For News releases Always, which of the following is a stated requirement?

• A. Must be published in print outlets only
• B. Must avoid an objective
• C. Must have a key message (no more than three ideas)
• D. Must be written in passive voice

Answer: (C)

Having a clear key message is essential for a news release. It provides a concise, central idea you want reporters and readers to take away, guiding the entire write-up. When the release is built around this key message, the headline, lede, and subsequent paragraphs all reinforce the same point, making the story easy to understand at a glance. Keeping the focus to no more than three ideas helps prevent clutter and makes the core takeaway easier to summarize in a headline or opening paragraph, which increases the likelihood the release gets picked up by media outlets. Every section should support that main idea, so the piece feels cohesive and purposeful.

The other practices listed don’t fit this approach: a release is typically distributed across multiple channels, not just print; tone should be objective and factual rather than biased; and active voice is generally preferred for clarity and engagement.