My dad was the Public Relations Servant for our local circuit and also for the District Conventions. As a child I remember going 2 weeks early to the convention site every summer so he could do the PR work and get all the press releases sent out in preparation for the convention. I remember the big bulletin board at the conventions where all the clippings from the local and surrounding newspapers were displayed after coming out in print.
I also remember that he indeed did write these releases and I remember conversations about the coverage and how good it was. The only complaint I remember, and it was a big one for me, was what happened occasionally with my dad's picture. Since he was the big wig congregation servant, his picture would usually go with the press release to our local paper as it did with every congregation servant thoughout the circuit, and sometimes they would slip in the title Rev. under his picture. It was hard enough growing up as a JW, but to be known as a preacher's son on top of that was really hard for me to deal with.
This info about the "Special Editions" is new to me. And at this point not surprizing anymore. Thanks Barbara so much for posting it.