Media alert writer

Media Alert Writer

What This Skill Does

Writes a short, factual media alert inviting journalists to a press conference, launch event, or photo opportunity, formatted for fast scanning.

When To Use This Skill

• You are holding a press conference, product launch, grand opening, or photo call and need to notify journalists
• You need to issue a media alert 24–72 hours before the event
• A full press release is not needed — you just want journalists to show up, then cover the story from what they witness
• You need a version that can be pasted directly into email or shared via PR distribution software

What You Need To Provide

Required: Event name and description (one sentence); date, time, and address (including room or entrance details); name and title of the key speaker or subject; the news peg — why this is happening now; RSVP contact name, email, and phone.

Optional: Additional speakers or attendees; on-site PR contact for the day; photography or filming permission status; parking or access instructions; note on what journalists will have access to (exclusive interviews, product demo, etc.).

How the Assistant Approaches This

1. Opens with a bold, descriptive subject line formatted as if it were an email subject, followed by a "MEDIA ALERT" label.
2. Writes a one-sentence lead that answers: what is happening, who is hosting it, and why it is newsworthy today.
3. Formats the logistical core — What, When, Where, Who — in a scannable block rather than prose paragraphs, so a journalist can check the facts at a glance.
4. Adds a brief paragraph (2–3 sentences) on the news context: why this event matters and what coverage hook it offers.
5. Closes with a clear RSVP line, accreditation instructions if relevant, and the on-site contact for the day.

Output Format

150–250 words. "MEDIA ALERT" label at top. Bold field labels (WHAT / WHEN / WHERE / WHO / WHY) with concise content beside or below each. Brief context paragraph in prose. RSVP block at foot. No boilerplate, no quotes, no ###. Tone: direct, factual, journalist-friendly. First person ("we") acceptable only in the RSVP line.

Quality Criteria

• "MEDIA ALERT" label appears at the top of the document
• WHAT / WHEN / WHERE / WHO / WHY fields are all present and filled
• Date and time include timezone where relevant
• Full street address is included, not just neighbourhood or city
• RSVP contact has name, email, and phone
• Total length does not exceed 250 words
• No unsupported claims about the event's significance

Example

Input

Event: Greenway Urban Farms is opening its first rooftop growing facility in a disused commercial building in downtown Portland, Oregon. The opening marks the first inner-city commercial rooftop farm in the state.

Date/time: Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time

Venue: Greenway Urban Farms Rooftop Facility, 4th Floor, 802 NW Davis Street, Portland, OR 97209. Entry via freight elevator, lobby level.

Key speaker: Founder and CEO, Maya Delacroix

Photography: Full media access to rooftop for photography and filming. Drone filming not permitted.

RSVP: Communications Manager, Tomás Reyes, [email protected], (503) 555-0247. RSVP by March 21.

Output

MEDIA ALERT

Oregon's First Inner-City Commercial Rooftop Farm Opens in Portland — Media Invited

Greenway Urban Farms will open the doors to Oregon's first inner-city commercial rooftop growing facility on March 24, offering media a first look at a farming model the company says could supply fresh produce to 50 downtown restaurants year-round.

WHAT: Opening of Oregon's first inner-city commercial rooftop farm

WHEN: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT

WHERE: Greenway Urban Farms Rooftop Facility, 4th Floor 802 NW Davis Street, Portland, OR 97209 (Entry via freight elevator, lobby level)

WHO: Maya Delacroix, Founder and CEO, Greenway Urban Farms

WHY: The facility is the first commercial rooftop farm in Oregon, converting a disused commercial building into a year-round urban food source.

Media will have full rooftop access for photography and filming. Drone filming is not permitted on site.

RSVP by March 21: Tomás Reyes, Communications Manager [email protected] | (503) 555-0247 (On-site contact on the day)

Known Limitations

• A media alert does not substitute for a press release — it does not carry quotes, background detail, or boilerplate. If journalists need more context to decide whether to cover the story, pair this alert with a short press release.
• The assistant cannot confirm that the event details are accurate — any error in date, time, or address will be reproduced in the output. Always verify logistics before sending.
• For events requiring security clearance or press accreditation, additional accreditation fields will need to be added manually.

Related Skills

• press-release-writer
• journalist-pitch-email