Old tricks for news dogs…

I always thought that one of the golden rules of press release writing was brevity. How then can a book called “How to write the perfect press release” run to 168 pages?

But it does. It’s written by Peter Bartram and is yours for the measly sum of £12.95. Something of a bargain, I’m sure you’ll agree, for discovering the secrets of this (increasingly irrelevant) art form. Rather like paying a tenner to find out how to make a telephone out of two old baked bean cans and a piece of string.

As Peter tells us in his email pitching the book, he’s surveyed a whole 89 journalists about their attitude to press releases. He says “You’d be staggered to learn how many press releases the 89 receive each week – 1,000? 5,000? 10,000? The answer’s in the book…”

The answer’s in the first chapter which you can read free on the website.

And what is the staggering number? Umm…215, on average.