Use News Conferences and Briefings as Thought Leadership Opportunities
As PR professionals, we often think of news conferences as a necessary evil.
Such events are useful when we have to make a big announcement or when we’re facing a crisis. But they can also be time-consuming and logistical challenges.
Yet if you expand your thinking about how to make the most out of these events, you’ll likely find there are situations when virtual news briefings are well worth the effort. In particular, they can be a tool to help position experts as potential sources for the media.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve helped a number of our clients organize virtual news conferences and press briefings.
While some of these events have been tied to an official announcement or campaign, we’ve also used them as a thought leadership showcase.
Prior to the year-end giving season, for example, we played host to a series of virtual briefings in which experts from community foundations talked about how COVID-19 had been affecting nonprofits in their communities and how donors could ensure that they were making smart choices with their giving.
These events, in turn, led a number of journalists who had been invited to the briefings to seek out our experts for comment for their reporting. A few outlets even covered these briefings as standalone news events.
Join us next Wednesday, March 24, 2 p.m. ET, for a free webinar in which we’ll show you how to stage your own virtual news conference.
Scott will share how we set up virtual press events – and take your questions.
I hope you’ll join us.
