A Press Release is an official statement provided to the media by an individual or organization. Its purpose is to provide information in a short, simple, highly readable format.

In politics, a press release also serves as a way to promote one’s side of an issue as favorably as possible within the boundaries of facts. The White House, on behalf of the President as well as individual politicians, political party organizations, and political interest groups, constantly issues press releases stating their positions and actions on the issues of the day.

In this activity, you will write an Impeachment Press Release for one of the Presidential Impeachments in U.S. History. You can write a statement from either the President who is being impeached, the Impeachment Managers from the House of Representatives who are presenting the case against the President, or both.

Activity: Write an Impeachment Press Release

• First, evaluate historical impeachment press releases. Examine how these press releases are structured. How language is used. And, what information is presented or left out.
  • Here are two press releases related to the second impeachment of Donald Trump:
    • Trial Memorandum from House Committee on the Judiciary, February 2, 2021
    • Trump Will Not Testify or Provide Any Statement at Impeachment Trial, February 4, 2021
• Then, select one of the Presidential Impeachments in U.S. History:
  • President Johnson’s impeachment
  • President Nixon’s impeachment or Frost/Nixon (Netflix)
  • President Clinton’s impeachment
  • President Trump’s first impeachment
  • President Trump's second impeachment
• Finally, write an impeachment press release.
  • Your goal is to make a case for or against Presidential impeachment in a press release that presents information as objectively as possible. You must include the actual facts of the situation and state the position of both those arguing for or against impeachment.

Additional Resources

• How to Write a Press Release: The 11-Step Guide [2021 Update], Class: PR
• How To Write a Press Release, with Examples, Writix 
• Understanding Branches of Power Game (iCivics)
• The Impeachment Process, Step-by-Step Guide (The New York Times)
• A Lesson for an Impeachment Inquiry, The Educator's Playbook, University of Pennsylvania
• The Impeachment Process and President Trump, Choices Program, Brown University