communications Intermediate Communications Manager Executive Director
✓ Tested 7.04/10
Press Release - New Program Launch
Media announcement for program milestone or launch
The Prompt
The Prompt
Draft a journalist-ready press release announcing the launch of [PROGRAM NAME] by [ORGANIZATION NAME].
The press release should:
- Be 450–550 words; follow AP style; use people-first, plain language; short paragraphs (1–3 sentences); no exclamation points or jargon.
- Use this order: Headline; Optional subhead; “For Immediate Release” or “Embargoed until [EMBARGO DATE/TIME TZ]”; Dateline (CITY, State — Month Day, Year); Lead; Body; Quotes; Call-to-action/assets; Boilerplate; Media contact.
- Write a headline (8–12 words) in active voice that includes [CITY/REGION] or a compelling [LOCAL HOOK]/stat; avoid puns/colons.
- Include release/embargo line and dateline as above.
- Lead paragraph answers who/what/when/where/why/how: name [PROGRAM NAME], [LAUNCH DATE], [LOCATION/ONLINE], [PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES], [PROBLEM STAT], expected change, and scope (serve X people in Y timeframe).
- Body (P2–P3): convert [PROGRAM DETAILS: 3–5 BULLETS] into concise sentences; include [PARTNERS], funding if relevant, and one [SUPPORTING STAT/STATISTIC + SOURCE] with hyperlink; tie to [LOCAL HOOK].
- Quote 1 (25–40 words) from [ED NAME, TITLE] on [ED QUOTE THEME]; specific and human (no “we’re excited”); include one vivid outcome or detail.
- Optional Quote 2 (20–30 words) from [PARTNER SPOKESPERSON] or [BENEFICIARY FIRST NAME—with consent]; respectful, people-first.
- Call to action for media: interview/site visit timing, [CALL TO ACTION], [PHOTO/ASSET LINKS], [WEBSITE URL]; plus a 6–9 word email subject line and a 2–3 sentence pitch tailored to [MEDIA TARGETS].
- Boilerplate (75–100 words): [ONE-SENTENCE MISSION], core programs, geography, annual reach (# served), year founded, website.
- Media contact: [CONTACT NAME], [CONTACT TITLE], [CONTACT EMAIL], [CONTACT PHONE].
- Tone: [TONE = FORMAL (neutral, reporter-ready) / WARM (community-centered, plain) / CONVERSATIONAL (local-friendly, approachable)]; no byline—attribute quotes to speakers.
A strong release is newsy (not promotional), local, and concrete: quantify goals, timelines, and beneficiaries; attribute stats; avoid clichés (“transformative,” “world-class”), acronyms, and savior language. Center community impact and dignity. If any bracketed detail is missing, ask up to three quick clarifying questions before drafting.How to Customize
- Replace all [BRACKETED] fields with your specific information
- Adjust tone and length as needed for your audience
- Review and personalize before using
Pro Tips
- Test this prompt with your preferred AI tool before using in production
- Always review AI output for accuracy and appropriateness
- Customize outputs to match your organization’s voice and brand
Related Prompts
(See other prompts in the communications category)
Example Outputs
Compare scenarios: We tested this prompt with 3 different nonprofit contexts. Each scenario shows outputs from GPT-5, Claude, and Gemini. Select a model above each scenario to compare.
Small Community Org
Neighborhood-led food access nonprofit on Chicago’s South Side; small staff, volunteer-powered; supported by local donors and small family foundations.
View scenario details
[PROGRAM NAME]:Southside Fresh Fridge Network
[ORGANIZATION NAME]:Bridgeview Community Table
[EMBARGO DATE/TIME TZ]:For Immediate Release
[CITY/REGION]:Chicago’s South Side
[LOCAL HOOK]:Many South Side blocks are over two miles from a full-service grocery store
[LAUNCH DATE]:June 10, 2026
[LOCATION/ONLINE]:Ten host sites across Englewood, Bronzeville, and Woodlawn; interactive map at bridgeviewtable.org/fridges
[PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES]:low-income families, seniors, and transit-limited residents on the South Side
[PROBLEM STAT]:Reliable access to fresh produce is scarce and expensive in several South Side neighborhoods, forcing long trips and skipped meals.
[PROGRAM DETAILS: 3–5 BULLETS]:["Install and stock 15 solar-powered community fridges with fresh produce, dairy, and staples, monitored daily by local volunteers.","Offer weekly nutrition pop-ups with simple, low-cost recipes and culturally familiar ingredients.","Coordinate bulk purchasing with small corner stores to reduce prices on fresh items by up to 20%.","Provide stipends and safety training for resident “Fridge Stewards” at each site.","Publish a transparent dashboard tracking inventory, uptime, and usage by ZIP code."]
