A government press release is an official written statement issued by a public institution or government agency to inform the media and public about a specific policy, decision, event, or outcome.
📌 Characteristics: One-directional communication: It aims to disseminate information, not to debate or discuss it.
Highly polished language: Often uses bureaucratic or optimistic phrasing, regardless of actual impact.
Controlled narrative: Highlights positive outcomes, downplays limitations, and omits controversy.
Intended for public consumption, not expert scrutiny.
⚠️ In Critical Context: When someone says a scientific article “reads like a government press release,” it’s not a compliment. It usually means:
The tone is overly enthusiastic or propagandistic
The complexities are ignored
The conclusion is politically convenient rather than scientifically rigorous
💬 Example in Use: “The conclusion that DRG reform 'improves efficiency' without reporting clinical outcomes makes the paper read more like a government press release than a serious health policy study.”