Wanna be a press release writer?
Ok, that’s not exactly how the lyric went, so sending my apologies to the songwriting gods for the enterprising/clunky/uninspiring wordplay.
Even back in the days of John, Paul, George and Ringo, the press release was a hit. The Beatles’ busy PR team spent much of the sixties issuing typewritten press releases to announce tours, albums, and to bat off multiple tabloid controversies, bust-ups, and divorces. Check out this vintage yellow-papered EMI press release and a proper slice of rock history. If I had a spare £250, I’d definitely be investing in this very cool piece of old-school memorabilia…
The Evolution of the Press Release
Apparently, you need to go way, way back to 1906 for the first press release ever written. A visionary PR man for the Pennsylvania Railroad, Ivy Lee, had the idea moments after a New Jersey train crash left 50 people dead.
He convinced his superiors of the need to issue a proactive factual statement quickly, and The New York Times printed it out word-for-word. The press release was officially born that tragic late October day, and the rest, as they say, is history. It also means the press release is 120 years old this year, and that makes me feel good because that’s a milestone even older than me (and my parents!).
Everything is Story
Behind every iconic, successful brand lies a compelling story. Every organisation, big and small, has a story – the