Avoid opening press release put out (5)
I believe the answer is:
elude
'avoid' is the definition.
(eluding is a kind of avoiding)
'opening press release put out' is the wordplay.
'opening' becomes 'prelude'.
'press release' becomes 'pr' (public relations).
'put out' suggests deleting specific letters.
'prelude' with 'pr' taken away is 'ELUDE'.
(Other definitions for elude that I've seen before include "Escape by stratagem" , "Escape adroitly" , "Puzzle" , "Evade; baffle" , "Dodge or avoid" .)