Article directories and press releases

Anyone with successful experiences of these?

[tomthumb2000]

I've been submitting articles to other sites in return for links and recently came across the concept of article directories. These sites release your material to others who want to use it as long as they maintain the accredited links.
Does anyone have any success stories to tell in favour of these article directories?
Also I've heard press releases mentioned as a tactic but I don't understand how the average informational site can release something that could genuinely be considered as newsworthy. Can anyone enlighten me?

[bghtn]

I have released about 10 of my articles to article directories. I have gained some incoming links but none with exceptional PR. Also I have found numerous webmasters will put my article up with no clickable return link. I have spent much time policing this and emailing webmasters. Some respond and some do not.
Not worth if for me at this point. Perhaps when I get to 1000,s of original articles on my site I will submit about 50 of them and not worry.

[Eljaybe]

Where can you find these article directories to submit to?

[notredamekid]

The Link Building Knowledge Base lists a few.

Alternatively: search Google for titles of articles by authors who you know are using this method -- you will find every place their article is syndicated (at least, every place that's gotten indexed, which is what you want anyway).

Do this for a few different authors, you'll have a list in no time.