News Story Vs. News Release

 When you hear the two phrases News story and News release your brain probably wants to see them as the same. However, the two terms are in fact very different. These two terms tend to deal with two separate ways of presenting media. As a future media professional, I have made it my job to make sure that I can clearly differentiate between both. Now I would like to take the time to use this blog to explain to someone who is not in the journalism profession how to tell the difference between a news story and a news release. 

A news story is a written or recorded article or interview that keeps the public informed on current events and current media. Depending on how important the news story is the news story can be long or short. News stories can appear on sources such as tv, radio and newspapers. News stories can be written, taped, and viewed live. News stories are more commonly used to release day to day news. 

A news release covers something that is happening live or that has occurred already. News releases answer questions such as what has happened, when the incident took place, who was in the incident, where did the incident take place, and why what happened did happen. News releases inform the public without unbiased information. News releases can cover any number of topics such as crime, politics, and wholesome stories. People who put out news releases should do so according to their target audience so that the information can better be tailored to their audience. 

When you compare news stories and news releases there are some similarities that can be found within them but in the end, you see that they are not one and the same. For instance, if someone wanted to write an article about an incident that was occurring locally such as housing problems, using a news story would be most appropriate. However, if you wanted to release new information about a business you own then a news release would be more appropriate. News stories cover smaller stories that are based on minute-to-minute information. News releases cover bigger stories that have or are happening in that moment.