Press Releases : Research Is Vital

Press Release : Research Important For Backing Up Facts

There are plenty of other sources other than the public library when you can go to for the information you need.  For instance, the company you're writing for, if it's a large corporation, probably has a in-house library, or records room at the very least.  Find out if you're permitted to peruse those files ad if so, you might be able to generate a stronger background on your subject matter. 

Any universities that are in the area also probably have a variety of sources for your use, such as studies that have bee conducted ad reports that have bee published.  These can serve as a great authority basis for the groundwork of your press release.

Don't forget that libraries often have a link to other libraries in the district.  If you have the time to wait, you can request that a source your library doesn't carry, be sent over to that location for your use. 

If you are needing specific facts and figures, find the best almanac or reference book available to you.  These contain almost every known piece of scientific information we have to date.  If you use one, be sure to use the most recent edition, as population figures, and number counts can rapidly grow or decline in a short amount of time.

For geographical information, you'll want to source out the area's atlas or encyclopedia.  If you're in need of statistical data, find out if you can utilize a current abstract.  This uses sets of statistics and turns them into reader-friendly information that you can use to add credibility to your news item.

If using quotes in your work, you'll have to make sure that you attribute it to the right person.  Additionally, if you're quoting a source from the company you're working with, it might be wise to contact them before the press release goes out, and read their quote back to them to make sure they agree with what it is you say they said.

Research doesn't end with library books and phone calls, however.  The Freedom of Information Act allows for any citizen to obtain certain government information at their request.  You have the right to use any non-classified documents at your disposal in your press release, and using a government study definitely adds an element of reliability to your piece.

Census data can come in very handy when a company wants to directly inform the readers how their product or service will affect the community in  a positive manner.  You can use census data that is compiled every ten years, or yearly, depending on the source you get it from.

If you have the need to find legal decisions to back up your information, you want to start with a publication such as the Index to Legal Periodicals.  This will direct you on where to find the most accurate information and court decisions that relate to your subject matter.

A website, unless an official state or other government agency site, cannot be considered accurate until you have produced a verifiable source. 

The Internet is a valuable source of leads, however.  It can open up new questions that you hadn't previously thought to consider, and it can also point you in the direction of other lead sources who might be able to provide accuracy and credibility to your piece.

Interviews are another important part of researching your topic.  First research your questions taking all relevant aspects into consideration. Research the background of the subject and person you are going to interview. Jot down a few notes to help you along. Take a mini-recorder but all write down as much as possible.

If you run across some sensitive information that might be damaging to others, weigh the consequences of its use before you jump in and deliver it to the public's eyes.  It's not always best to reveal everything you know without considering how it is going to affect others.

If you present your press release with a authoritative voice, and the editor knows that you've done your research, he or she will be appreciative of your effort, and may in turn ask you to write even more on the topic. 

If, however, you disregard Journalistic principals, and offer a document full of misleading information, or unreliable sources, the editor won't want to work with you in the future. 

To write a successful press release, it takes a minimal amount of time to do the groundwork on which to lay your information.  The further you go in making sure your piece has a newsworthy, trustworthy tone to it, the greater your chances of succeeding in a rewarding press release campaign.