Press Release Company Won an Award Template

In plain language: States whether the release is for immediate publication or held under embargo until a specific date and time.

Common mistake: Omitting the release timing header entirely. Without it, journalists default to treating the release as embargoed and may delay or skip publication altogether.

In plain language: Provides the full name, title, phone number, and email of the person handling press inquiries — placed prominently so journalists can reach the right person without searching.

Common mistake: Listing a general info@ or reception email instead of a named individual. Journalists who cannot reach a real person quickly move on to the next story.

In plain language: The headline announces the award win in a single declarative sentence; the subheadline adds one clarifying detail — the award name, issuing body, or business significance.

Common mistake: Writing the headline in all caps or using promotional language like 'proud to announce.' Wire services and editors rewrite or reject releases with marketing-copy headlines.

In plain language: Opens with the city of origin and date, then immediately delivers the five Ws — who won, what the award is, when it was awarded, where the ceremony or announcement occurred, and why the company received it.

Common mistake: Burying the award name in the second or third paragraph. Editors who skim only the lede will not understand the news hook and are unlikely to run the story.

In plain language: Explains what the award is, the criteria used to select recipients, how many companies were considered or nominated, and the prestige or history of the issuing organization.

Common mistake: Skipping the award context entirely and assuming readers know the award. Unknown awards without context appear self-congratulatory and reduce credibility with journalists and readers.

In plain language: A direct quote from a named company executive — CEO, president, or relevant senior leader — that provides a human perspective on the significance of the win and ties it to company values or strategy.

Common mistake: Using a generic quote like 'We are honored to receive this recognition.' Quotes that restate the obvious offer no new information and are routinely cut by editors before publication.

In plain language: Provides one to two sentences of specific evidence justifying the award — a metric, achievement, product milestone, or customer outcome that makes the recognition credible to a skeptical reader.

Common mistake: Omitting any supporting data and relying solely on the award itself as proof. Journalists and readers expect at least one verifiable fact that substantiates the claim.

In plain language: A direct quote from a representative of the awarding body, lending third-party credibility to the announcement. Include only when the issuing organization has provided an approved statement.

Common mistake: Fabricating or paraphrasing an issuing organization quote without written approval. Publishing an unapproved quote attributed to a third party creates reputational and legal exposure.

In plain language: A standardized 'About [Company]' paragraph covering the company's mission, founding year, employee count, locations, core products or services, and any relevant certifications or recognitions.

Common mistake: Using a different boilerplate version in each press release. Inconsistent descriptions of the company create conflicting records in media databases and confuse journalists researching the company's history.

In plain language: Three centered pound signs (###) mark the end of the release body. Any additional technical specifications, methodology notes, or source citations follow below the notation as supplementary information.

Common mistake: Adding post-### content without labeling it. Editors who see content after the end mark assume it was accidentally included and may discard it along with the release.

An award win press release is a formal written announcement a company distributes to journalists, media outlets, and newswires to publicize an industry or organizational recognition it has received. It follows a standard journalistic structure — headline, dateline, lede, body, quotes, boilerplate, and media contact — and is designed to generate earned media coverage by presenting the award as newsworthy rather than promotional.

Distribute within 48–72 hours of receiving official confirmation of the award. If the issuing organization has an embargo on the announcement, time your release to go out the moment the embargo lifts. Releases issued more than five to seven days after the award announcement lose their news hook and are significantly less likely to generate coverage.

The primary quote should come from the highest-ranking relevant executive — typically the CEO, president, or division leader most associated with the achievement. A second quote from a representative of the issuing organization adds third-party credibility but requires written approval before inclusion. Avoid quoting more than two people in a standard release, as multiple voices dilute the narrative focus.

Legal review is recommended for any press release that includes financial metrics, claims about competitors, regulatory claims, or third-party quotes. Even in the context of an award announcement, stating that your company is 'the leading provider' or making comparative performance claims can create advertising law exposure in the US, UK, and EU. A brief legal check — typically 30–60 minutes — is sufficient for most standard award releases.

Internally, the release should be approved and signed off by the quoted executive and, where applicable, the legal or compliance team before distribution. The publicly distributed document itself does not carry a signature, but maintaining a signed approval record is standard practice for regulatory compliance and dispute prevention, particularly for publicly traded companies subject to disclosure rules.

A standard award press release runs 400–600 words — roughly one printed page. Longer releases reduce the likelihood of full publication, as editors typically trim from the bottom. If supporting detail is necessary — award methodology, full list of criteria, or technical specifications — add it below the ### end notation as supplementary information for editors, not as part of the main release body.

Distribute through a combination of direct journalist outreach to your top five to ten trade and business media contacts, a paid newswire service (PR Newswire, Business Wire, GlobeNewswire, or regional equivalents), your company's own press room and social channels, and the award issuing organization's own communications channels if they offer co-promotion. Newswire distribution ensures indexing in financial terminals and media databases even if no journalist writes a dedicated story.

A press release is a self-contained news document formatted for direct publication or use as source material. A media pitch is a short, personal email to a specific journalist proposing a story angle and offering the press release as supporting material. For award announcements, the press release is the document of record; the pitch is the personalized hook that gets a journalist to open and read it.

Yes — for small businesses, a credible award win is one of the most accessible forms of earned media. Regional business journals, trade publications, and local news outlets actively seek award stories from companies in their coverage area. The press release also functions as evergreen content for the company website, email newsletters, and sales collateral, extending its value well beyond initial media pickup.