diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release_checklist.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release_checklist.md
index f2df0e9..fa94779 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release_checklist.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release_checklist.md
@@ -12,30 +12,31 @@ assignees: ""
 - [ ] All the badges on the README are passing.
 - [ ] License information is verified as correct. If you are unsure, please comment below.
 - [ ] Locally rendered documentation contains all appropriate pages, including API references (check no modules are
-      missing), tutorials, and other human written text is up-to-date with any changes in the code.
-- [ ] Installation instructions in the README, documentation and on the website (e.g., diffpy.org) are updated.
+      missing), tutorials, and other human-written text is up-to-date with any changes in the code.
+- [ ] Installation instructions in the README, documentation, and the website (e.g., diffpy.org) are updated.
 - [ ] Successfully run any tutorial examples or do functional testing with the latest Python version.
 - [ ] Grammar and writing quality are checked (no typos).
+- [ ] Install `pip install build twine`, run `python -m build` and `twine check dist/*` to ensure that the package can be built and is correctly formatted for PyPI release.
 
 Please mention @sbillinge here when you are ready for PyPI/GitHub release. Include any additional comments necessary, such as version information and details about the pre-release here:
 
 ### PyPI/GitHub full-release preparation checklist:
 
-- [ ] Create a new conda environment and install the rc from pypi (`pip install <package-name>=??`)
-- [ ] License information at Pypi is verified as correct.
-- [ ] Docs deployed successfully to `<package-name>.github.io`
-- [ ] Successfully run all tests, tutorial examples or do functional testing
+- [ ] Create a new conda environment and install the rc from PyPI (`pip install <package-name>==??`)
+- [ ] License information on PyPI is correct.
+- [ ] Docs are deployed successfully to `https://www.diffpy.org/<package-name>`.
+- [ ] Successfully run all tests, tutorial examples or do functional testing.
 
-Please let @sbillinge know that all checks are done and package is ready for full release.
+Please let @sbillinge know that all checks are done and the package is ready for full release.
 
 ### conda-forge release preparation checklist:
 
 <!-- After @sbillinge releases the PyPI package, please check the following when creating a PR for conda-forge release.-->
 
-- [ ] Ensure that the full release has appeared on Pypi successfully
+- [ ] Ensure that the full release has appeared on PyPI successfully.
 - [ ] New package dependencies listed in `conda.txt` and `test.txt` are added to `meta.yaml` in the feedstock.
-- [ ] Close any open issues on the feedstock. Reach out to @bobleesj if you have questions
-- [ ] let @sbillinge and @bobleesj when this is ready
+- [ ] Close any open issues on the feedstock. Reach out to @bobleesj if you have questions.
+- [ ] Tag @sbillinge and @bobleesj for conda-forge release.
 
 ### Post-release checklist
 
diff --git a/news/rls_tmpl.rst b/news/rls_tmpl.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8e30442
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/rls_tmpl.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+**Added:**
+
+* no news needed: just updating release template
+
+**Changed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Deprecated:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Removed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Fixed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Security:**
+
+* <news item>