A press conference is where an organization releases information to reporters. News is recorded and intended for the public, but embargoed news may be given to reporters in advance. Reliable sources are valued by journalists, and a press conference can be planned or impromptu. Communication technology can be used for virtual conferences.
A press conference is a place where a person or organization releases information to reporters and journalists. Conference leaders will generally create a list of specific individuals and media representatives who will be invited to the event. These invitees may receive a press pass, which is sometimes a formal letter of invitation or may simply be an acknowledgment that the person is a legitimate representative of the press.
News released at a conference is considered recorded, meaning that the information is intended for dissemination to the general public. Before the press conference, a reporter may be given the exact same information in advance, but may be told that the news must be embargoed until the actual conference. Such information released to a group of reporters prior to a press event, or disclosed to a reporter for the purpose of providing background information, may be unrecorded. Giving a reporter unofficial information works on an honor system. A journalist who breaches classified or embargoed information will likely suffer a loss of reputation and never hear from that source again.
For the typical reporter, cultivating a stable of reliable sources ensures that the reporter will have the opportunity to report an event before a rival. This is referred to as a “scoop” or breaking news. News reporting is a highly competitive industry, and reliable sources that can provide insider tips to a reporter are highly valued by journalists. The news embargo allows a group of journalists an equal opportunity to report the news on a more level playing field. By having a foreknowledge of what will be discussed, the reporter will be better prepared to ask appropriate questions during the conference, rather than having to think quickly and compete with other reporters in answering questions.
At a high-profile press conference, reporters jockey for position for an answer to a question. An example of a high-profile conference would be a press conference where a famous person or high-level politician responds to a public disclosure of a scandal or addresses fears in the wake of a disaster. A press conference can be planned or impromptu. In some English-speaking nations, an impromptu press conference can be referred to as a media scrum. Press conferences that are convened to release information that is more promotional in nature than a newsworthy event are a pseudo event.
Communication technology, such as video conferencing, can be used to conduct a press conference, as it allows questions to be accepted from those who are not physically present. The “conference” for a telephone press conference was used in 2011 when the US Census results were released. Callers waited in line by telephone for an opportunity to ask census officials specific questions.
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