Find out what the current problem is, and how it’s being dealt with. If the company is introducing a previously unheard of method to contain and dispose of waste products, then it might be wise to let them know that it will actually be solving a problem they might not even know existed. Your company will turn out to be a hero without having to write the press release in the form of a boasting, bragging document.

The public library is a wealth of free information that is available to everyone. Librarians are very resourceful in helping you find the information you need, so don’t hesitate to ask if you find yourself stuck. The great thing about libraries is that they keep a great deal of information from a long time ago. So ay facts you need are all at your fingertips. While you’re there, be sure to study the exact media publications you’re going to be targeting so that you have a feel for their style.

Don’t limit yourself to the public library, though. There are plenty of other sources you can go to for the information you need. For instance, the company you’re writing for, if it’s a large corporation, probably has a in-house library, or records room at the very least. Find out if you’re permitted to peruse those files ad if so, you might be able to generate a stronger background on your subject matter.

Any universities that are in the area also probably have a variety of sources for your use, such as studies that have bee conducted ad reports that have bee published. These can serve as a great authority basis for the groundwork of your press release.

Don’t forget that libraries often have a link to other libraries in the district. If you have the time to wait, you can request that a source your library doesn’t carry, be sent over to that location for your use. There usually isn’t any charge for this, and it’s a great way to expand your resource center. If there is a nominal charge for this service, weigh the cost of not having the source in your material, and that should tell you if it’s worth the price.

If you are needing specific facts and figures, find the best almanac or reference book available to you. These contain almost every known piece of scientific information we have to date. If you use one, be sure to use the most recent edition, as population figures, and number counts can rapidly grow or decline in a short amount of time.

For geographical information, you’ll want to source out the area’s atlas or encyclopedia. Don’t say the company headquarters are going to move to Arlington, if your national audience doesn’t know if you mean Virginia or Texas.

If you’re in need of statistical data, find out if you can utilize a current abstract. This uses sets of statistics and turns them into reader-friendly information that you can use to add credibility to your news item.

If using quotes in your work, you’ll have to make sure that you attribute it to the right person. If you’re dealing with a celebrity, you can look up their most famous quotes in Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, or some other book of quotes that might be helpful.

Additionally, if you’re quoting a source from the company you’re working with, it might be wise to contact them before the press release goes out, and read their quote back to them to make sure they agree with what it is you say they said.

Research doesn’t end with library books and phone calls, however. The Freedom of Information Act allows for any citizen to obtain certain government information at their request. You have the right to use any non-classified documents at your disposal in your press release, and using a government study definitely adds an element of reliability to your piece.

Census data can come in very handy when a company wants to directly inform the readers how their product or service will affect the community in a positive manner. You can use census data that is compiled every ten years, or yearly, depending on the source you get it from.

If you have the need to find legal decisions to back up your information, you want to start with a publication such as the Index to Legal Periodicals. This will direct you on where to find the most accurate information and court decisions that relate to your subject matter.

Other government agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Information (FBI), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issue annual reports that come in handy when you need to find regional information that affects the audience.

With the technology available today, it’s easy to enter your subject matter into an Internet search engine, and get back thousands of results with the lick of a button. Don’t assume everything you see is accurate.

A website, unless an official state or other government agency site, cannot be considered accurate until you have produced a verifiable source. If “Andy’s Website on Pollution” says that half of the country’s water source is contaminated with e-coli bacteria, you don’t want to consider Andy an accurate source unless you verify that he’s the Director of Water Waste Management for the United States Government. Only then, can he be considered credible.

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