12-26-2019, 04:08 PM
Beaulieu Park: Speeches, Press Conferences, and Press Releases
Under the new press system, speeches, press releases (PRs), and press conferences will all be posted in Beaulieu Park (this forum) and will receive a mark based on quality and message.
However, it is important to distinguish between speeches and press releases and their distinct impacts.
Press Releases
A press release is a memo sent out to major media outlets detailing your individual or party stance on a particular issue, highlighting events in parliament, or publicizing things you as an MP or a Government/Opposition have done recently. They are used to draw attention to events or policy stances in the hope that this will be picked up by the media.
A press release should not be a speech. It should include quotes from the relevant author or from other players if you so wish, but its purpose is to inform the press and as such should read like a press release. If you haven't done a press release before, then here is an example.
An important point to make is that the media isn't going to read through 500 press releases if you choose to release that many. There are diminishing returns to continually posting press releases saying virtually the same thing. As long as your message is clear and well-articulated, one press release in as good as ten.
Speeches
Speeches are made to a certain group of people, such as a trade union or a business organization, with the content of the speech generally then being known across related channels (if you speak to one trade union, then you can be fairly sure other trade unions will hear what you said, although they obviously weren't there to hear it). Generally, only speeches made by the Prime Minister/Leader of the Opposition or speeches that unveil significant policy receive extensive media coverage.
A speech's advantage is that it allows you to talk directly to a group of people about an issue that concerns them and to go into detail on the specifics of policy, as well as allowing you to show off some rhetorical flare. Their impact is not as wide as a successful press release but it is more powerful when well focussed, and so a good speech should be focussed on the issues the group you're addressing is concerned with.
Speeches, as said above, are to specific groups of people. Not to journalists outside of the Palace of Parliament. There is no one outside the Parliament building just dying to hear a 1,000-word speech or so.
Generally, you will need permission to make a speech to a specific group, although you may freely speak to a group of supporters or party members in a given location if you wish.
Press Conferences
A Press Conference is where you invite a lot of media and invite them to grill you. It consists of a short opening speech (remember, the media aren't your party members, they don't want to listen to a flowy rhetorical speech for half an hour) after which the press will be able to ask questions.
Press Conferences, especially by significant individuals garner a great deal of media attention. However, they come with stipulations. Obviously, engaging with the press entails its own risks. A press conference also needs a raison d'etre; that is, you shouldn't call a press conference to complain about the Prime Minister's conduct. A press conference is best used to announce a new policy or something of that magnitude.
As such, only the Prime Minister, the President, and cabinet ministers (includes Leader of Oppo and shadow cabinet figures) as a rule should be calling press conferences. Of course, if a high profile backbencher is launching some campaign, private members bill, or such sort, a press conference is appropriate, but otherwise, there won't be much reason for them to do so.
TL;DR
What do you want to achieve? Who do you want to target your message to? Consider this:
Under the new press system, speeches, press releases (PRs), and press conferences will all be posted in Beaulieu Park (this forum) and will receive a mark based on quality and message.
However, it is important to distinguish between speeches and press releases and their distinct impacts.
Press Releases
A press release is a memo sent out to major media outlets detailing your individual or party stance on a particular issue, highlighting events in parliament, or publicizing things you as an MP or a Government/Opposition have done recently. They are used to draw attention to events or policy stances in the hope that this will be picked up by the media.
A press release should not be a speech. It should include quotes from the relevant author or from other players if you so wish, but its purpose is to inform the press and as such should read like a press release. If you haven't done a press release before, then here is an example.
An important point to make is that the media isn't going to read through 500 press releases if you choose to release that many. There are diminishing returns to continually posting press releases saying virtually the same thing. As long as your message is clear and well-articulated, one press release in as good as ten.
Speeches
Speeches are made to a certain group of people, such as a trade union or a business organization, with the content of the speech generally then being known across related channels (if you speak to one trade union, then you can be fairly sure other trade unions will hear what you said, although they obviously weren't there to hear it). Generally, only speeches made by the Prime Minister/Leader of the Opposition or speeches that unveil significant policy receive extensive media coverage.
A speech's advantage is that it allows you to talk directly to a group of people about an issue that concerns them and to go into detail on the specifics of policy, as well as allowing you to show off some rhetorical flare. Their impact is not as wide as a successful press release but it is more powerful when well focussed, and so a good speech should be focussed on the issues the group you're addressing is concerned with.
Speeches, as said above, are to specific groups of people. Not to journalists outside of the Palace of Parliament. There is no one outside the Parliament building just dying to hear a 1,000-word speech or so.
Generally, you will need permission to make a speech to a specific group, although you may freely speak to a group of supporters or party members in a given location if you wish.
Press Conferences
A Press Conference is where you invite a lot of media and invite them to grill you. It consists of a short opening speech (remember, the media aren't your party members, they don't want to listen to a flowy rhetorical speech for half an hour) after which the press will be able to ask questions.
Press Conferences, especially by significant individuals garner a great deal of media attention. However, they come with stipulations. Obviously, engaging with the press entails its own risks. A press conference also needs a raison d'etre; that is, you shouldn't call a press conference to complain about the Prime Minister's conduct. A press conference is best used to announce a new policy or something of that magnitude.
As such, only the Prime Minister, the President, and cabinet ministers (includes Leader of Oppo and shadow cabinet figures) as a rule should be calling press conferences. Of course, if a high profile backbencher is launching some campaign, private members bill, or such sort, a press conference is appropriate, but otherwise, there won't be much reason for them to do so.
TL;DR
What do you want to achieve? Who do you want to target your message to? Consider this:
- Speech: Selling something to a specific group of people.
- Press Conference: Announcing a new policy, initiative or campaign.
- Press Release: Any issue that you want to bring to the attention of the mass media and wish to receive broad media coverage.