Press Conference Definition - Investopedia

A press conference is an event organized to officially distribute information and answer questions from the media. Press conferences are also announced in ... Business MarketingEssentials WhatIsaPressConference? Apressconferenceisaneventorganizedtoofficiallydistributeinformationandanswerquestionsfromthemedia.Pressconferencesarealsoannouncedinresponsetospecificpublicrelationsissues. Corporatepressconferencesaregenerallyledbythecompany'sexecutivemanagement,pressliaison,orcommunicationsofficer.Givenlimitedresources,particularlyduringatimeofquarterlyorannualearnings,itmaybedifficulttoattractmajormediaattentionunlessacompanyhasatrulyuniqueornewsworthyannouncementtoshare. Pressconferencesareheldbycorporationsandotherbusinesses,politicians,andothergovernmentofficials. KeyTakeaways Pressconferencesareeventswhereinformationisdistributedandwherethemediacanaskquestions.Theseeventsareheldtorespondtopositiveandnegativenews,forproductlaunches,ortoinformthemediaandpublicaboutanyotherinformationaboutacompany.Mostpressconferencesareannouncedthroughapressrelease,whichisawell-craftedwrittenstatementoutliningthenatureoftheconference.Pressconferencesareusuallyconductedbyacompany'sexecutivemanagement,pressliaison,orcommunicationsofficer.Lesser-knowncompaniescanholdpressconferencestoincreasebrandawarenesswhileestablishedcompaniescansharenewsinthemostpositivelightandincreasetheirstature. UnderstandingaPressConference Pressconferencesareheldbycompaniesorindividualsandareattendedbythemedia.Duringtheevent,oneormorespeakersmayaddressthoseattending.Reportersmaythenbeabletoaskquestions. Beforeapressconferencetakesplace,acompanymayissueapressrelease,outliningthenatureoftheevent.Attimes,theseareissuedwellinadvanceoftheconference. Acompanyhastheopportunitytopresentanewsstoryinitsmostfavorablelightbyinvitingthepresstospecialevents.Inothercases,lesser-knowncompaniesmaywanttoincreasetheirstatureinthemediabymakingiteasierfornewsagenciestocovercompanyevents. Bygainingfavorablemediaexposure,companiesareabletogaingreaterbrandrecognitionandauthorityinthemarket,usuallyatamuchlowercostthanwouldberequiredforawidespreadadvertisingcampaign. Pressconferencesarealsocallednewsconferences.Whenthereisnoofficialstatementornoquestionsallowed,theeventiscalledaphotoop. WhyHoldaPressConference? Therearemanyreasonswhycompanieschoosetoholdpressconferences.Theymaybecalledtodoanyofthefollowing: Respondtoearnings,othernews,orcontroversies Announcethedepartureoradditionofanewexecutive Unveilanewproductionfacility Announcethereleaseofanewproductoramergeroracquisition Ofcourse,thesearejustsomeoftheinstanceswhenacompanymaycallaconference.Insomecases,companiesmaytimetheirpressconferencesbeforeanynewsbreaks.Thiscanbebeneficialtogetaheadofanynegativenewstoportraythecompanyinanhonestandtruthfullightasopposedtoacompanythatwastryingtohidethenegativenews. ThingstoConsiderBeforethePressConference Beforeholdingthepressconference—orpresserasthey'reknowntojournalists—thereareafewkeypointsacompanywillconsider. First,isthepressrelease.Inadditiontoannouncingtheconference,thereleaseshouldbewellcrafted.Itshouldbeclear,concise,andtothepoint.Butitshouldalsoaddresstheissueathand,whetherthat'sapositiveannouncementlikeaproductlaunch,orinresponsetonegativenewsorcontroversy. Thefollowupafterthepressconferenceisjustasimportant,soanyqueriesthatareansweredafterwillcarrythesameweight. Thelocationofthepresserisalsoreallyimportant.Itshouldbeabletoaccommodatethenumberofattendeesandshouldhavealinktowhat'sbeingannounced.Acompanymaydecidetoholdtheconferenceattheproductionfacilityorinaretailstoreifit'saboutanewproductlaunch. Anotherconsiderationiswhotoinvite.Companiesgenerallyhavealistofmediawhoareapprisedoftheconferencewithacopyofthepressrelease.Theinvitation,justliketherelease,shouldbewellcraftedinordertogetthemaximumlevelofpeopleinterested. CompareAccounts AdvertiserDisclosure × TheoffersthatappearinthistablearefrompartnershipsfromwhichInvestopediareceivescompensation.Thiscompensationmayimpacthowandwherelistingsappear.Investopediadoesnotincludealloffersavailableinthemarketplace. Provider Name Description RelatedTerms WhatIsViralMarketing? ViralmarketingseekstospreadinformationaboutaproductorservicefrompersontopersonbywordofmouthorsharingviatheInternetoremail. more WhatIsSocialNetworking? Socialnetworkingistheuseofinternet-basedsocialmediaprogramstomakeconnectionswithfriends,family,colleagues,orcustomers. more WhatIsVisibilityinBusiness? Visibilityreferstoportrayingtheextenttowhichacompany'smanagementoranalystscanestimatefutureperformance. more Groupof20(G-20) TheGroupof20,orG-20,isagroupoffinanceministersandcentralbankgovernorsfrom19oftheworld'slargesteconomiesandtheEuropeanUnion. more WhatIstheGlassCeiling? Theglassceilingisaninvisiblesystemicbarrierthatpreventswomenandminoritiesfromrisingtosenior-levelpositionswithinanorganization. more WhatDoestheWorldEconomicForum(WEF)Do? TheWorldEconomicForum(WEF)holdsayearlyconferenceinDavos,Switzerland,forleadersinbusinessandpoliticstodiscussglobalissues. more PartnerLinks RelatedArticles MarketingEssentials PublicRelationsOfferBusinessesaCompetitiveAdvantage TechStocks HowElonMuskUsesTwitter News InsidetheBerkshireHathawayShareholdermeeting BusinessLeaders WhoIsTimCook? CareerAdvice 7WaysToMakeExecutiveRecruitersNoticeYou Stocks HowtoAttendBerkshireHathaway'sAnnualMeeting