How to Write a Press Kit Bio

Newspapers sometimes use bios to determine whether a source has credibility as an interview subject.

Press kits are packages that provide a media outlet with all the information needed to decide to run a story on your event or news item. You may also use a press kit to convince a customer to book your services. Whether you are a manufacturer, a service provider, an entertainer or a philanthropist, a bio of people integral to the organization or event is an important part of the kit. This bio needs to be interesting to read and to promote the person that it covers.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Information about the person being profiled that has been verified either with them or with others knowledgeable about their backgrounds

1. Make a list of the person's most significant accomplishments. List only those accomplishments related to the field for which you are preparing the press kit. For example, if you are preparing a press kit for a product launch, you might include a bio for the product's designer. List other products that designer has created, awards she has won and keynote speeches she has given on product design.

2. Interview the person and discover how she got started in this particular business and why she has chosen to make a career of it. Weave this information into a concise introductory paragraph that catches the character of the person in the most engaging fashion possible.

3. Review the list of accomplishments and summarize them in third-person sentences that are authoritative and easy to read. Combine like accomplishments. Start with the most significant accomplishment and then cover the rest in chronological order.

4. Infuse the bio with a style that says something about the person. Make it compelling to read by bringing the person to life in an interesting fashion. Write with a voice that sounds like the person even while keeping it in third person. Consider creative approaches to a bio such as writing in rhyme or adopting an unusual format if appropriate for your audience.

5. Keep the bio to a single page. Highlight the most important accomplishments without creating an exhaustive list or restating the person's resume. Make sure it keeps the attention of the reader.

Tips & Warnings

• A press kit bio can stand by itself or can be included in other documents such as press releases and companies' longer publications and filings. It should be updated regularly.

References

• Gigs for You: Getting Started with Your Press Kit
• Publicity Hound; How to Write a Bio for Your Press Kit; Joan Stewart
• TAXI; Creating an Effective Bio; Dan Kimpel

Resources

• Jey Associates: Developing Your Press Kit