April 21, 2010 | British Columbia

Success of an event often falls to an effective press release

Vancouver, BC - April 21, 2010 - The duties of an event planner often don't end at organizing caterers and floral arrangements - if a public relations firm or individual has not been consulted, it's often the job of the event coordinator to get the word out about an upcoming event.

A well-distributed event press release should answer all of the big "W" questions: Who, What, Where, When, and Why. The event media release should also be formatted in a clear and engaging way, free of fluff, embellishments and exaggerations.   

A general event press release format should include:

• A standard title such as "For Immediate Release"
• Title and leading paragraph should draw the reader in and leave them wanting more information about the event
• Present the most important information in the body, including the 5 "W's", emphasizing why the event is newsworthy
• Don't forget to include the address, time and type of event
• In the conclusion, include event planner contact information such as name, website and phone number

Once the press release has been edited, it's ready for distribution to appropriate media contacts that include reporters, editors and broadcasters, in addition to internet resources such as websites, blogs and community groups. It's also important to consider media cut-off times for print, to ensure optimal effectiveness of the event press release.

A good event media release can determine the success of an event - CDI College's Event Coordinator & Management program provides students with the skills they need to launch a successful career in event planning.

Fill out the form to your right for more information on the Event Coordinator & Management program!