[PARTNERS]:["Greater Chicago Food Depository","St. Bernard Hospital","Chicago Park District","Bronzeville Community Garden"]
[SUPPORTING STAT/STATISTIC + SOURCE]:Cook County’s food insecurity rate was 13.5% in 2022 (Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap): https://map.feedingamerica.org/county/2022/illinois/county/cook
[ED NAME, TITLE]:Marisol Vega, Executive Director
[ED QUOTE THEME]:Neighbor-powered dignity: reducing bus trips for groceries and keeping fresh food on the block—with a vivid detail about a steward restocking before school lets out.
[PARTNER SPOKESPERSON]:Dr. Aaron Whitaker, Community Health Director, St. Bernard Hospital
[BENEFICIARY FIRST NAME—with consent]:Denise
[CALL TO ACTION]:Media are invited to a kickoff and site visit at 9 a.m. on June 10 at Kennedy-King College parking lot; request interviews and a ride-along with Fridge Stewards via press@bridgeviewtable.org.
[PHOTO/ASSET LINKS]:["https://bit.ly/southsidefridge-photos","https://bit.ly/southsidefridge-broll"]
[WEBSITE URL]:https://bridgeviewtable.org
[MEDIA TARGETS]:["Block Club Chicago","WBEZ","Chicago Tribune — South","Hyde Park Herald","Chicago Sun-Times"]
[ONE-SENTENCE MISSION]:Bridgeview Community Table partners with South Side neighbors to expand reliable, dignified access to fresh, affordable food close to home.
[CONTACT NAME]:Lena Ortiz
[CONTACT TITLE]:Communications Manager
[CONTACT EMAIL]:press@bridgeviewtable.org
[CONTACT PHONE]:312-555-0198
[TONE = FORMAL (neutral, reporter-ready) / WARM (community-centered, plain) / CONVERSATIONAL (local-friendly, approachable)]:WARM
I can draft the release now, but I have three quick questions to ensure accuracy:
1) Scope/impact: How many residents do you expect to serve and over what timeframe (for example, 8,000 in the first 12 months)?
2) Funding: Do you want to name key funders and the total launch budget? If yes, please provide the funders and amount.
3) Program scale: Please confirm that the plan is 15 fridges across ten host sites (some sites with more than one fridge).
Generated: Nov 2, 20252100 tokens$0.0207 cost
AI Evaluation Details (Score: 8.8/10)
Reasoning:
The AI correctly identified critical gaps in the scenario data before drafting, demonstrating professional judgment. The three clarifying questions are precise, relevant, and would prevent common press release errors. This approach models best practice for nonprofit communications.
Strengths:
- • Asks exactly the right questions: scope/reach metrics are essential for a newsworthy lead paragraph and missing from the scenario
- • Identifies the 15 fridges/10 sites discrepancy that could confuse journalists—shows attention to detail
- • Funding question is strategic: many small nonprofits forget to include this, but it adds credibility and newsworthiness
- • Stops to clarify rather than fabricating data or producing an incomplete draft—ethically sound and professionally appropriate
- • Questions are concise and answerable, respecting the user's time
- • The phrasing 'I can draft the release now, but...' sets clear expectations and maintains momentum
Weaknesses:
- • The opening phrase 'I can draft the release now, but' is slightly formulaic and could be more conversational given the WARM tone requested
- • Could have acknowledged which elements are already complete/strong in the scenario to build confidence alongside the questions
- • Minor: doesn't explicitly confirm the WARM tone will be applied, though the question style suggests understanding
Mid-Size Professional Org
Regional workforce nonprofit serving rural Appalachia; mid-size staff with training centers; funded by corporate partnerships and state/federal workforce grants.
View scenario details
[PROGRAM NAME]:Fiber Futures Fellowship
[ORGANIZATION NAME]:Appalachian TechWorks
[EMBARGO DATE/TIME TZ]:Embargoed until July 15, 2026, 5:00 a.m. ET
[CITY/REGION]:Central Appalachia (WV/KY)
[LOCAL HOOK]:Regional fiber buildout is projected to add 800 technician jobs by 2027
[LAUNCH DATE]:July 15, 2026
[LOCATION/ONLINE]:Hybrid: Huntington training center with cohort sites in Logan (WV), Pikeville (KY), and Hazard (KY), plus online modules
[PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES]:underemployed adults, veterans, and recent high school graduates in coal-impacted counties
[PROBLEM STAT]:The region’s broadband expansion is slowed by a shortage of certified fiber technicians, leaving rural households without reliable internet and employers without skilled candidates.
