Front Rest

How do journalists avoid common pitfalls when writing press releases?

What are some problems or pitfalls that journalists have to deal with when writing articles? Give examples.

Public Comments

1. Well, for starters, journalists don't write press releases. Press releases are written by publicists and given to journalists, who may then re-write them into articles if they are newsworthy. Probably the biggest pitfall to avoid when re-writing press releases into an article is having a tone that's too "PR." Companies, governments, and individuals love to describe their accomplishments in glowing terms, but journalists have to be objective. You can't call something "fantastic," say - it can't sound like an advertisement. It is also the responsibility of the journalist to make sure that all of the information provided is correct and accurate, and not depend just on the press release for information.