Communication tools
Press visits to projects
Press conferences
Journalists need to talk to people and visit places to make their stories. A trip to a project to see what you are supporting and talk to the people benefiting from it can help attract press attention to your project. It is important that journalists can photograph someone doing something, not only people behind desks. Try to put yourself in the journalists’ shoes and propose something that could be interesting for them. Is there an activity taking place under the project that you can invite journalists to and that they can take pictures of? Is there a person affected by or involved in the project that has a good story of change that could be interesting for the journalist and that illustrates the achievements of the project? If possible, make sure that the people whom you want the journalist to interview are informed in advance.
Holding a press conference can be a good way of getting your message out to a wider audience. However, you should only hold a press conference when you have some newsworthy information to present. Make sure to prepare your messages well. Using elements of storytelling can make your message more relatable. Choose a speaker who is experienced and comfortable with the media and who will be available for further interviews afterwards. Journalists may come to your press conference if the speaker is someone, perhaps high-level, who is not normally available for the press. Prepare the speaker for possible questions that may be asked. Make sure you allow time for both the presentation and questions from the press. Having a moderator is a good idea. Invite journalists that you think could be interested in the topic you will present. Sometimes it is not the main national news organisations that will cover your story, but specialised newspapers or regional/local news outlets. Choose the right time and place for the conference so that the journalists have time to make today’s deadline (early in the week and the day) and can get to the place easily. Alternatively, organise the press conference in an interesting place that is normally not open to the public. You may want to prepare some background information, including statements, a press release (see the ‘Press releases’ section on page 28), supporting visual material, etc. This can be helpful for reporters. Make sure the technical equipment that media outlets need is available.
Tip on press visits to projects
Visuals & Quotes Strengthen Stories Visual elements and quotes from people impacted by the support from the EEA and Norway Grants will help the journalist create a compelling story.
Tip on press conferences
Prepare & Share • Have a message and be prepared for other questions that might come up. • Post updates from the press conference on your social media channels.
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Communication and Design Manual - EEA and Norway Grants
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