If the purpose of your announcement is to notify the media of an event, a "media alert" should be used and not a press release. Here is the standard format for a media alert:

Most Common Press Release Mistakes in Order of Importance

There are hundreds of different templates that you can use to craft your press release. However, this is the most accepted format:

We accept about 95% of the press releases that come to us. However, there are some situations where we need customers to make a change before we distribute their press release.

It can be extremely challenging to get noticed when the media is bombarded by press releases. We have calculated that roughly 4,200 press releases are distributed around the world each day. Press releases are popular because the value of the publicity generated from a single press release can be worth millions of dollars and make the difference between a wildly successful business or a total failure.

We have mastered the skill of using subtle techniques that come from many years of media relations experience. We have seen thousands of releases over the years and know what techniques work. We have worked with practically every type of business or non-profit organization. We write effective press releases that grab the media's attention and compel them to write a story or conduct an interview.