Press releases, news articles and blog posts are all very useful tools for communicating messages to the public – but what is the difference between them?
Without knowing the distinctive differences between the three, it can be difficult to know which is best suited to your company or message.
Each type of publication has its own unique characteristics which are easily identifiable. Here is all you need to know about Blogs, Press Releases and News Stories:
Blog Post
Typically, a blog post is often written in a less formal and more conversational tone. This can be useful when writing a ‘how to’ guide or sharing ‘top tips’.
Often, blog posts focus on one subject and are written in the first person. They likely include links and references to other blog posts written by the same person or company.
The inclusion of links and references is very important to increase brand awareness and keep the reader on your webpage as long as possible. After all, if they are interested in the recent article – they may have an interest in previous posts.
Press release
A press release is often more formal than a blog post. It acts as a form of communication between a company and the public. It allows the company to share an announcement in their own words.
One main factor of a press release is the inclusion of a quote from someone with authority on the subject or from within the company. This is helpful for the reader to understand the purpose of the release, and allows the company to directly address the reader.
Press releases are likely to contain factual information and statistics, which are then presented to the public and journalists who can either publish the release or elaborate on the subject further.
The main purpose of a press release is often to generate attention for a company, brand, product or service. For this reason, thousands of press releases are issued each day, meaning it can be hard to make yours stand out. Click here to read our guide on how to write a press release with an impact.
News Story
A news story is perhaps the most formal form of communication – and often written straight to the point.
A news story will likely contain quotes and have a lack of adjectives. It will be written with short and sharp sentences which quickly display the newsworthy angle and purpose of the story.
The purpose of a new story is to provide accurate, fair and balanced information to the public quickly and efficiently. For help identifying a newsworthy angle, read our guide here.
For more information about PR Fire’s services and how they can benefit your company, click here
Frequently Asked Questions
A blog post is informal and conversational, often written in the first person to share tips or guidance. A press release is more formal and is issued by a company to share an announcement in its own words, usually including a quote from someone with authority. A news story is the most formal of the three, written concisely and objectively by a journalist to inform the public quickly.
A blog post is typically used for content like “how to” guides or top tips, focused on a single subject and written in a conversational, first-person tone. It often links to other posts by the same company to build brand awareness and keep readers on the site longer.
A press release is used by a company to communicate an announcement directly to the public and journalists, in the company’s own words. It typically includes factual information, statistics and a quote from someone with authority on the subject, and its main purpose is to generate attention for a company, brand, product or service.
A news story is used to give the public accurate, fair and balanced information quickly and efficiently. It is written with short, direct sentences, contains quotes, and avoids the descriptive language you’d find in a blog post or press release.
Yes, typically. A quote from someone with authority on the subject, or from within the company, is a key feature of a press release. It helps the reader understand the purpose of the release and lets the company address the reader directly.
A company (or someone writing on its behalf) writes a press release to share its own announcement. A news story is written by a journalist, who may use a press release as a starting point but reports it independently and objectively.
A news story is the most formal, followed by a press release, with a blog post being the least formal and most conversational of the three.
Thousands of press releases are issued every day, so a strong angle and clear writing matter. PR Fire has a guide on writing a press release with impact, and another on identifying a newsworthy angle, both linked in this post.
It depends on your goal. A blog post suits ongoing content that builds brand awareness and keeps readers engaged with your website over time. A press release suits a specific, newsworthy announcement, such as a launch, partnership or milestone, that you want to share with journalists and the public.
Yes. PR Fire offers press release services and guidance, including help identifying a newsworthy angle and writing releases that stand out, alongside its distribution services.