Free press release generator: Turn your news into a press release journalists can use
Describe your news in a few lines. Mark writes the full press release (headline, lead, quote, boilerplate) and the pitch email, without inventing a single figure.
The 30-second summary
A press release is a short document that an organization sends to journalists to announce news. It fits on 1 page and answers who, what, when, where and why in the first paragraph.
- It follows a standard format in 8 parts, from the headline to the media contact.
- The first paragraph opens with a dateline: the city in capital letters and the date.
- Reporters use facts they can check, so a precise number works better than an adjective.
- Send it in the body of a short pitch email, with a subject line that states the news.
- The free Mark AI press release generator writes a complete release in under 1 minute, with no sign-up, and leaves missing facts in brackets.
A reporter reads the headline and the first paragraph. If the news isn't there, they move on to the next email. So your release has to deliver the facts right away, with numbers they can quote.
Do you have an announcement and a blank page? Describe it in a few lines in the generator above. Mark writes the full press release, and you review it before you send it.
What is a press release?
A press release is a short, factual document that announces specific news to the media. It gives reporters the facts, numbers and quote they need to write a story.
What a press release does
A press release helps you earn a news story, a mention or an interview. It also sets the official version of your announcement. Post it in the newsroom on your website afterward: search engines and AI tools can then cite it.
You can write a press release for these announcements:
- a product or service launch
- a funding round
- a partnership
- an event
- a new executive or key hire
- results or key figures
- an award
Press release vs. media kit
A press release announces 1 piece of news. A media kit (also called a press kit) presents your company in depth, and it often includes several past releases.
| Criteria | Press release | Media kit |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Announce specific news | Present the company or a project in detail |
| Length | 1 page | Several pages |
| Timing | The day of the announcement | For an event or when a reporter asks |
| Content | Facts, numbers, quote, contact | Company history, key numbers, bios, logos, photos |
| How to share it | In the body of the email | As a download link |
Press release format: the 8 parts in order
Reporters know where to look for each fact, so stick to the standard press release format. Most US releases also start with "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE" at the top. Here are the 8 parts, in order.
- Headline states the news in 1 line, with your company name and an action verb.
- Subheadline adds a number or a detail that the headline doesn't include.
- Dateline and lead open with the city and the date. The lead then answers who, what, when, where and why.
- Body develops the news in 2 to 4 short paragraphs, from most to least important.
- Quote gives the view of an executive or a partner. The person quoted approves it before you send it.
- Key details list the price, dates, location and the link to learn more.
- Boilerplate describes your company in 3 to 5 lines. It's your "About" paragraph, and you reuse it in every release.
- Media contact gives a name, an email and a phone number that work on the day you send.
Close the release with ### on its own line. This mark tells the reporter that the release ends there.
How to write an AP style dateline
AP style puts the city in capital letters. Large cities like DENVER or CHICAGO stand alone. Smaller cities take the state abbreviation, as in BOULDER, Colo. Before a specific date, abbreviate these months: Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. Many releases follow the dateline with a dash; the form with the date in parentheses, DENVER (Oct. 27, 2026), works just as well.
Press release example
Brightloop is a fictional software company based in Denver. It is launching a scheduling app for heating and cooling contractors. The brackets show what you need to fill in.
For immediate release
Brightloop launches Crewcall, a scheduling app for HVAC contractors
Crewcall texts each customer when the technician is 30 minutes away
DENVER ([Month Day, Year]) Brightloop today launched Crewcall, a scheduling app for heating and cooling contractors. Crewcall plans each technician's day and texts customers before every visit. Brightloop built it to help contractors reduce missed appointments.
Crewcall connects to the calendar the contractor already uses. Dispatchers see every job for the week on 1 screen. They move a visit with 1 click, and the customer gets the new time by text right away.
Brightloop tested Crewcall for [To fill in: length of the test] with [To fill in: number] contractors in Colorado. [To fill in: test result with a number].
"Our customers spent hours calling homeowners to confirm visits. Crewcall does that work for them," said [First Last], CEO of Brightloop.
Key details
- Available in the U.S. on [date]
- Price: [To fill in: price]
- Demo at [website address]
About Brightloop
Brightloop builds software for home service businesses. The company was founded in Denver in [year]. It has [number] employees and [number] contractor customers.
Media contact
[First Last], [email], [phone]
###
How to write a press release in 7 steps
1. Check that your news matters to a reporter
Ask yourself 1 simple question: what changes for this outlet's readers? A new logo rarely gets coverage. A launch with numbers or a partnership with a known brand has a better chance.
2. Answer the 5 W's
Write 1 line for each question before you draft anything.
- Who is making the announcement?
- What is happening?
- When does it happen?
- Where does it happen?
- Why now?
3. Gather your numbers
List the amount raised, the price, the number of customers or the launch date. Reporters quote a precise number, but they skip "strong growth." If a number is missing, leave a bracket and fill it in before you send.
4. Write the lead first
The lead carries the whole story in 2 or 3 sentences. Start with the dateline, then use your 5 answers. Once the lead is clear, the rest of the release comes quickly.
5. Write the headline
Use your company name, an action verb and the news. Then compare 2 or 3 angles. A product angle reaches different outlets than a local jobs angle or an industry angle.
6. Write the body and the quote
Add details from most to least important. The quote should share an opinion or a vision, so don't let it repeat the facts. Send it to the person quoted for approval.
7. Proofread, then add the boilerplate and contact
Read the release out loud and cut extra adjectives. Check names, titles, dates and the spelling of every brand. Finish with the boilerplate, a media contact you can reach that day and ###.
Free press release template
Copy this free press release template into Word or Google Docs. Then replace each bracket.
