Press Release Request Form Template
Give your communications team everything needed to draft and distribute a press release before the work begins. This form captures the announcement type, key messages, executive quotes, embargo settings, and target outlets — turning an informal request into a complete, actionable communications brief.
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Fields in this template
- Requester Namerequired
- Requester Emailrequired
- Departmentrequired
- Announcement Typerequired
Product Launch · Company Milestone · Partnership / Acquisition · Executive Appointment · Funding / Investment Round · Award / Recognition · Event Announcement · Research / Report Release · Regulatory / Compliance Update · Crisis / Correction · Other
- Headline (Proposed)required
- Key Message / Summaryrequired
- Supporting Facts & Data Points
- Primary Quote Source (Name & Title)required
- Approved Quote from Primary Sourcerequired
- Secondary Quote Source (Name & Title)
- Approved Quote from Secondary Source
- Target Distribution Daterequired
- Embargo?required
No embargo — distribute as soon as approved · Embargo until a specific date/time · Not sure
- Embargo Date & Time (if applicable)
- Distribution Targetsrequired
Wire service (PR Newswire, Business Wire, etc.) · Targeted media list (trade press) · Local / regional press · National press · International outlets · Industry analyst community · Internal announcement only · Social media channels · Company blog / newsroom
- Specific Journalists or Outlets to Target
- Supporting Assets URL (images, logos, video)
- Additional Notes
Who uses this template
About this template
A press release request form standardizes how announcements flow to the communications or PR team. Without a formal intake process, PR teams often receive incomplete requests — a two-line email with a launch date and no quote, no key messages, and no distribution guidance. The result is a flurry of follow-up questions that delay the draft and frustrate everyone involved.
A structured form eliminates this by requiring the requester to provide the headline direction, key messages, approved quotes, embargo requirements, and target outlets before a word is written. This gives the PR writer or agency a complete brief to work from and reduces revisions substantially. The quote capture fields are particularly valuable: getting an approved executive quote before drafting ensures the release sounds authentic rather than generic.
formformform makes it straightforward to deploy this form as an internal intake tool. Share the link in your company intranet, HR portal, or Slack announcements channel. Every submission is logged and triggers an email notification to the PR lead, creating a clear record of what was requested, when, and by whom — essential for compliance-sensitive announcements like funding rounds or executive changes.
12 form ideas you can build with this template
Product Launch Press Release Request
Captures product name, key features, target market, and launch date for a new product announcement to trade and consumer press.
Funding Round Announcement Request
Documents funding amount, investor names, intended use of funds, and CEO quote for a Series A/B/C or seed round press release.
Executive Appointment Press Release Request
Collects new executive's name, role, background highlights, and board chair quote for a leadership announcement.
Partnership Announcement Press Release Request
Gathers partner company details, partnership scope, mutual benefit statement, and spokesperson quotes from both parties.
Acquisition Press Release Request
Documents acquiring company, acquired company, deal terms cleared for disclosure, strategic rationale, and investor relation notes.
Award & Recognition Press Release Request
Captures award name, awarding organization, category, and company statement for an industry recognition announcement.
Research Report Release Request
Collects report title, headline findings, methodology notes, and analyst quote for a thought leadership report announcement.
Event Announcement Press Release Request
Captures event name, date, venue, key speakers, and registration link for an industry conference or company event.
Crisis Communications Press Release Request
Urgently collects factual timeline, corrective actions taken, and approved spokesperson statement for a rapid response press release.
Nonprofit Grant Announcement Request
Documents grant amount, granting organization, program to be funded, and impact statement for a funding announcement.
Regulatory Approval Press Release Request
Captures the regulatory body, approval type, product or process approved, and implications for customers or investors.
Company Milestone Press Release Request
Collects milestone achieved (customer count, revenue, anniversary), supporting data, and CEO reflection quote for a growth announcement.
What's included
How to create a press release request form
- 1
Click "Use this template" to load the press release request form into your formformform account.
- 2
Customize the 'Announcement Type' dropdown to include announcement categories specific to your industry (e.g., add 'IPO Filing' for public companies).
- 3
Add a legal review status field if your organization requires legal sign-off before distribution.
- 4
Set up email notifications to route submissions to your head of communications or PR agency contact.
- 5
Include a note in the paragraph field specifying your lead time requirement (e.g., 'Minimum 10 business days required').
- 6
Share the form link in your internal communications channel or link to it from your company's communications guidelines page.
Best practices for your press release request form
even a rough one forces the requester to distill the announcement into a single, compelling line and gives the PR writer a direction to sharpen rather than invent.
getting a pre-approved executive quote at intake prevents the most common delay in press release production: waiting for quote sign-off.
a clear radio button for 'no embargo' vs 'embargo until date/time' prevents costly mistakes where confidential announcements go out early.
a checkbox list of wire services, trade press, national press, and internal-only options ensures the communications team never under- or over-distributes by default.
the Supporting Assets field lets contacts share a link to logos, product images, or video, saving the team a follow-up before pitching journalists, who always want visuals.
for funding rounds, acquisitions, and regulatory updates, a field flagging whether legal has approved the announcement prevents premature distribution.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I submit a press release request?
Most communications teams need at least 10 business days for drafting, revisions, legal review (if required), and quote approvals. For wire service distribution, 15 business days is safer to allow for formatting and scheduling.
What is an embargo and when should I use one?
An embargo is an agreement with journalists not to publish a story before a specified date and time. Use it when you want to give journalists early access to write a richer story — for example, ahead of a product launch or earnings announcement — but need to control the release timing.
Do I need an approved quote before submitting?
A draft quote is sufficient at intake — the communications team can refine it. However, having an approved quote significantly speeds up the process and reduces revision rounds. The form accepts drafts so the PR writer can begin work while approval is pending.
Can I submit a press release request for an internal announcement only?
Yes. Select 'Internal announcement only' in the distribution targets. The communications team will format it appropriately for internal channels (intranet, all-hands email, etc.) rather than external media distribution.
What supporting assets should I attach?
At minimum: a high-resolution company logo and a headshot of the primary quote source. For product launches, include a product image. For funding announcements, investor logos are often requested by media. Paste a link to a shared folder with everything in the Supporting Assets field, or add an Upload field for individual logos and images under 2 MB — video and full asset sets are easier to handle as a link.
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