In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, press releases remain a powerful tool for gaining media attention and building brand credibility. However, navigating what’s not allowed in a PR can be challenging even for seasoned marketers. Publishing platforms maintain strict guidelines that, when violated, can result in immediate rejection—wasting both time and resources. Understanding these restrictions isn’t just about avoiding rejection; it’s about maximizing the effectiveness of your press release in a competitive media landscape.
Recent updates to press release distribution platforms have significantly tightened content restrictions. This comprehensive guide unpacks these limitations to ensure your next press release sails through approval processes while maintaining its news value and impact. Whether you’re announcing a product launch, reporting financial results, or sharing company milestones, knowing what to avoid is just as important as knowing what to include.
What’s Not Allowed in a Press Release: Essential Guidelines
Before diving into the details, here’s a quick reference list of what’s not allowed in a PR (press release) according to the most recent publishing standards:
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Blog-style content: No personal narratives or journal-like entries
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Author bylines: No attribution at the beginning of releases
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Profile building content: No material designed solely to boost individual profiles
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Individual representation without context: Individuals must be identified with their organizational roles
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Stock ticker symbol overuse: No excessive use of financial market symbols
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Vulgar language: Generally prohibited except under specific conditions
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Pornographic content references: Strictly prohibited
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Illegal substance promotion: Not allowed (with exceptions for legal medical cannabis)
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Product reviews: No review-formatted content
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Unauthorized co-branding: No implying relationships with other companies without permission
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PR distribution mentions: No references to the distribution process itself
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Purely promotional content: Must have genuine news value
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“Top 10” list headlines: No listicle-style headlines
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Advertisement-style content: Must be news, not direct selling
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Unattributed claims: All statistics and research claims must cite sources
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Libelous content: No false or damaging statements about others
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Investment recommendations: No stock buying/selling advice
Now let’s explore each of these restrictions in detail to ensure your press releases maintain compliance while effectively communicating your message.
Structural Elements That Will Get Your PR Rejected
When crafting a press release, its overall structure and formatting significantly impact both its approval chances and effectiveness. Let’s examine the structural elements that commonly lead to rejection. This way, one knows how to avoid what’s not allowed in a PR.
Blog-Style Formatting Issues
Press releases follow a specific journalistic format that differs fundamentally from blog posts. While blogs often feature personal narratives, opinion-based content, and casual language, press releases require a more formal, news-oriented approach.
Consider this example:
❌ “My Journey Launching Our Revolutionary Product – Week 2: The Challenges We Faced”
✅ “Company XYZ Launches New Product Following Two Years of Research and Development”
The first example reads like a personal blog entry, while the second properly announces news in the third-person, journalistic style required for press releases. Blog-style titles are not allowed in a PR.
Problematic Attribution Practices
How you attribute information in a press release follows strict conventions. Two common errors involve bylines and unsubstantiated claims.
Consider this example:
❌ “By Jane Smith, Marketing Director: Our company is proud to announce…”
✅ “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Company XYZ today announced the appointment of Jane Smith as its new Marketing Director.”
Similarly, all claims require proper sourcing:
❌ “Studies show our product increases productivity by 85%.”
✅ “According to a January 2025 study by Research Institute ABC, the product demonstrated an 85% productivity increase in controlled testing environments.”
Representation Without Context
Press releases must clearly establish who is speaking and their authority to make statements. Individual representation without organizational context is strictly prohibited. This type of formatting is not allowed in a compliant PR.
Consider this example:
❌ “John Williams Announces Revolutionary Approach to Digital Marketing”
✅ “John Williams, CEO of Digital Solutions Inc., Announces New Marketing Methodology”
Language and Content Restrictions That Trigger Automatic Rejection
The language used in press releases must maintain professionalism while clearly communicating newsworthy information. Several content types face automatic rejection.
Inappropriate Language Guidelines
Press release distribution platforms have clear guidelines regarding vulgar language, which is generally prohibited with very limited exceptions.
Consider this example:
❌ “The company’s DAMN good results surprised everyone in the industry!”
✅ “The company’s quarterly results exceeded industry analyst expectations by 45%.”
When vulgar language is part of a trademarked campaign or product name, it may be permitted if:
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Most letters are censored (e.g., “F***”)
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It’s not used in headlines or subheadlines
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Usage is limited to three mentions maximum
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It’s clearly part of a marketing campaign, product name, or event title
Prohibited Subject Matter
Certain topics are automatically flagged and rejected by distribution platforms, particularly those involving:
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Pornographic content: Any references to adult entertainment or sexually explicit material.
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Illegal substances: Content promoting illegal drugs (with exceptions for medical marijuana and therapeutic psilocybin where legally authorized).
Consider this example:
❌ “New Website Offers Adult Content Subscriptions for Entertainment Industry”
✅ “Medical Cannabis Clinic Opens New Location in California Following Recent Regulatory Approval”
Hidden Promotional Content
While press releases naturally promote organizations, they must do so through genuinely newsworthy announcements rather than direct advertising.
Consider this example:
❌ “The Best Marketing Service You’ll Ever Buy – Limited Time 50% Off!”
✅ “Get Noticed Fast Introduces New Service Package Following Client Feedback Study”
Relationships between organizations must be accurately represented in press releases, with several important restrictions to consider.
Implied Partnerships Without Permission
One of the quickest ways to get a press release rejected is implying partnerships or associations with other brands without explicit permission.
Consider this example:
❌ “Our New Software Works Perfectly with Apple Products”
✅ “New Software Release Introduces Compatibility with iOS Operating Systems”
The first example implies an official relationship with Apple that may not exist, while the second accurately describes compatibility without suggesting partnership.
Competitive Claims and Comparisons
Making direct comparisons with competitors requires particular care, especially when making claims about superiority.
