PR: Sample Press Releases
A Press Release on How to Write a Great Press Release
Contact: Hope Katz Gibbs
Inkandescent Public Relations
hope@inkandescentpr.com / 703 346-6975
Tell a great story in a concise and clever manner, add in pithy subheads and easy-to-remember bullet points, and call readers to action
Washington DC, Today’s Date — “Grabbing the reader’s attention, encouraging them to attend an event or learn more about a product or service, and intriguing reporters so they want to learn more is the goal for any good press release,” says Inkandesent Public Relations founder Hope Katz Gibbs, a veteran journalist who for more than a decade has been happily writing interesting press releases that get picked up by the media.
“Whenever I’m writing a release, my purpose is to tell a story—albeit briefly—that makes readers want to learn more about the topic I’m discussing,” she says. “Of course, it’s also rewarding to write a press release in a way so that it reads like a mini-article, since this gives it a greater chance of being picked up by newspapers, magazines, and blogs.”
Press Release: Dr. Muhammad Yunus to Speak at GWU's Lisner Auditorium Feb. 4 at 7pm about his new book, “Creating A World Without Poverty”
Washington DC, February 2009 — Anyone who understands the importance of micro-lending as a means to end global poverty will want to join our client Hooks Book Events when it hosts a special event with Nobel Peace Prize Winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. on at the Lisner Auditorium on the campus of the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
The Grameen Foundation founder and managing director will be speaking about his latest book, “Creating a World Without Poverty,” which outlines his vision for a new business model that combines the power of free markets with the quest for a more humane world. He’ll share the inspiring stories of companies that are doing this work today.
This event is open to the public. Portions of the proceeds of book sales will benefit the Grameen Foundation. Tickets to event are $25 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
Press Release: The Obesity Pill [Social Technologies]
Press release by Hope Gibbs
Client: Social ) Technologies
1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 815
Washington, DC 20036
Image: e-magic [flickr]
DISCONTINUITY: THE OBESITY PILL
*Washington, DC, April 22, 2008*— Consumers have long hoped that medical and pharmacological research would lead to a so-called “fat pill,” an easy-to-use pharmaceutical answer to the growing scourge of obesity.
Social Technologies’ analyst Christopher Kent recently considered this possibility as part of our series on discontinuities (those sudden, sharp breaks that can strike consumers, business sectors, nations, or the world with disruptive force).
“The ideal solution would allow consumers to continue their regular eating and lifestyle behaviors without gaining weight,” Kent explains, noting two drugs in development, Rimonabant and Alli, offer some benefits of an anti-obesity pill, but neither is 100% effective–and both may have serious side effects.
Three Scenarios for the Future of Virtual Education [Social Technologies]
Social ) Technologies
1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 815
Washington, DC 20036
Main office: +1 202 223 2801
www.socialtechnologies.com
Email: Hope Katz Gibbs
THREE SCENARIOS FOR VIRTUAL EDUCATION: With connectivity rising, virtual education is likely to play an increasingly important role in the future of teaching and learning
Washington, DC, January 21, 2008 — Virtual education is a growing trend in World I, but how it will play out depends on a variety of factors, according to a recent brief by analyst Mark Justman of the futurist research and consulting firm Social Technologies.
In an attempt to determine the most likely scenarios, Justman described three potential evolutionary paths for virtual education: digital enrichment, clicks-and-bricks hybrids, and e-tutoring.
“While the future of virtual ed is likely to contain some elements from each of these three approaches, the scenarios emphasize possible divergences to highlight the range of potential paths,” he explains. Consider the following …
Wildcard: Genetically Modified Pets [Social Technologies]
Social ) Technologies
1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 815
Washington, DC 20036
Main office: +1 202 223 2801
www.socialtechnologies.com
Email: Hope Katz Gibbs
WILDCARD: GENETICALLY MODIFIED PETS: From petri dish to pet store
Washington, DC, November 26, 2007 — Through advances in genetic modification, biotechnology labs could join kennels and animal shelters as a source for the perfect pet, according to Simeon Spearman and Natalie Ambrose, analysts at the Washington, DC-based futurist research and consulting firm Social Technologies.
In a recently released report, “Wildcard—Genetically Modified Pets,” Spearman explains: “Advances in genome mapping have begun to locate the source of health problems that result from pet breeding, and this knowledge could be applied by genetic engineers to avoid or fix such problems in future generations.”
Researchers have also discovered the gene that governs allergen production in cats, which has led to attempts to produce genetically modified hypoallergenic cats, potentially removing a barrier to ownership for millions of people, adds Ambrose, who is currently working on a book entitled, The Future of Pets.
