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ent justified - is it worth the cost to the organization and the t~{ the guests? Or would a news release be sufficient? This is a
rortant decision, As a consultant, the author found that clients ~l~id' press receptions, and sometimes had to be dissuaded from
- e;iiliite and time of day
.hairman, may thir:k it, convenient to hold a press reception at ~~!,on a Fnday evemng, journalists may prefer one at 11 am on a I#~.•.~d .. ay morning, and th~ cha!rman's wishes will ~e irreleval:t. The 1e,~r-'rtlUst be held when It SUItS the press, otherwise there WIll be a ~turn-out, little coverage and a heavy bill for a wasted effort. ;I.~fIj~e are two rules fO,r the c~10ice of date and time, and neither of ~:lS easy to obey satisfactonly:
I~ to avoid clashing with some major event or another press ~ction, To some extent one can check that it is not Wimbledon ~eek, the Chels~a Flower Show or the Derby, One can ring press
I, ~ends and ask If they have heard of anythmg else on the same ~~~ay, However, a problem is that the public relations practitioner It~ay plan l~s rece~tion three months in advance and someone less ~~~ell orgamzed WIll choose the same date only three weeks m 11. ;j.a._ .• ,.avance, Time of day is important, and for most receptions in lCondon it is best if the proceedings begin in mid-morning and
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--~ close with a buffet lunch - that is, from about 11.30 am to l:I3t11
2 Try to choose a day which satisfies copy date needs. Day"~~ week is important because the end of the .week is poor fQ~ newspapers, and too late for some magazmes. The weeH~t~ month is important for monthly magazines which may go ti?~~if~ before the middle of the month. 111
So, as a gen:ral rule, early in.the day, .early in the week and e~i the month will SUIt the physical requirements of most pUbli~rr~r; However, many of the big-circulation women's magazines wilfili~ the story three months in advance. That is why receptions forCl)~l mas gifts are held in July/Augus.t, ones for centra! .heating in'~~ May, and those for summer holidays (January editions) are q~I;(Cjl September/October. To publish stories coinciding with the M:1f~1 Ideal Home Exhibition, the press reception needs to be h~1!l:tt November'~a
Venue :i.
Again, the convenience of the guests is a first consideration,rlfttl than the glamour of the place. In a city centre, like London, the vliru~
should be easily reached on foot or by taxi. Remember that journa:!iSii
may have more than one reception to attend. In provincial cities it)1)~ be more important that there are good car-parking facilities if gtJ~s;t1: are coming from surrounding towns. The venue should have ,g~ conference facilities ranging from catering to AVs. ;fit
Allowance has to be made for the fact that in London the press'fcite n?t c:ntralized in and around Fleet Street, but are scattered i_
directions, ;i!I
Programme .•
A timed programme should be drawn up when the event is b~t!g
Planned. If it is a facility visit, the timetable must include everyt1ij;l)~ ~%f~ from the assembly of the party at a railway station, coach pic~~,
point or airport to their return. There may not be a great deal of aGat~ visit time if a factory stops work for lunch at 12 noon and closes fo~p~ day at 4 pm. How is the party collected early enough to reach:;t!r~ venue in time to make a tour or see demonstrations before an(l@!]
after lunch? This may determine the form of transportation, perh.'f~
require the provision of breakfast. It may be necessary for the PR9;'O!~ consultant to go over the route and tour and time the various stage~ on foot, by car and so on - allowing, for example, for the time it t~~~~