Fact Checking a Press Release Before Submission: An Artist’s Checklist

A striking idea is only part of the story. Editors need details they can trust and use quickly. This checklist walks through the names, dates, claims, credits and permissions worth confirming before an arts press release goes out.

A press release can introduce a new exhibition, single, film, or photography project, but a striking idea is only part of the story. Editors also need details they can trust and use quickly. Fact checking a press release before submission helps artists and arts organisations avoid preventable corrections, protect their credibility, and make it easier for a publication to cover the work accurately.

That check is more than a spellcheck. It means confirming names, dates, claims, and practical information against reliable sources, then making sure the announcement says no more than the evidence supports. This is especially important when a release moves between several people—an artist, gallery, publicist, label, photographer, or venue—each of whom may have a different version of the facts.

Start with the details readers act on

Begin with the information that could cause confusion if it is wrong. Confirm the project title and spelling, the artist’s preferred name, the venue, location, opening hours, and event dates. For a music release, check the release date, track or album title, label credit, and the spelling and order of collaborators. For a photo exhibition, verify image titles, dates, captions, and any distinctions between the date a photograph was made and the date it was first shown.

Check these details against the source of truth, not an old press release or a copied social post. Ask the venue to confirm its schedule; consult the final artwork or release metadata; and get collaborators to approve their credits. If an event has more than one date or a project is available on different platforms at different times, say so plainly.

Separate verifiable facts from promotional language

Descriptions such as “first,” “largest,” “award-winning,” or “record-breaking” can attract attention, but they are factual claims, not harmless decoration. Before using one, ask what exactly it means and whether you can prove it. “The artist’s first solo exhibition in Jakarta” is narrower and easier to substantiate than “a landmark exhibition.” If a claim depends on a particular comparison, define the comparison and its timeframe.

Be equally careful with numbers. Confirm audience figures, sales, streaming totals, years of experience, and the number of works in a show. State the measurement period where it matters, and don’t present an estimate as a final count. If you cannot verify a number, remove it or qualify it clearly rather than hoping no one will ask.

Quotes need their own review. Confirm that each person said or approved the exact wording, that their name and role are correct, and that the quote has not been edited to change its meaning. A polished sentence assembled from notes should not be presented as a direct quotation without the speaker’s approval. For more on what belongs in an announcement and what details are better placed on a website, see this guide to press release essentials.

Check rights, credits, and technical information

Arts announcements often include images, audio, video, and artwork details that carry their own responsibilities. Confirm that you have permission to distribute each press image and that the credit line names the correct photographer or rights holder. Check whether the image may be cropped, whether there are restrictions on use, and whether the caption identifies the work accurately. A high-resolution file is useful only if its accompanying information is correct.

Technical specifications should be precise but relevant. For a gallery show, useful details might include the medium, dimensions, installation format, or whether a work is site-specific. For a recording or screening, confirm the format, duration, language, and any accessibility information you intend to publish. Do not overload a release with every production detail; keep specialist information available elsewhere for readers who need it.

Use a simple fact-checking pass

One practical approach is to make a short list of every statement that could be checked independently. Assign each item to a source or a person responsible for confirming it. Then review the finished release once more, because edits can introduce errors: a revised date may remain in one paragraph, or a shortened biography may leave an outdated title behind.

• Verify names, spellings, roles, dates, times, locations, and contact details.
• Confirm figures and superlatives, and keep a record of the evidence behind them.
• Get approval for quotes, credits, captions, and permission-sensitive images.
• Check that links and practical instructions in the release lead to the right destination.
• Read the release aloud to catch ambiguity, then compare it with the final approved materials.

When outside help is involved, make responsibilities explicit. A writer may shape the story, a photographer may supply approved images, and a publicist may coordinate distribution, but someone still needs to own the final accuracy check. AI tools can help with drafting or organising routine work, yet they can also produce confident errors. The changing role of AI in freelancing makes it worth agreeing on who checks deliverables; for example, the discussion of standardized freelance services considers how expectations around hiring and delivery are evolving. Osdire is one marketplace where creative and technical services are offered, but whatever the arrangement, the commissioning team should verify the facts before publication.

Make the release easy to trust

Accuracy does not make an announcement less compelling. It lets the artwork, performance, or idea carry the attention rather than an avoidable correction. Keep claims specific, distinguish confirmed information from plans, and provide a clear contact for follow-up questions. A careful final review helps editors work with confidence—and helps audiences arrive at the right place, on the right date, with the right understanding of the work.