Novelty could also drive acceptance of genetically modified pets by producing traits that would never occur in nature, she says, and trends in personalization could further drive demand for modified pets that reflect the owner’s individuality.
Consumers Fighting Climate Change [Social Technologies]
Social ) Technologies
1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 815
Washington, DC 20036
Main office: +1 202 223 2801
www.socialtechnologies.com
Email: Hope Katz Gibbs
CONSUMERS FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE: Some consumers are taking it on themselves to fight climate change. While this trend is just emerging, it could be a sign of things to come in the next 10–15 years.
Washington, DC, November 19, 2007—More products and services are being offered at the consumer level that are explicitly intended to fight human-caused climate change—the rise in temperatures and other changes attributed to excess carbon dioxide from human activities, according to the futurist research firm Social Technologies. This trend could be an early indicator of popular sentiment in 10 to 15 years.
“In the US, amid considerable debate over whether climate change is in fact human-induced, the issue has become prominent,” explains Social Technologies futurist John Cashman, author of the brief “Consumers Fighting Climate Change: One Household at a Time.” “The aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 sparked further discussion about global climate change and made real, for many, ideas that had been only abstractions.”
In Europe, though, most people see climate change as a real threat and advocate aggressive action to counter it. “Headlines such as ‘This Is Global Warming,’ accompanied satellite images of the hurricanes as they approached land in the southern US,” Cashman notes.
In response to heightened attention to climate change, some consumers are choosing to fight back. “A recent survey found that most Americans would be willing to pay higher fuel taxes if they knew the money would be used to curtail climate change and US dependency on foreign oil,” he adds. “Short of that, they say they are happy to purchase climate-friendly products such as low-energy light bulbs, fuel cells and other alternative energy supplies for home use, and climate-friendlier home appliances and cars.”
Top 12 Areas for Innovation through 2025 [Social Technologies]
Social ) Technologies
1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 815
Washington, DC 20036
Main office: +1 202 223 2801
www.socialtechnologies.com
Email: Hope Katz Gibbs
THE TOP 12 AREAS OF INNOVATION THROUGH 2025: AN OVERVIEW — Social Technologies forecasts the top technology breakthroughs and their long-term promise for both consumers and industry
Washington, DC, November 5, 2007 — In the first-ever report of its kind, futurists and analysts at the DC-based research and consulting firm Social Technologies released a series of 12 briefs this month that shed light on the top areas for technology innovation through 2025.
“Technologies can advance so rapidly and so randomly that they are virtually impossible to predict,” says Denise Chiavetta, leader of Social Technologies’ Technology Foresight project. “Consumers may feel on occasion that they are the victims of runaway technology changes.”
On the other hand, new products created from new technologies often require as many as 10 years to reach consumers, even in the developed world—let alone the long periods of time required for global market penetration, she adds.
“Experience has shown that future products and services can be anticipated generally if not specifically by knowing the vectors of technology advances, government and corporate priorities, the major thrust areas of R&D, and long-term customer values.”
So earlier this year, Chiavetta and her team of researchers at Social Technologies conducted a virtual focus group of experts in technology, innovation, and business strategy located around the world. The group included experts from the Association of Professional Futurists, Tekes, Duke University, Hasbro, Worldwatch, General Motors, Shell, Johnson Controls, and Oxford University, among others.
Their judgments were then consolidated into a list of top 12 areas for innovation, which follow.
Caffeinated Kids [Social Technologies]
Social ) Technologies
1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 815
Washington, DC 20036
Main office: +1 202 223 2801
www.socialtechnologies.com
Email: Hope Katz Gibbs
CAFFEINATED KIDS: What will the future look like for this “buzzed” generation?
Washington, DC, August 15, 2007 — The caffeine consumption of America’s teenagers has risen steadily in recent years, spurred by a variety of social, cultural, and market drivers. Both their rising caffeine consumption and their choice of the coffee shop as a favorite hangout will likely shape the lives of today’s teens as they mature as social beings and as consumers.
That is the forecast of “Caffeinated Kids: A Buzzed Generation,” a recent report by the futurist consulting firm Social Technologies.
“A 2007 study found a 12% increase in both coffee and iced-tea servings at commercial food service outlets since 2001—with double-digit increases among consumers under age 18,” explains Social Technologies analyst Kevin Osborn, author of the report. “This growth in caffeine consumption—and the rise of coffee drinking as an adolescent social activity—may lead to a number of different outcomes. Some are relatively benign, of course, but others may be cause for concern.”
