Embargo Lift
The specific date and time when journalists can publish information shared under embargo agreement.
Definition
The embargo lift marks when news transitions from confidential briefing to public knowledge. Coordinating lifts across time zones and outlets requires careful planning to maximize impact.
Strategic embargo timing considers news cycles, competitor activity, and audience availability. Product launches often lift embargoes for morning publication in key markets.
Why It Matters
Proper embargo management ensures coordinated coverage that creates meaningful news moments. Premature breaks damage journalist relationships and dilute launch impact.
PR teams must balance providing adequate review time against the risk of leaks, especially for highly anticipated announcements.
Examples in Practice
Apple typically lifts iPhone review embargoes one week before launch, allowing journalists full testing time while maintaining announcement control. Game publishers coordinate global embargo lifts to the minute for major releases.
A mismanaged embargo lift caused early reviews of a major film, frustrating the studio's carefully planned marketing sequence.