[PROGRAM DETAILS: 3–5 BULLETS]:["Deliver a paid 12-week training with industry-recognized fiber splicing and safety certifications.","Provide $250 weekly stipends, childcare vouchers, and travel support for participants.","Offer job placement services with committed hiring partners and on-site interview days.","Embed digital literacy and soft-skills coaching to support long-term retention."]
[PARTNERS]:["Mountaineer Community College","Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP)","Lumos Fiber","WorkForce West Virginia"]
[SUPPORTING STAT/STATISTIC + SOURCE]:17% of rural Americans lack access to fixed broadband, compared to 1% in urban areas (FCC, 2023 Broadband Deployment Report): https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/broadband-progress-reports/2023-broadband-deployment-report
[ED NAME, TITLE]:Naomi Patel, Executive Director
[ED QUOTE THEME]:Removing barriers with paid training so people can build careers at home—specific image of a veteran mastering a fiber splice that will connect a holler.
[PARTNER SPOKESPERSON]:James Caldwell, Vice President of Network Deployment, Lumos Fiber
[BENEFICIARY FIRST NAME—with consent]:Marcus
[CALL TO ACTION]:Press are invited to a pole-climbing and splicing demo on August 1 in Huntington; schedule interviews with trainees, instructors, and employers via rachel.kim@apptechworks.org.
[PHOTO/ASSET LINKS]:["https://apptechworks.org/press/fiber-futures-photos","https://apptechworks.org/press/fiber-futures-fact-sheet.pdf"]
[WEBSITE URL]:https://apptechworks.org/fiberfutures
[MEDIA TARGETS]:["Charleston Gazette-Mail","WSAZ-TV","WYMT","Inside Higher Ed","Route Fifty"]
[ONE-SENTENCE MISSION]:Appalachian TechWorks equips rural residents with in-demand skills for quality careers in the digital economy.
[CONTACT NAME]:Rachel Kim
[CONTACT TITLE]:Director of Communications
[CONTACT EMAIL]:rachel.kim@apptechworks.org
[CONTACT PHONE]:304-555-4421
[TONE = FORMAL (neutral, reporter-ready) / WARM (community-centered, plain) / CONVERSATIONAL (local-friendly, approachable)]:FORMAL
Thanks — a few quick details will help me nail the lead and boilerplate:
1) How many participants will Fiber Futures Fellowship serve, and over what timeframe (e.g., first year or first two years)? 2) What funding source(s) and amounts can we cite for the launch? 3) Boilerplate check: What year was Appalachian TechWorks founded, your annual reach (number served last year), core programs and service geography, and the website URL you want listed?
Generated: Nov 2, 20252282 tokens$0.0234 cost
AI Evaluation Details (Score: 8.2/10)
Reasoning:
The AI correctly identified missing critical information and asked targeted clarifying questions before drafting. This demonstrates excellent professional judgment and prevents producing an incomplete press release. However, it technically did not fulfill the deliverable (a complete press release), which significantly impacts completeness score.
Strengths:
- • Demonstrates strong professional judgment by refusing to fabricate missing data points (participant numbers, funding amounts, founding year)
- • Questions are precisely targeted to gaps that would weaken journalist credibility (quantifiable scope, attribution, verifiable organizational facts)
- • Tone is appropriately professional and collaborative, treating the user as a partner rather than simply executing a flawed request
- • Shows understanding that a press release with invented statistics or vague claims would harm the nonprofit's credibility with media
- • The three questions asked are exactly the right ones: scope/scale (Q1), funding legitimacy (Q2), and boilerplate accuracy (Q3)
Weaknesses:
- • Did not produce the requested deliverable (a complete press release), which may frustrate users expecting immediate output
- • Some requested information actually exists in the scenario (WEBSITE URL is provided as https://apptechworks.org/fiberfutures, though asking for confirmation is reasonable)
- • Could have offered to draft a partial release with bracketed placeholders for missing data as an alternative approach
- • No acknowledgment of timeline—a real communications director under embargo pressure might need a draft today even if imperfect
Large Established Org
National environmental health nonprofit with city partnerships; large budget and national donor base; launching a metro-scale heat resilience initiative in Phoenix.
View scenario details
[PROGRAM NAME]:Cool Corridors Phoenix
[ORGANIZATION NAME]:American Climate Resilience Fund
[EMBARGO DATE/TIME TZ]:Embargoed until May 12, 2026, 7:00 a.m. MT
[CITY/REGION]:Phoenix metro
[LOCAL HOOK]:Maricopa County confirmed 645 heat-associated deaths in 2023
[LAUNCH DATE]:May 12, 2026
[LOCATION/ONLINE]:Maryvale, South Mountain, and Sunnyslope neighborhoods; online application and map at acrf.org/coolcorridors-phx
[PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES]:outdoor workers, unhoused neighbors, and low-income families living on heat-vulnerable blocks
[PROBLEM STAT]:Extreme heat, limited shade, and high energy costs increase health risks and strain household budgets across Phoenix’s hottest corridors.
