diff --git a/release-team/role-handbooks/communications/README.md b/release-team/role-handbooks/communications/README.md
index 4a2c5ec3eb9..95e2e2beb79 100644
--- a/release-team/role-handbooks/communications/README.md
+++ b/release-team/role-handbooks/communications/README.md
@@ -107,6 +107,12 @@ The release lead will drive the content for the release theme and logo.
 3. In a second PR opened (ideally) a week before the release day, the Comms Lead will:
 - remove the `draft: true` parameter
 - ensure the date parameter is set to the release date
+- add the `release_announcement` parameter:
+
+  ```yaml
+  release_announcement:
+    minor_version: "<major>.<minor>"
+  ```
 - add the release logo and theme to the final release blog
 
 > [!IMPORTANT]  
diff --git a/release-team/role-handbooks/communications/templates/release-blog.md b/release-team/role-handbooks/communications/templates/release-blog.md
index 33cfe22107f..edf1e1abf64 100644
--- a/release-team/role-handbooks/communications/templates/release-blog.md
+++ b/release-team/role-handbooks/communications/templates/release-blog.md
@@ -61,11 +61,13 @@ The template should give you some boilerplate. However, each release has its own
 ```md
 ---
 layout: blog
-title: 'Kubernetes 1.XX: <Release Name>'
+title: 'Kubernetes v1.XX: <Release Name>'
 date: 202n-mm-dd
-slug: kubernetes-1-XX-release-announcement
+slug: kubernetes-v1-XX-release-announcement
 author: >
   [Kubernetes v1.XX Release Team](https://github.com/kubernetes/sig-release/blob/master/releases/release-1.XX/release-team.md)
+release_announcement:
+  minor_version: "1.XX"
 ---
 ---
 
@@ -207,4 +209,4 @@ Thank you for your continued feedback and support.
 - Share your Kubernetes [story](https://docs.google.com/a/linuxfoundation.org/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScuI7Ye3VQHQTwBASrgkjQDSS5TP0g3AXfFhwSM9YpHgxRKFA/viewform)
 - Read more about what’s happening with Kubernetes on the [blog](https://kubernetes.io/blog/)
 - Learn more about the [Kubernetes Release Team](https://github.com/kubernetes/sig-release/tree/master/release-team)
-```
\ No newline at end of file
+```