For immediate release
[Company name] [action verb] [main news]
[Subheadline with a number or an extra detail]
[CITY, State abbreviation if needed] ([Month Day, Year]) [Company name] today [announced, launched, raised, appointed] [news]. [What it changes, for whom and where]. [Why the company is announcing it now].
[Paragraph 2: details of the news and how it works in practice].
[Paragraph 3: numbers, results or market context, with their source].
"[Quote that shares an opinion or a vision]," said [First Last], [title] at [company].
Key details
- Date: [To fill in]
- Location or availability: [To fill in]
- Price: [To fill in]
- Link: [To fill in]
About [Company name]
[What the company does in 1 sentence]. [Year founded and city]. [Key numbers: employees, customers, locations].
Media contact
[First Last], [title], [email], [phone]
###
Mistakes that get a press release ignored
Reporters sort their inbox in seconds. Any of these mistakes can send yours straight to the trash.
- A vague headline like "Brightloop innovates for contractors."
- Words like "leading," "unique" or "cutting-edge" that nothing backs up.
- Internal jargon or acronyms you don't explain.
- 3 pages for a single announcement.
- No numbers, or numbers no one can check.
- An empty quote like "We're thrilled to announce this partnership."
- A release sent only as a PDF attachment.
- A missing media contact, or one who doesn't answer the phone.
- A mass email where every recipient sees all the others.
- A pitch to a reporter who doesn't cover your topic.
How to send a press release to journalists
Build a short media list
Read each reporter's recent stories before you add them to your list. A reporter who covers small business will read about Crewcall, but a sports reporter won't. A short, accurate list gets more replies than a mass send.
Write the pitch email
Open with 2 or 3 personal sentences. Explain why the news matters to this outlet's readers. Then paste the full release below, in the body of the email. Share photos and logos with a download link instead of heavy attachments.
Write a clear subject line
The subject line states the news, with no clickbait. For example, write "Denver startup Brightloop launches scheduling app for HVAC contractors." Avoid all caps, and skip "exclusive" unless the story really is.
Pick the right time
Send your release in the morning, early in the week. Check the reporter's time zone: 9 a.m. in New York is 6 a.m. in Los Angeles. Avoid Friday afternoons and the day before a federal holiday. If the news is under embargo, put the date and time it lifts at the top.
Follow up once
Wait 2 or 3 business days before you follow up. Bring something new, like a photo, an interview slot or a new number. If the reporter still doesn't reply, move on.
You can also post your release on a newswire service, which shares it with many outlets at once. Use it alongside personal pitches, since reporters answer emails written for them.
| Step | Do | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Media list | A short list of reporters who cover your topic | A purchased list sent to everyone |
| Pitch email | The release in the body, with 2 or 3 personal sentences | A PDF on its own, with no text |
| Subject line | The news, stated plainly | A vague hook or all caps |
| Timing | Morning, early in the week, in the reporter's time zone | Friday afternoon |
| Follow-up | 1 follow-up with something new | Several identical follow-ups |
Write and repurpose your announcements with Mark AI
The press release generator above is free, and you don't need an account. Describe your news in a few lines, with your numbers. If you want, add your website address, the type of announcement and the person to quote. In under 1 minute, the AI press release generator delivers:
- the complete press release, from headline to media contact
- a quote for the person quoted to approve
- a boilerplate written from your website
- 3 alternative headlines with different angles
- the pitch email for journalists
- the list of questions reporters will ask you
Mark never makes up numbers. Missing facts stay in brackets, like [To fill in: price]. A button copies the release so you can paste it into Word or Google Docs.
In Mark AI, you go further with the same announcement. Mark translates it into European languages. It also turns it into a LinkedIn post, a newsletter and a blog post, in your brand voice. Your team approves each piece before it goes live.
How to apply this today
- Pick your next announcement and check that it changes something for an outlet's readers.
- Write your answers to who, what, when, where and why, in 1 line each.
- Gather 2 or 3 numbers you can verify and note the source of each one.
- Generate your press release with the free tool, then fill in every bracket.
- Send the quote to the person quoted and wait for their approval.
- Build a list of reporters who have already covered your topic.
- Schedule the send for a weekday morning in their time zone, and note your follow-up date.
Press release FAQ
How long should a press release be?
A press release fits on 1 page. It includes a headline, a lead and 2 to 4 short paragraphs. If you need more room, put the extra material in a media kit.
What is the correct press release format?
The standard format has 8 parts: headline, subheadline, dateline and lead, body, quote, key details, boilerplate and media contact. Most US releases start with "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE" and end with ###.
What is a boilerplate in a press release?
The boilerplate is the "About" paragraph at the end of the release. It describes your company in 3 to 5 lines, with its key numbers. You reuse the same text in every release and update it when the numbers change.
How do you write a press release quickly?
Write 1 line each for who, what, when, where and why, with your numbers. Paste them into the free Mark AI press release generator. You get a complete release in under 1 minute, and you review it before you send it.
When should you follow up with a journalist?
Follow up 2 or 3 business days after you send, and only once. Bring something new, like a photo or an interview offer. If there's still no reply, don't pitch the same story to that reporter again.
Is the press release generator free?
Yes, the generator is free and requires no sign-up. You get the release, 3 alternative headlines, the pitch email and the questions reporters will likely ask. A button copies the text for Word or Google Docs.
Does the AI press release generator make up numbers?
No, Mark never makes up numbers. It only uses the information you provide and the content of your website. Missing facts stay in brackets, like [To fill in: price].
Write your press release in under a minute
Describe your news in a few lines: you get the full press release, 3 other headlines and the pitch email, ready to review and send.
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