City Schools Close-Up Newsletter Wins Top NSPRA Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City Schools Close-Up Newsletter Wins Top NSPRA Award
City of Fairfax, VA, July 2007 —School Board Chairman Janice Miller got the good news on June 18 that, for the second time, the City Schools Close-Up newsletter has won an Award of Excellence from the National Schools Public Relations Association (www.NSPRA.org).
There were 1121 entries in this year’s contest, and only 125 publications from school districts around the country received this prestigious honor, Miller explains.
The issues submitted for consideration included the May-June 2006 cover story featuring Fairfax High’s graduation speaker Colin Powell, as well as four cover stories that were part of a series entitled “Building Blocks: Insights Into Education K-12.”
Helicopter Parenting [Social Technologies]
Helicopter Parenting
The trend may be gathering speed in the US
September 10, 2007, Washington, DC—As young adults settle into college and school gets into full swing for younger kids, we are seeing more and more parents hover over their children’s lives. Called “helicopter parents,” they are micromanaging their offspring not just in kindergarten and elementary school, but all the way through college and into adulthood. If the numbers of helicopter parents truly are on the rise, the trend will have ramifications for educators and employers alike as well as for the parents and children themselves.
That is the conclusion of “Helicopter Parents: Hovering over Childhood—and Beyond,” a report by Kevin Osborn of the Washington, DC-based futurist research and consulting firm Social Technologies.
“The phenomenon seems to be spreading beyond pushy preschool parents,” Osborn explains. “As a result, some educators have called the 80 million children of baby boomers the most protected and programmed children ever.”
The Future of Love [Social Technologies]
Social ) Technologies
1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 815
Washington, DC 20036
Main office: +1 202 223 2801
www.socialtechnologies.com
Email: Hope Katz Gibbs
Image: Love Sister 72, flickr
THE FUTURE OF LOVE: 10 Forecasts for Cupid
Washington, DC, February 14— Love’s yearnings may be eternal, but how we act on them keeps changing, according to the futurists at the DC-based research and consulting firm Social Technologies. This Valentine’s Day, they believe the future promises new ways to connect with that special someone—and suggest lovers are likely to try every technology that comes to hand in this timeless pursuit.
Consider these 10 forecasts for Cupid:
1. Location-based dating
2. The new infidelity
3. Together apart
4. Virtual therapy
5. Scientific pairings
6. Remote intimacy
7. Love potions
8. Pleasure bots
9. Brain sex
10. People will be people
For more explanation, read entire press release …
Thinking about the Future [Social Technologies]
Social ) Technologies
1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 815
Washington, DC 20036
Main office: +1 202 223 2801
www.socialtechnologies.com
Email: Hope Katz Gibbs
THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE: Guidelines for Strategic Foresight
Edited by Andy Hines and Peter Bishop
Publication Date: February 28, 2007
Price: $19.99/softcover // ISBN-13: 978-0-9789317-0-4
Andy Hines and Peter Bishop publish an essential reference guide to help executives, analysts, and educators prepare for the future
“This highly scannable book provides examples, benefits, and key steps that will help leaders securely position their organizations for years to come.” — David Smith, Charles E. Smith Companies
April 2, 2007, Washington, DC—“There has perhaps never been a time in human history when strategic foresight is more needed,” says futurist Andy Hines in the introduction to his new book, Thinking about the Future: Guidelines for Strategic
Foresight (Social Technologies, 2007).
Precious little guidance is available for executives, analysts, and educators seeking the best way to plan and prepare for the future. That is why Hines and co-editor Peter Bishop put together the 231-page paperback, which distills the expertise of 36 world-renowned futurists into an easily scannable guidebook.
The Future of Youth Happiness [Social Technologies]
Social ) Technologies
1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 815
Washington, DC 20036
Main office: +1 202 223 2801
www.socialtechnologies.com
Email: Hope Katz Gibbs
THE FUTURE OF HAPPINESS: MTV / Social Technologies / AP Study Finds Today’s Youth Pragmatic in Their Pursuit of Happiness
Washington, DC, July 27, 2007—What makes 12-24 year olds happy? That was the question MTV executives hired the futurist consulting and research firm Social Technologies to answer earlier this year. “We knew friends and technology would be important to this demographic, but going in we also had the preconceived notion that 12 to 24 years olds were slightly indifferent, self-serving, and perhaps even a bit apathetic,” explains Andy Hines, Social Technologies’ director of custom projects, who led the study. “The biggest thing we learned was never judge a book by its cover.” Here’s why.