Most distributors don't give a solid reason for rejection or non-acceptance of a press release. However, we recently received feedback from AP News and MarketWatch that helps clarify common patterns behind rejections and how to improve acceptance rates.
This article outlines the confirmed insights we have so far and what you can do to increase the likelihood of press release pickup.
🔎 Why Press Releases Get Rejected
Most distributors don't provide detailed explanations when a press release is rejected or not accepted. Based on recent feedback from AP News and MarketWatch, one of the most common reasons is content type.
Press releases generally perform best when they are time-sensitive announcements, rather than evergreen or blog-style informational content. Only a limited number of distributors accept evergreen content.
✍️ How to Improve Press Release Acceptance Rates
Step 1: Focus on Time-Sensitive Announcements
Press releases should be framed around a clear, timely announcement. Reframing evergreen content into a newsworthy update can significantly improve pickup chances.
Step 2: Anchor the Story to a Newsworthy Milestone
Instead of positioning the content as "Company X is great at providing a service," align the release with a specific event or achievement, such as:
- A company anniversary (e.g., 5-year milestone)
- Reaching a major achievement (e.g., serving the 100th client)
- Announcing a new partnership or collaboration
- Introducing a new franchisee or office location
- Launching a new website, product, or service
- Expansion into a new market or region
Step 3: Write Like a Press Release (Not a Blog Post)
Press releases should be concise, factual, and structured around a clear announcement. They should be supported by quotes, data, or relevant context, rather than long-form or opinion-based writing. A standard press release follows the inverted pyramid structure: lead with the most important information, then supporting details, then background context.
🧩 Distributor-Specific Considerations
Some distributors are more flexible than others.
- Distributors like GoMedia are generally more open to publishing evergreen content and do not require specific milestones or time-based announcements.
- Other distributors, such as AP News and MarketWatch, are stricter and prioritize timely, news-driven content.
We are continuing to gather feedback from additional distributors to identify patterns and reduce rejection rates further. For now, this is the confirmed information available.
⚠️ Important Notice About Press Release Rejections
Press release rejections are not the responsibility of Search Atlas. Each individual or company submitting press releases is responsible for ensuring their content complies with the guidelines outlined in the Search Atlas Knowledge Base (KB) before publishing.
If a press release is rejected, the user must adjust the content to meet the conditions and requirements set by the distributors and submit it again. Search Atlas cannot and will not regenerate, rewrite, create, or resubmit press releases on behalf of the user.
Search Atlas does not intervene in, influence, or have jurisdiction over the editorial or approval decisions made by press release distributors or publishers. All approval, rejection, or non-acceptance decisions are made solely by the distributing platforms.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Do all distributors require time-sensitive press releases?
No. Some distributors, such as GoMedia, are more flexible and may accept evergreen content.
Why doesn't my press release get a rejection reason?
Most distributors do not provide detailed explanations for rejection or non-acceptance. This is standard practice across the press release distribution industry.
Is evergreen content always rejected?
Not always, but only a limited number of distributors accept evergreen or blog-style articles. The majority of major outlets expect newsworthy, time-sensitive content.
This guidance reflects the confirmed feedback we have received so far from AP News, MarketWatch, and other distributors. We will continue gathering insights to help improve overall acceptance rates.
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.