From Community Tool Box: Preparing Press Releases. Available online at http://ctb.lsi.ukans.edu.

Logo (preferably letterhead) or heading. Your organization's identity must be clear.
"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE" followed by the date you plan to send the release, or "FOR RELEASE AFTER:", followed by that specified date.
The name of the person to contact in your organization for further information, followed by his or her telephone number(s).
A compelling headline. Be as succinct and informative as possible, but provide a headline that captures the meaning of the story.
Indent paragraphs five spaces.
Double-space the body of the release, type on one side of the page only, and use wide margins.
For a release running more than one page, use the word "-more-" at the bottom of each page. At the end of the release, use "-30-", "end," or "# # #." This is standard form for news releases.
If your release runs more than a page, head each subsequent page with the page number and an abbreviated version of the headline.

Reach-Out Counseling (A)

1628 W. 145th, Suite 403

Lawrence, KS 66048

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 11, 1997 (B)

For further information contact:

Judy Smith, Assistant Director

Office:(201) 555-1313, home:(201)903-9898 (C)

Reach-Out Counseling Opens Peer-Helping Center at Area High School (D)

(E) LAWRENCE, KS -- On Friday, February 14, Reach-Out Counseling will open a peer- helping center at Lawrence High School, giving teenagers a chance to talk with other young people about their problems. The peer counselors, Lawrence High School students trained to respond to common concerns of teenagers, will offer one-on-one counseling, assist in decision-making, and provide professional referrals to young people in need of help.

The peer-helping center, which will be located in the northwest corner of the library and open on school days from 3:30 until 7:30 p.m., was the concept of Reach-Out Director Martha Evans. "Teenagers face tremendous pressure these days to grow up faster and faster," Evans said. "Their friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, and parents expect them to get good grades, to experiment with drugs and alcohol, and to become sexually active. Having someone available to listen to them who understands is a valuable service we can give young people."

-more-
(G)

2 Reach-Out Opens Peer-Helping Center (H)

The peer-helping program was identified as a needed service at the high school in a survey distributed by Evans. All of the students filling out the survey indicated that they felt pressure, ranging from mild to extreme, to achieve in school, to date, and to try alcohol and other drugs, Evans said. Nearly 70 percent of those students said they would prefer to talk to someone close to or their same age rather than a parent, teacher, school counselor, or church leader. "Students can come in to talk about their boyfriends, girlfriends, or whatever," said Rebecca Rigler, Lawrence High School junior and peer counselor. "We're here to listen and to talk about what their feelings are -- whatever's important to them."

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