Uncover the News.....PR vs. OR

Uncover the News:
Press Release vs. Original Report

Can you tell a press release article apart from an original report? Well, the differences are very basic.

*A press release article is a story mainly focusing on promoting a particular product or organization. For example, the Baltimore Sun featured an article titled “The Pearl Spa”.There are obvious clues that help indicate that this article was generated by a press release. One of which is that the article mainly focuses on the features and luxuries of the newly opened spa. Here is a excerpt of the article:

“Really, dahling, you're looking awfully stressed. A treatment at the new Pearl Spa will fix you right up. It's so lovely there, all that aqua and soft music, and those water features everywhere.”

Link to full story:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bal-al.store17aug17,0,1618888.story?track=rss

*Unlike a press released generated story, an original report is more personal. This type of reporting usually focuses on the details and personal accounts of the story being reported. The clues that indicate this type of article are quotations and many descriptive words. An example of a detailed original report is in the article “Mega Million player produces winning ticket”. The article goes into detail about how, when, and where she one. Here is an excerpt:

"She's thrilled," the spokeswoman said. The woman, a North Carolina native, mother of two and grandmother of three, had planned to move and now likely will build a house. She also has plans to purchase a 2009 Lexus truck. The store owner will receive $25,000.”

Link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-md.briefs160sep16,0,3795646.story