What's the actual difference between a press release and a news article?

The core difference

A press release is a document *you* write to announce something. A news article is what a *journalist* writes after reporting on it. Journalists rewrite, verify, add context, and interview sources. They rarely publish press releases word-for-word.

What journalists actually use press releases for

Press releases serve as a starting point—a way to tell journalists something newsworthy happened. If the announcement genuinely interests their audience, they might call you for details, interview other sources, or dig into public records. Your press release gets them in the door; it doesn't get published.

Why this matters for your writing

Stop writing press releases *to be published*. Write them to be *useful to journalists*. Include the facts they'd need to report the story: what happened, who it affects, why it matters now. Skip the marketing language and superlatives. Answer the basic questions (who, what, when, where, why) clearly. Make a journalist's job easier, not harder.