PR Workshop: News and Press Releases (½ day professional development)

Introducing the 247 PR Club - putting local businesses firmly in the spotlight

Local businesses and start-ups are set to gain valuable insider access to the world of public relations and editorial, with the launch of the 247 PR Club by Mandate Public Relations. The monthly programme of fast-paced learning is designed to give ambitious entrepreneurs and in-house marketers the practical PR skills needed to generate valuable editorial exposure – without the investment of hiring a PR agency. Each monthly half-day workshop will cover a different area of PR basics, from writing press releases and thought leadership articles, to negotiating brand partnerships, news-jacking and securing broadcast coverage.

09/01/26: Spotting natural news opportunities, generating your own news and writing killer press releases that get cut through. In our first session, you will learn how to tell your business or brand's story through the news.

What will I learn?

Session 1: Thinking Like a Journalist: How to spot news in your business every month!

• What actually counts as “news” and why most businesses miss it
• The difference between marketing messages and media-worthy stories
• How journalists decide what makes the cut and what gets ignored
• Turning everyday business activity into credible news angles
• The mindset shift from selling to storytelling

Outcome: You will start seeing news opportunities where you didn’t before.

Session 2: Creating Your Own News (Even When Nothing Is “Happening”): Proactive PR for small businesses.

• The core news hooks every entrepreneur can use
• Announcements, data, opinion and storytelling as news drivers
• Using milestones, insights and expertise to create relevance
• How to future-proof your PR with planned news moments

Outcome: You will leave with multiple story angles you can use over the next 6–12 months.

Session 3: Writing Press Releases That Journalists Actually Open: Structure, style and substance.

• What a “killer” press release really looks like
• Headlines that earn a click rather than scream marketing
• Writing in a clear, confident and media-friendly tone
• Common mistakes that instantly kill coverage
• How to write for speed, clarity and credibility

Outcome: You will understand exactly how to write a press release that gets read.

Session 4: Making Your News Work Harder: From send to coverage!

• How to tailor stories for different media types
• The importance of timing, relevance and context
• What to include (and what to leave out)
• How to maximise coverage once a story lands

Outcome: You will know how to give your news the best possible chance of cut-through.

Numbers are strictly limited to ensure an interactive, hands-on learning experience – with each session being capped at 15 attendees. Participants will not only take away practical advice, templates, cheat sheets and actionable tips tailored to their organisation, they will also gain access to a private WhatsApp community for weekly follow-ups, sharing of ideas and support, between sessions.

247 PR Club workshops will take place monthly on Friday mornings at The Hampton Hotel in High Wycombe, Bucks. They will run from 8.00 am to 12.30 pm, with a full English or continental breakfast, peer networking and onsite parking included in the price. Participation costs £247 per person, per workshop, inclusive of VAT.

Stu Campbell-Carran, Founding Partner and Managing Director at Mandate PR, says: “We meet many fantastic local businesses that have great stories to tell. The 247 PR Club is about giving something back to our local business community - and helping business owners and marketing professionals develop the core skills and confidence to tell their stories in the press. We will empower them to create the kind of media exposure that starts to drive real growth. The media never stops, but you don’t have to be switched on 24/7 to reap the rewards of good PR. With our modular workshop approach, attendees can join one session or book a series and treat it as a CPD course.”