System and method for structured news release generation and distribution

1. A method for structured generation of a news release, the method comprising:

a. separately specifying content of each of a plurality of pre-determined sections of the news release, the predetermined sections and their ordering determining in part a desired format for the news release;

b. storing, in a digital storage medium, the content specified for each of the sections; and

c. assembling the news release by retrieving from the storage medium each of the stored sections in a manner consistent with the desired format.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein specifying the content includes providing responses via a set of templates, the set of templates having at least one member and being structured to evince the content of the sections.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the set of templates includes a single template having locations for entering the content for each section.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the set of templates includes a separate template for each section, each template having a location for entering the content of a corresponding section.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined sections include a headline, a summary, and a release date.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined sections include a headline, a summary, and a release date.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined sections include a set of key points, the set of key points having at least one member.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined sections include a section providing an identification of classes of individuals to whom the content provided in the body is expected to be relevant.

9. A method for structured generation of a news release over a network, the method comprising:

a. from a computer at a first location, separately specifying over a network to a host computer, content of each of a plurality of pre-determined sections of the news release, the predetermined sections and their ordering determining in part a desired format for the news release;

b. storing, in a digital storage medium in communication with the host computer, the content specified for each of the sections; and

c. assembling the news release by retrieving from the storage medium each of the stored sections in a manner consistent with the desired format.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the network is the Internet.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the host computer is a World Wide Web server.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein specifying the content includes providing responses via a set of templates, the set of templates having at least one member and being structured to evince the content of the sections.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the set of templates includes a separate template for each section, each template having a location for entering the content of a corresponding section.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the set of templates includes a single template having locations for entering the content for each section.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined sections include a headline, a summary, and a release date.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined sections include a set of key points, the set of key points having at least one member.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the data include content of at least one of the sections.

18. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

automatically identifying classes of recipients of the news release based on data supplied from the computer at the first location.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

a. distributing the news release to recipients in each identified class.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein distributing the news release is performed automatically and includes sending the news release as E-Mail over the Internet.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the E-Mail includes an attachment supplying additional information.

22. A system for the structured generation of a news release over a network, the system comprising:

a. a host computer, in communication with a remote computer over a network, the host computer running a first process causing the host computer to receive, from the remote computer, separately specified content of each of a plurality of pre-determined sections of the news release, the predetermined sections and their ordering determining in part a desired format for the news release;

b. a digital storage medium, in communication with the host computer, that stores the content specified for each of the sections; and

c. a second process, running on a computer in communication with the digital storage medium, that assembles the news release by retrieving from the storage medium each of the stored sections in a manner consistent with the desired format.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein the network is the Internet.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein the host computer is a World Wide Web server.

25. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

a third process that identifies classes of recipients of the news release based on data obtained from the host computer.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the data include content of at least one of the sections.

27. A system according to claim 25, further comprising:

a fourth process that distributes the news release as E-Mail over the Internet to recipients in each identified class.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the E-Mail includes an attachment supplying additional information.

29. A digitally encoded E-Mail message, for transmission over a global communications network, carrying a news release, the message, comprising:

a. a header providing network address, data, formatted for the global communications network;

b. a body having a plurality of sections, the sections including

(i) a headline;

(ii) a summary; and

(iii) key points.

30. An E-Mail message according to claim 29, wherein the body further includes a plurality of labels, each label corresponding to one of the sections, for labeling the sections.

31. An E-Mail message according to claim 29, wherein the body also includes a section providing an identification of classes of individuals to whom the content provided in the body is expected to be relevant.

32. An E-Mail message according to claim 29, further comprising an attachment providing information supplementing information in the body.

33. An E-Mail message according to claim 29, wherein the body includes a section providing a network address of a source of information that supplements information in the body.

34. An E-mail message according to claim 33, wherein the network address is a URL of a site on the World Wide Web.