Dateline
The city and date that appear at the start of a press release body.
What is a Dateline?
A dateline is the line at the beginning of a press release that states the city of origin and the date of the release. The format is typically: CITY, State, Month Day, Year. For example: 'SAN FRANCISCO, CA, April 12, 2026'. The dateline establishes when and where the news originated and gives the press release a formal, newswire-style structure.
How Dateline Relates to PR Outreach
PressPitch.ai automatically formats datelines correctly on all press releases, matching the AP Style convention used by major newswires and publications.
Best Practices
- Use the city where your headquarters (or the relevant office) is located.
- Follow AP Style: city name in ALL CAPS, state abbreviation, full date.
- If the story relates to a different city (e.g., a partnership), use that city's dateline.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dateline
Is a dateline mandatory?
For formal wire-distributed press releases, yes. For emailed pitches, the convention is less strict, though including it adds professionalism.
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