Before I entered my first press conference I always held this idea about the concept of a press conference that is usually pretty simple, and in many cases, universal. There is a stage, or a podium, where the speakers give introductions and short speeches. It’s surrounded by chairs lined up in even rows, as well as standing and attentive audience members from all walks of life. This, of course, was not my first experience at a press conference. My experience was anything other than a “regular” press conference. On January 13, 2015, the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce in Shelton, CT, hosted a press conference that was treated with warmth and a welcoming manner that started from the moment you enter the building. Yes, the tradition of a press conference was still present, but there was so much more that was done behind the scenes that made the press conference uniquely their own to those who were attending. Those who were attending the press conference entered from a cold January Morning and where greeted at the Chamber atrium with a smile. As the reporters and guest entered the large halls with their blazers and blouses, they were instantly surrounded with the aroma of freshly placed pastries, fruits, and hot brewed coffee. This brought smiles to many of those attending the press conference, including the speakers who were lined up to give short important speech’s, it was a great gesture that made everyone feel welcomed. The small refreshment area allowed for those to engage and hold conversations with one another, giving those around a sense of community and ease. The scenery inside the Chamber atrium held beautifully designed board presentations and banners. The speeches began with President of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, Bill Purcell, where he gave his welcoming and regional impact speech. During this time I can start to hear and see the flashes of cameras, as well as see reporters of Valley Independent Sentinel, the Connecticut Post, and others writing notes in their little notebooks of the event.This was the first time I stood in the same room with reporters, reporting the press conference in real time. It was an exciting and new experience. Each speaker gave a short speech and interacted with the audience on a personal level. The speeches felt more like a one on one conversation and that was not something that I pictured in a press conference setting. The final and beyond outreaching aspect of the press conference was NBC Connecticut News filming the conference towards the end of the event. Overall, the hosted press conference was a successful event, and it was successful because of the small, thoughtful, and engaging steps taken before the event actually started. My first experience at the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce press conferences reached beyond the realms of just Press conferences, but it left me with a sense of community. - Intern Stephanie Chang Images of The Behind The Scenes Setup |
CategoriesAuthorsGreater Valley Chamber Staff, Interns & Members Archives
November 2023
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