A UK press release follows this structure: headline under 70 characters, dateline (city, date), 30-50 word lede answering who/what/when/where/why, a 2-4 paragraph body with hard numbers, a named spokesperson quote, boilerplate and media contact. Keep it 300-500 words on one page.
The 7 required elements
- Headline (50-70 chars, news-led, not brand-led).
- Sub-headline (120-160 chars with specific number or angle).
- Dateline: LONDON, 17 April 2026.
- Lede: one sentence answering 5 Ws.
- Body: 2-4 paragraphs with hard numbers, no adjectives like innovative, disruptive.
- Quote: one named spokesperson quote that sounds real.
- Boilerplate and contact.
What UK editors delete instantly
- Releases starting with company name instead of news.
- Adjective-heavy marketing language.
- No hard numbers.
- PDFs instead of in-body text.
- Embargoes without a reason.