Introduction to Press Conferences

What are press and media conferences? Press conferences (also known as news conferences) are occasions when someone with something to say which they believe is newsworthy calls reporters together so that they can tell them all at once. The person calling the press conference usually makes an announcement or statement first then allows reporters to ask questions.

Introduction to Press Conferences, p.2 All sorts of people organise press conferences for all sorts of reasons. A politician may call one to announce a new policy or to deny an allegation. A scientist may call one to reveal a discovery. A police chief may call reporters together to give details of a crime or to ask for public help in solving a case.

Introduction to Press Conferences, p.3 Advantages The main advantage of a press conference to the person calling it is that they do not have to repeat themselves to several different reporters at separate interviews. It also means that their announcement will have maximum impact by being in all the media at the same time

Introduction to Press Conferences, p.4 Disadvantages Press conferences can give false importance to the topic being promoted. Promoters try to convince journalists that by getting them all in the same place at the same time the topic is of great importance, when often it is nothing more than free publicity or advertising.

A Press Conference for Progressives This is a performance project in which each of you will have a role in an imaginary press conference. The press conference has been organized so that figures from history, commonly known as the Progressives can each be given a chance to explain how they would like to see the American people progress out of this era when many see their world spinning out of control.

A Press Conference for Progressives The roles include: – Progressive figure: an actual figure from history often understood as one of the “Progressives” – Public relations representative: a “handler” if you will for the Progressive figure, someone well-versed in their beliefs and policies and determined to make their Progressive appear positive to the press. – Historian: a global thinker with a big picture view of the era and a global understanding of their Progressive’s views in relation to the others at the press conference. – Investigative Reporter: a writer determined to uncover the through, a bit of an antagonist and in a role much the opposite to the public relations representative.

A Press Conference for Progressives Role Requirements: – All students will participate in the press conference consistent with their specific roles – Each role requires different preparation prior to the press conference, see next slide.

A Press Conference for Progressives

*“highlighted and annotated text,” this means highlight all paragraphs for the main idea in each then, annotate the text according to Annotation Strategy #1- Labeling/Defining Key Terms, Names, or Vocab  Categorizing names and terminology Defining unfamiliar terms and vocabulary

In order to have a successful press conference next Tuesday, groups must know all about their famous figure from the Progressive Era, especially: 1.What they believed about American society and industry. 2.The problems the country was facing at this time in history. 3.And, how to fix the problems of the country/society.

The following slides will have questions related to these three topics: 1.What they believed about American society and industry 2.The problems the country was facing at this time in history 3.And, how to fix the problems of the country/society. One group will be an expert on the famous figure and have a special advantage for each question. All groups will have a secret weapon for every question-their investigative reporter, the person who needs to have summary knowledge of every famous figure.

Answer the following questions about your famous figure 1.Another wealthy industrialist, this figure loved oil and charity but offered few solutions to society’s problems. 2.Andrew Carnegie believed in Social Darwinism which means… 3.Not a social reformer but believed her profession led to social change. 4.Got her name from their appearance and support for child workers.

5.This wealthy industrialist was a strong supporter of free enterprise and libraries. 6.This suffragist liked to eat but sometimes didn’t. 7.As a reporter, this figure wanted social change but not the vote for women. 8.Alice Paul believed change would come to America best if we had a __________ ___________ giving equal rights to women. 9.These two figures both had monopolies so they must have been…

10.This female figure was a feminist and suffragist who disagreed strongly with these two women 11.This reformer is the only African American in our list and fought against racism. 12.Believed in capitalism, yes, but not too much competition 13.Rockefeller’s evil ways were exposed by this reformer but he still gave to charities. 14.He provided the money but not the solutions, he wanted to “help …”

15.She was a strong supporter of worker’s rights but again, not the right of women to vote. 16.DuBois believed in a black version of this philosophy. 17.This big hair figure was not a strong supporter of free enterprise because… 18.This famous figure believed that equal rights for this group was essential. 19.This figure could be considered dangerous; he wanted revolution but also cooperation