The dateline is the location-and-date cue at the beginning of a press release's opening paragraph. It helps a reader understand where the announcement originates and when it is being issued. Formatting conventions differ between newsrooms and distribution platforms, so consistency and accuracy matter more than copying an example blindly.
Where the dateline belongs
Place it after the headline and any short subheadline, immediately before the first sentence of the release. It should not replace the headline or carry the entire announcement. The lead still needs to explain what happened and why the intended audience should care.
A usable dateline pattern
A common pattern is CITY, State or Country, Month Day, Year — followed by the opening sentence. For example: “AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 17, 2026 — [Organization] today announced [verified news].” The organization and announcement here are placeholders, not a real claim.
Some distribution services use postal state abbreviations, while editorial style guides may use different abbreviations or omit the state after certain major cities. Select the applicable house style, then apply it throughout the release.
The details to verify
01
Origin city
Use the location tied to the announcement or issuing organization; do not imply an event happened in a city merely because it sounds more prominent.
02
State or country
Add geographic context when the city could be ambiguous. Follow the recipient's or distributor's style rules for abbreviations.
03
Issue date
Use the date the release is meant to become public, accounting for an agreed embargo and the relevant time zone.
04
Separator
A dash commonly separates the location-and-date cue from the lead. Keep punctuation consistent rather than mixing multiple separator styles.
05
Lead sentence
Write the actual news immediately after the dateline. Avoid opening with a sales slogan or a claim that cannot be substantiated.
Common dateline errors
Before distribution, check the final rendered version. A publishing platform may automatically insert its own location or date, and duplicate datelines can make a release look careless.
- A date that differs from the release schedule or embargo.
- A location that is not connected to the organization or news.
- An unclear numeric date such as 09/10/26.
- Inconsistent state abbreviations between the dateline and body.
- Putting the dateline in the headline while leaving the lead without context.