something's happening that the public would be interested in, such as:

• an upcoming meeting or workshop or the results of a completed meeting or workshop
• the start of a research project or the results of the project
• the addition of new model forest partners
• the release of a new publication or product

What are the elements of a news release?

Headline—The headline is the most important part of a news release. A good headline will get readers' attention and make them want to read more. Keep headlines short and interesting.

Date—The date on your news release should be the date you plan to send it out.

First two paragraphs—The first two paragraphs are the second-most important part of a news release (after the headline). They should answer the following questions: who, what, where, when, why and how. Readers may read only these paragraphs, so you want to make sure that all of the most important information is in them.

Remaining paragraphs—Because readers may not read all of your release, leave the less important information for the end. Journalists refer to this approach to writing as the "inverted pyramid."

Contact information—Always include the name and phone number of someone whom readers can contact if they want more information. You may also want to include a fax number, email address or Web page address.

What should a news release look like?

A news release should be short (one page is best) and have at least one-inch margins on each side of the page. Print the news release on the model forest's letterhead (if available) and be sure to proofread it several times. If you can, ask someone else to read it over as well. Spelling and grammar mistakes can reduce credibility.