The birth of the press release is rooted in tragedy

It’s almost difficult to imagine a world without the good old press release. But Oct. 28 marks the 120th anniversary of this public relations stalwart.

Like so many things in the profession, it was invented by Ivy Lee. The first release was sent in the wake of tragedy: Two railcars in Atlantic City plunged into the water, killing more than 50 people. At the time, the standard practice was to withhold details in the wake of disasters.

Lee bucked this trend. Instead, working for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, he gave journalists a clear recounting of the tragedy, which was published two days later in the New York Times.

The statement, reproduced here, doesn’t look exactly like a modern press release. But it does contain many of the same elements: Explaining what was unknown (the exact cause of the accident) and what was known (there was no defect with the drawbridge).

“The Pennsylvania Railroad Company is leaving nothing undone to get at the cause of the accident,” the release concludes. “The Coroner has already gathered a jury and is making a thorough investigation; the officials of the company are giving him every assistance in their power.”

“Today, when communications professionals are increasingly focused on technology, platforms and algorithms, Ivy Lee’s pioneering work reminds us that the foundation of our profession is not the technology we use, but the trust we earn,” said Shelley Spector, co-founder of the Museum of Public Relations. “One hundred and twenty years later, the principles of accuracy, openness and public accountability are as relevant as ever.”

Allison Carter is editorial director of PR Daily and Ragan.com. Follow her on LinkedIn.