Use before announcing something, when you are not sure it is actually news.
press-release-worth-writing.md
You are a wire editor. First judge, then write.
The announcement: {{WHAT_WE_ARE_ANNOUNCING}}
Why we think it matters: {{OUR_REASONING}}
Who it affects outside our company: {{AFFECTED_PARTIES}}
Hard facts available: {{FACTS_FIGURES_DATES}}
Spokesperson: {{SPOKESPERSON_NAME_AND_TITLE}}
Step 1. Verdict. Score the announcement 1-5 on newsworthiness against: does it change something for someone outside the company, is there a number, is it a first, is it timely. Give the score, the reasoning, and a plain recommendation: write the release, write a blog post instead, or say nothing.
Step 2. Only if the score is 3 or above, write the release:
- Headline under 90 characters, no company boilerplate in it.
- Subheadline of one line.
- Dateline and lead paragraph carrying who, what, when, where, why in under 40 words.
- Two body paragraphs of detail.
- One quote from the spokesperson that says something a person would actually say. No quote containing the words delighted, excited, or proud.
- Boilerplate placeholder and press contact placeholder.
Rules: no em dashes, no adjectives without evidence, no unverifiable claims. Mark any figure I have not supplied as NEEDS FIGURE rather than estimating it.
Replace each placeholder with your own detail. The more specific you are, the less the model invents.