Press kit
The older term, from when kits were printed folders mailed with review copies. Authors still search for it most, as in author press kit example or author press kit PDF.
Author press media kit
Media kit or press kit? Same document, two names.
For authors, a media kit and a press kit are the same thing: a reference packet that helps the media cover you.
Last updated: November 2026
Is an author media kit the same as a press kit?
Yes, for book publicity the terms are used interchangeably. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists calls it a media kit on its services page and a press kit on its downloads page. In other industries, a media kit can mean an advertising rate sheet, which is a different document.
The terms, side by side
Media kit
The broader term, covering radio, television, podcasts, and online media as well as print. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists uses it to describe the kit it creates in every campaign.
Press release
A single announcement. It can go inside a kit, but on its own it rarely gets an author booked, which is why publicists build a full kit and follow up.
Who reads an author press media kit
According to the firm's services page, its media kits are for television and radio producers, prominent journalists, print and online magazine and newspaper editors, and bloggers. Each reads for something different:
- Producers want interview topics and proof you can hold a segment.
- Journalists want story ideas, background, and quotable expertise.
- Editors want reviews and bylined article ideas.
- Bloggers and podcast hosts want a ready Q&A and links.
Write once, then make sure each reader can find their part in seconds. That is the whole design brief for a good kit, whichever name you give it.
For a section-by-section layout see the author press kit template, and for real kits see the examples.
Part of our guide to the author press kit.
Media kit questions
More answers on the author press kit FAQ.
- Is an author press kit the same as a media kit?
- In practice, yes. Authors and publicists use "press kit" and "media kit" for the same package of author and book information. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists uses both terms: its services page promises an exciting media kit, and its page of downloadable samples is titled Press Kits. See in FAQ
- Who actually reads an author press kit?
- Media gatekeepers read it. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists names television and radio producers, prominent journalists, print and online magazine and newspaper editors, and bloggers as the people who reference its media kits for background material, story ideas, and interview topics before booking an author. See in FAQ
- What is the difference between a press release and a press kit?
- A press release announces one piece of news, such as a book’s publication. A press kit is the full background file: bios, book details, story ideas, interview topics, and contacts. Publishers often send only a release; a kit gives a journalist everything needed to build a story. See in FAQ
- Is a press kit better than a one-sheet?
- They do different jobs. A one-sheet is a single-page summary for a quick look, while a press kit gives a producer or editor enough depth to plan a segment or article. Many authors use a one-sheet as the first page of their full kit. See in FAQ
- What makes an author press kit stand out to producers?
- Clear expertise and timely angles. Producers want a guest who can speak to what is in the news. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists aims to position authors as newsworthy experts in their field and pitches them into breaking stories, often the same day. See in FAQ
- Are there reviews of C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists?
- The firm publishes client statements on its references page. Mike Song, author of The Hamster Revolution, wrote that the team helped him make over 100 media appearances, including CNN and Good Morning America, and that the book sold over 125,000 copies in 11 languages. These are client statements, not an independent study. See in FAQ
Let a publicist build your media kit.
C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists creates the kit and puts it in front of the media that matters for your book.