Press Release Guide

Official Party Document The veracity of this document is ensured by the National Council and editing of this page is limited to members of the National Council.

This document sets out the guidelines for writing press releases.

Authorisation process

Please see the authorisation process for press releases for details regarding:

• Who writes press releases and how it should be done.
• Topics press release should address.
• Requirements for distribution, proofreading, authorisation of drafts and the eventual issue of press releases.

Distribution

• Email: to news media by Press Release list
• Website: as a post
• Social Media: post linking to website (all platforms)
• Email: to members on Party Notifications list (omitting contact details etc, as on website)

Formatting for issue by email

Press releases must be formatted as follows:

---

Pirate Party Australia is outraged about …

Day, DD Month YYYY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[Body]

[1] Source A
[2] Source B

###

Press Kit: https://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/Press_Kit
Website: https://pirateparty.org.au

For interviews and further information contact:

First contact
Position/description (if applicable)
Email address
Ph: +61 ### ### ###

Second contact
Position/description (if applicable)
Email address
Ph: +61 ### ### ###

---

The subject must begin with "[PRESS RELEASE]" followed by a space and then the title as it appears on the press release.

Formatting for publication on website

• The title of the press release must be the title of the post.
• All content before and including "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE" must be removed.
• All content after and including "###" must be removed.
• A "read more" HTML tag must be inserted at an appropriate point in the press release.
  • "An appropriate point" is at the poster's discretion, but appropriate points may include:
    • After the third paragraph, or
    • After the first paragraph of the first quote.
  • The "read more" tag is may not be necessary if the press release is particularly brief (five or less paragraphs, for example).
• URLs should be included as they appear in the press release.
  • Each URL should manually linked to the correct page.
  • All URLs should be set to open in a new tab or page.
• Categories should be slected before posting.
  • Use directly relevant categories, but not categories that are tenuously related.
  • Specific categories are preferred: a press release about privacy should use the privacy category, but the civil liberties category may not be necessary.
• Double check everything prior to posting.

Language

• Always use Australian English.
• Try to use 'Plain English" where possible:
  • Avoid lengthy sentences.
  • Avoid clichés.
  • Avoid using several words where one word will do just as well.
  • Make sure the meaning is clear, not just that it reads elegantly.
• Use formal language:
  • Avoid colloquial terms where possible;
• Keep technical discussion to a minimum:
  • Avoid technical terms or other jargon unless relevant;
• References to the party should be "The Pirate Party" rather than "Pirate Party Australia"

Words not to use

• Circlejerk — offensive.
• LNP — use "Coalition" instead.
• Child pornography — use "child abuse material" instead.

Proper nouns

Words that are commonly used as common nouns but should be proper nouns:

• Internet

Titles

• Use sentence case.

Quotes

Quotes should be placed between double quotation marks (“hello”). Quotes-within-quotes should be placed between single quotation marks ("a 'nice' surprise").

Example of a quote:

“I am enthusiastic about an R18+ rating for video games entering our system. It will provide a far superior rating system for parents," commented David Campbell, President of Pirate Party Australia. "However, it is important to watch this space closely, as poorly formed classification guidelines have the potential to create no greater flexibility, with ‘refused classification’ games such as Syndicate, that are perfectly legal to purchase and play around the world, to remain banned here in Australia.”

Citations

Immediately follow the cited material with a number, like this[1]. Note that the brackets should be on the outside of quotation marks, but before any other punctuation. Citations are provided at the end of the press release text, as in the example above.

Contacts

• All press releases should have at least two contacts where possible.
  • At least one contact should:
    • Have in-depth knowledge of the issue.
    • Have a quote in the press release (though not always necessary, as certain people may be unavailable).
    • The most knowledgeable and available person should be placed first.
  • One of the following should also be a contact, in order of preference:
    • Press Officer
    • President
    • Deputy President
    • Secretary
    • Deputy Secretary