- Contact CUPE Communications.
- Use news conferences for important news only (e.g., launch of a major campaign).
- Schedule it to best attract your local news media (e.g. Monday mornings are often busy, Friday afternoons or weekends get poor reporter attendance. Usually 10-10:30 is the best starting time).
- Avoid other major news events that compete for reporters attention.
- Notify media in advance (beginning of week, sending a reminder the day before).
- Include contact name and phone numbers where you can be reached.
- Pick a convenient location, one that relates to the story.
- Make sure the room is big enough. Cameras need space.
- Ensure there are electrical outlets for media.
- Use visual material as props and backdrops for speakers.
- Provide reporters with a copy of the release, fact sheet, short biographies of speakers, etc.
- Have someone chair, introduce speakers.
- Refreshments (coffee, tea, juices) are nice but not essential.
- Keep it short, no more than 30 minutes. Leave lots of room for questions.
- Be prepared. Practise and coach your speakers beforehand. Identify potential questions and answers.
- Use members or service users who have been directly affected.
Media contacts
News conferences arent the only way to reach the media directly.You can try:
- Background briefings
- Media scrums
- Photo opportunity
- One-on-one interviews
- Guest or caller on talk shows
- Meetings with editorial board
- Letters to the editor
- Commentaries
- Phone in to listener talk-back lines
- E-mail or web-based news chat lines