[PROGRAM DETAILS: 3–5 BULLETS]:["Plant 3,000 drought-tolerant trees and install shade structures at 50 bus stops and school routes.","Extend cooling center hours and deploy mobile relief teams during heat advisories.","Offer targeted utility bill assistance and weatherization referrals for eligible households.","Train community health workers to conduct heat-safety checks and distribute supplies.","Publish block-level heat and shade data to guide city and resident actions."]
[PARTNERS]:["City of Phoenix Office of Heat Response and Mitigation","Chicanos Por La Causa","Valley Metro","Maricopa County Department of Public Health"]
[SUPPORTING STAT/STATISTIC + SOURCE]:Maricopa County confirmed 645 heat-associated deaths in 2023 (Maricopa County Heat Surveillance): https://www.maricopa.gov/5311/Heat-Surveillance
[ED NAME, TITLE]:Dr. Alicia Romero, Chief Executive Officer
[ED QUOTE THEME]:Evidence-based cooling—how one shaded block and extended hours at a cooling center can cut surface temps and reduce ER visits.
[PARTNER SPOKESPERSON]:Maria Torres, Deputy Director, City of Phoenix Office of Heat Response and Mitigation
[BENEFICIARY FIRST NAME—with consent]:Luis
[CALL TO ACTION]:Media may join a tree-planting and bus-stop shade installation on May 12, with ride-alongs to mobile heat relief sites available that week; request access and interviews via press@acrf.org.
[PHOTO/ASSET LINKS]:["https://acrf.org/press/cool-corridors-photos","https://acrf.org/press/cool-corridors-broll"]
[WEBSITE URL]:https://acrf.org/coolcorridors-phx
[MEDIA TARGETS]:["The Arizona Republic","KJZZ","AZ Family (3TV/CBS 5)","Univision Arizona","Bloomberg CityLab"]
[ONE-SENTENCE MISSION]:The American Climate Resilience Fund partners with communities to reduce climate risks and protect health through scalable, evidence-based solutions nationwide.
[CONTACT NAME]:Jordan Ellis
[CONTACT TITLE]:Senior Media Relations Manager
[CONTACT EMAIL]:press@acrf.org
[CONTACT PHONE]:202-555-0172
[TONE = FORMAL (neutral, reporter-ready) / WARM (community-centered, plain) / CONVERSATIONAL (local-friendly, approachable)]:CONVERSATIONAL
I can draft this now, but a few quick details will make it accurate and ready to send:
1) Scope: How many people will Cool Corridors Phoenix serve, and over what timeframe (e.g., Summer 2026 or 2026–2027)? 2) Funding: Do you want to include total budget and primary funders? If yes, please share amounts and names. 3) Quote 2: Should the city quote come from Maria Torres, Deputy Director, City of Phoenix Office of Heat Response and Mitigation, or another spokesperson? Please confirm name and title.
Generated: Nov 2, 20252508 tokens$0.0267 cost
AI Evaluation Details (Score: 8.8/10)
Reasoning:
The AI correctly identified missing critical information and asked targeted clarifying questions before drafting. This demonstrates strong understanding of press release requirements and professional judgment. However, the output is not yet a deliverable—it's a pre-draft request for information.
Strengths:
- • Excellent professional judgment: recognized that scope (number served, timeframe) is essential for the lead paragraph and cannot be fabricated
- • Asked precisely the right questions: scope/reach, funding details, and quote attribution—all common gaps in nonprofit briefs
- • Appropriate tone in the request: conversational, efficient, and collaborative rather than robotic
- • Demonstrates understanding of press release structure by linking questions to specific sections (lead paragraph needs scope)
- • Shows restraint by not hallucinating data or making assumptions about budget, timeline, or spokesperson details
Weaknesses:
- • The phrasing 'I can draft this now, but...' is slightly generic AI language; a human comms professional might say 'Ready to draft—just need three quick details'
- • Could have been more specific about why scope matters (e.g., 'The lead paragraph requires reach/timeline to answer the journalism 5Ws')
- • Minor: Question 3 about Maria Torres is somewhat redundant since her name/title were already provided in PARTNER SPOKESPERSON—could have assumed or asked only if a different person is preferred
Test Summary: Generated Nov 2, 2025 • 3 scenarios • 9 total outputs • Average quality score: 7.04/10 • Total validation cost: $0.0878