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Press Launches
Making a Press Launch Radio / TV /
Press Friendly
Small Media
Events
If you are inviting
the media it's worth
thinking how you can
make the event more
media friendly.
Obviously good
talkers are
essential, but what
can the TV cameras
film, and where can
photos be taken? Can
you get your logo in
the picture?
For example, Suffolk
charity Rethink
Disability
re-launched itself
as Optua. They used
people to spell out
the word "Optua",
and organised an
aerial photo of the
stunt (see
the earlier section
on
Re-branding).
No matter how much
effort you put in to
making your event
media friendly,
there is no
guarantee they will
turn up. There might
be another big story
breaking on the day,
so the best advice
is to have a backup
plan for getting
your story covered.
Big Media Events
Sometimes your story
will be so important
it merits you
calling a press
conference or a
public meeting. Only
organise a press
conference if you
think it will add
value to your story.
Ask yourself what
the journalist will
get from attending
that they couldn't
get either by
talking to you on
the phone or reading
a press release. A
sandwich and glass
of wine isn't enough
of an incentive to
get a reporter out
of the office!
 Once
at the media event,
press reporters will
be happy to ask
questions from the
audience, but both
TV and radio will
want to record
individual
interviews with your
key speakers.
A press conference
is not ideal picture
material for TV.
After they've filmed
the panel, the
press, the logo or
report, and
interviewed one or 2
people they'll still
be looking for more
pictures.
It's important you
talk to the
reporters in advance
to see what they
need; you may be
able to supply some
video, or perhaps
they can pre-film
some element to the
story.
Think also about
where you hold the
media event, what
time it happens, and
is there anything
else happening on
that day that may
make journalists
have to choose where
to go. Stick to the
timetable, i.e. make
sure you start and
finish on time.
Produce a media pack
with your press
releases, case
studies (where
appropriate) and
fact sheets. These
can also be useful
to send to reporters
who didn't attend.
For more advice, see
"How do I organise a
press conference"
guide at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4288953.
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