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How Does the Bangkok Post Transform Press Releases into News Stories?
Author(s)
Date Issued
January 1, 2025
Type
Article
Abstract
Over the past decade (2014-2023), there has been considerable research on the linguistic features of press releases worldwide. However, studies comparing the linguistic features of news articles and press releases are rare, particularly in the Thai context. In Thailand, coursebooks dedicated to press release writing in the English language are also limited. Most existing studies concentrate primarily on text analysis without collaboration with industry experts, which results in fewer valid findings for classroom use. This study addresses this gap by incorporating insights from industry professionals in an analysis of the Bangkok Post, comparing its news articles published in the PR news section with the corresponding press releases. The analysis of linguistic features targets headlines and lead paragraphs to provide more detailed findings. An interview with the news editor was also conducted in order to gain a deeper understanding of the process by which press releases are transformed into news articles according to the style and preferences of the Bangkok Post. The findings confirmed that the newspaper emphasizes conciseness during editing, with a stronger focus on headlines, though lead paragraphs are also refined. Insights from the interview also revealed the editor’s flexibility, such as regarding headline capitalization. These results, which identify specific newspaper preferences, offer insights for students aspiring to be public relations practitioners and highlight the importance of building a positive rapport with the media. The paper concludes with recommendations for bridging the gap between academic learning and industry requirements and for ensuring that students are well-equipped for their future careers.
Citation
Pasaa, 70, 30-62, 2025