Day One Press Release: How to Share the Highlights of Your Event’s Opening

After the “Invitation” release, comes the third key step in your media strategy: the launch press release.
Sent on the very first day of the event, it highlights the opening moments immediately — whether journalists are on-site or not — and provides them with ready-to-publish content.

When should you send the launch press release?

Ideally:

• Late morning, or

• The evening of Day One.

The goal: deliver a lively and informative summary of the opening ceremony so journalists can:

• Quickly write an article,

• Share content on their outlets (print or online),

• Relay highlights on social media.

Structure of an effective Day One release

1. Impactful image

• A dynamic, high-quality photo of the opening ceremony

• Ideally featuring key personalities or capturing the atmosphere

2. Direct, impactful title

• Kick-off: [Event Name]

• or Official Launch: [Event Name] opens in [Location]

No subtitle, no lead paragraph: go straight to the point.

3. Body text
The style should be close to a journalistic article.

• Powerful opening: Announce the official launch and specify:

  • Main theme

  • Event duration

  • Number and type of participants expected

• Opening highlights: Emphasize:

  • Key speakers (name, role, country)

  • Opening speeches or messages

  • 2–3 strong, short, representative quotes (officials, experts, guests)

Example:

“This forum embodies the new regional dynamic,” said [Name, Title].

• Program for the rest of the day:

  • Conferences, roundtables, workshops

  • Main speakers

  • Concise summary of discussions or debates

4. Additional resources
Include links to:

• A photo folder (Drive, private link, website)

• Visual materials or projected presentations

Tip: Repeat this format daily if your event lasts several days, to maintain continuous media visibility.

5. Press contact
Clearly indicate:

• Name of PR manager

• Professional email

• Phone number

6. About the organizer
A short 4–5 line text presenting:

• The organization’s name

• Its role in the event

• Its mission or area of expertise

What’s next?

With this launch release, even journalists who were absent have everything they need to cover the opening.
Next step: the final wrap-up press release — to close your event communication in a professional, data-driven, and engaging way.