First public news was a Twitter tweet:

Are you ready to celebrate? Well, get ready: We have ICE!!!!! Yes, ICE, *WATER ICE* on Mars! w00t!!! Best day ever!!

After digging in a spot, several crumbs of material disappeared, melted, indicating water based ice.  Precisely what Phoenix was looking for.

P. S. Yes, the lander said, “w00t”.