Consider this example:
❌ “Our Service Outperforms Facebook’s Advertising Platform by 200%”
✅ “Independent Testing Shows Service Delivers 200% Higher Engagement Rates Than Leading Social Media Advertising Platforms”
The first makes an unsubstantiated direct comparison, while the second references independent testing and uses a generic category reference.
Marketing Tactics That Violate PR Guidelines
Certain marketing approaches that work well in other contexts are explicitly prohibited in press releases.
“Top 10” Lists and Ranking Content
Listicles and ranking-style content, while popular in blogs, have no place in press releases.
Consider this example:
❌ “Top 10 Reasons Our New Product Will Transform Your Business”
✅ “New Product Launch Addresses Five Key Business Challenges Identified in Industry Survey”
Overt Sales Language and Calls-to-Action
Press releases should announce news, not directly sell products with promotional language.
Consider this example:
❌ “Buy Now Before Prices Increase! Limited Time Offer Ends Friday!”
✅ “Company Announces New Pricing Structure Taking Effect Next Month”
The first example uses urgent sales language typical of advertisements, while the second properly announces a newsworthy change in a factual manner.
Unsubstantiated Superlatives
Exaggerated claims and superlatives without evidence quickly trigger rejections.
Consider this example:
❌ “The Most Revolutionary Product Ever Created in the Industry”
✅ “Product Launch Introduces Three Industry-First Features Following Two-Year Development”
Financial and Investment Content Restrictions
Financial information in press releases faces particularly strict scrutiny, with several important limitations.
Investment Advice Prohibitions
Press releases must never contain direct investment recommendations or stock trading advice.
Consider this example:
❌ “Investors Should Buy XYZ Stock Before Next Week’s Announcement”
✅ “Company XYZ Schedules Quarterly Earnings Call for March 30”
The first example provides direct investment advice (prohibited), while the second simply announces a factual upcoming event.
Stock Ticker Symbol Usage
While it’s appropriate to include your company’s stock symbol, excessive ticker symbol usage (known as “ticker spamming”) is prohibited.
Consider this example:
❌ “$AAPL $MSFT $GOOGL $AMZN all face new competition from our innovative service”
✅ “New Service Launch Positions Company to Compete in Enterprise Cloud Solutions Market”
Third-Party Lawsuit Mentions
Some distribution channels (particularly Yahoo) will block press releases from third-party law firms about class action lawsuits against public companies.
Consider this example:
❌ “Law Firm Announces Investigation Into Potential Securities Fraud at XYZ Corporation”
✅ “Law Firm Opens New Practice Division Specializing in Securities Litigation”
Maintaining Credibility Through Proper Attribution
Press releases must maintain journalistic integrity through proper attribution of all claims and statistics.
Citation Requirements for Research Claims
Any statistic, research finding, or market claim requires proper attribution to maintain credibility and meet distribution requirements.
Consider this example:
❌ “Studies show 95% of businesses waste marketing budget on ineffective channels”
✅ “According to the 2025 Digital Marketing Survey conducted by Harvard Business Review, 95% of mid-sized businesses report allocating resources to channels that produced negative ROI”
Industry Expert Quotations
Quotes add valuable perspective to press releases but must be properly attributed with the individual’s full name and relevant title.
Consider this example:
❌ “Our product is game-changing,” says marketing expert Jane.
✅ “This approach represents a significant advancement in how businesses can measure marketing effectiveness,” explains Jane Smith, Chief Marketing Officer at Company XYZ.
Crafting Compliant Press Releases That Drive Results
Understanding what’s not allowed in a PR is only half the battle. The real challenge is creating compelling content that navigates these restrictions while still achieving your communication goals.
Focusing on Genuine News Value
The most successful press releases center on truly newsworthy developments rather than thinly-veiled promotional content.
Consider these newsworthy angles:
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Significant partnerships or acquisitions
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Executive appointments or organizational changes
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Expansion into new markets or territories
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Research findings or industry reports
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Major client or project announcements
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Awards or recognition
Maintaining Journalistic Style
Press releases require a specific writing style that differs significantly from other marketing content:
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Write in third-person perspective
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Begin with a clear, concise headline
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Answer who, what, when, where, why and how in the first paragraph
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Include relevant quotes from key stakeholders
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Provide necessary background information
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End with boilerplate company information
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Include media contact details
Working With PR Professionals
For businesses seeking maximum impact from their press release efforts, working with experienced PR professionals can make all the difference in navigating complex guidelines while still achieving communication objectives.
Get Noticed Fast specializes in crafting compliant, high-impact press releases that effectively communicate your message while strictly adhering to all publishing platform requirements. Our team of experienced PR professionals understands exactly what’s allowed—and what’s not—ensuring your announcements receive the distribution and attention they deserve.
Conclusion: Ensuring Press Release Success Through Compliance
Navigating what’s not allowed in a PR might seem complex, but it’s essential for success in today’s media landscape. By avoiding blog-style formatting, inappropriate language, unauthorized associations, and promotional content lacking news value, you significantly increase your chances of approval and effective distribution.
Remember that press releases serve a specific purpose in your marketing ecosystem—they communicate newsworthy information to journalists and the public in a credible, standardized format. They complement (rather than replace) your other marketing channels such as blogs, social media, and direct advertising.
When your business has genuinely newsworthy developments to share, don’t let avoidable compliance issues stand in the way of coverage. Get Noticed Fast offers professional press release writing and distribution services that ensure compliance while maximizing impact. Our team stays current with all platform requirements and journalistic best practices to help your news reach its intended audience.
Ready to get your news the attention it deserves? Contact Get Noticed Fast today to learn how our white-label press release services can help your announcements make headlines. Al this, while we help maintain perfect compliance with all distribution requirements.
