Are Press Releases Still Relevant for Franchise Brands in 2025?

The press release isn’t dead. Far from it, actually. As one of the oldest tools in the PR toolkit, press releases are still relevant in 2025, and they are one of the most effective tactics to use for franchise brands.

The role and execution of a press release has evolved over the years as technology has advanced and media consumption habits changed. However, they still serve as a primary way for franchise brands to share newsworthy information with reporters, media organizations and the public.

The Origins

The practice of sending a press release is more than a century old, having originated with Ivy Lee, an expert in public relations working for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He was monitoring a railroad accident that killed more than 50 passengers and anticipated news coverage.

So, he issued the press release document, which reported the accident from the perspective of Pennsylvania Railroad, and it was published by the New York Times.

Since that time, the press release has become one of the most important tools for communications and PR professionals.

Modern Communications

Press releases serve as a primary communication between the PR professional and journalists.

They are one of the best conduits to tell your brand’s story to foster relationships with reporters and expose that story to a larger audience.

Journalists rely on press releases as a starting point for story ideas or details. A well-written release makes their job easier, increasing the likelihood of coverage. They can include photos, embedded videos, infographics and other high-quality visuals to further the story.

A journalist’s time is valuable and with reduced newsroom staffs, competition for coverage is fierce. So, providing all the vital details at their fingertips can increase your likelihood of coverage. But nothing is ever guaranteed.

Getting it in front of the right reporter is also challenge. With those constant newsroom changes, it becomes even more difficult to get the attention of the right reporter.

Media relationship management platforms are critical tools that connect PR professionals with reporters and other key newsroom decision makers. These services can also help you put together media release distribution lists and format your release. More advanced services can include AI press release generation and pitching guidance to cut down on time spent writing.

Owned Media Strategy

While press releases still provide the who, what, where, when, why and how, they can be useful for more than journalism platforms. For press releases to truly be effective in the modern world of communications, they should be a component of your owned media strategy.

This is your content, and you should leverage it to the fullest extent. While releases can result in earned coverage, they also can be posted to blogs, linked to your social media accounts and hosted on your website.

Press releases in 2025 are far from obsolete. They remain a valuable and necessary tool to use when communicating your franchise brand’s story.

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