| This article will explain the purpose of a press | | | | for Alaska and work hard to support others who seek |
| conference. It will give you recent examples of poor | | | | to serve. She says she doesn't need a title to make a |
| use and tips on how to set up your own successful | | | | difference and help people. She is setting her state |
| press conference. | | | | free to progress by not seeking re-election and |
| Press conferences have a purpose. You gather | | | | immediately transferring the power to her Lt. Governor. |
| together press to make an announcement or give | | | | I understand not seeking election. I am not sure why |
| them information that will fuel their writing or talking | | | | she cannot finish her time in office. She uses an |
| about you in their media. You want bloggers to blog | | | | analogy and tells us she is using one. Please do not |
| about your, the public to give you information, TV | | | | assume the media is stupid and think you mean |
| people to talk about your, radio people to report about | | | | everything literally. |
| you, and newspapers and magazines to write articles | | | | She uses the term Politics as Usual over and over |
| about you. In extreme cases, you want the kidnappers | | | | again. And talks about polling her kids (not her |
| to give your loved one back. You have to give some | | | | husband). One day she tells us her details. She talks |
| information or facts, and then everyone can take it | | | | about Trig being mocked by people, yet, there he is, in |
| from there. | | | | the public. You cannot have it both ways. Have your |
| People may ask questions that you have to deal with | | | | children in the media and no one talk about them. |
| or you can say sorry, no questions at the end and | | | | Strangely she says the world needs more Trigs. I have |
| walk away. It's like a buffet, you put it out there, and | | | | not seen the media make a comment on that, |
| people take what they need or want and leave. You | | | | however, I am sure it's coming. She says she is putting |
| cannot control what is written about you. You can | | | | first things first and first she loves her job. She says |
| greatly influence what is written by how you handle | | | | she is calling an audible and passing the ball so her |
| the Press conference. Always remember, YOU are | | | | team can win. 20 minutes of a speech that says |
| the one invited people to the party, so it better be | | | | nothing but I am stepping down. |
| good. | | | | When you do not supply any facts, then the media will |
| Here a few bad examples: Sarah Palin (you knew I | | | | make it up. They have to say something. They have |
| would go there): First of all, get a sitter for your children. | | | | to justify the time they spent on your story. It's best to |
| The beginning of her press conference, you have to | | | | say something so they do not have to make it up. |
| try and hear over her child. Holidays are a great time | | | | Another bad example is one of the first Press |
| to get a story out because most media staff is out. | | | | Conferences from Michael Jackson's Family. Upon his |
| She gives the history of Alaska, talks about Alaska's | | | | death, not many family members were talking. |
| purpose and destiny. She talks of her administrations | | | | However, the press did find Joe Jackson, his father, |
| accomplishments and uses the example of working | | | | who promptly announced his new record label. I think |
| tirelessly for Alaskans. Not being from Alaska or living | | | | someone did tell him to stop talking to the press |
| in Alaska, at this point in the press conference, I do not | | | | directly after that. If the press has questions for you, |
| care about anything she has said yet. She is proud to | | | | just answer them. |
| take credit for hiring the right people and not taking a | | | | Here are some tips for good results from a press |
| pay raise. She praises her team and says she wishes | | | | conference: |
| the media would tell them more about how good they | | | | 1. Give some real facts that have to do with your real |
| are doing. | | | | reason for being there. General historical facts do not |
| Palin explains why she is not taking any federal dollars. | | | | count. |
| Then she says again, you don't hear about the good | | | | 2. Do not bad mouth media during your press |
| stuff in media. Take a hint lady, you cannot speak | | | | conference |
| badly about the press and then want them to carry a | | | | 3. Control the environment. The wind and your baby |
| message for you. First she says Alaska has had to | | | | crying can be a great distraction. |
| use tax payer money to deal with the investigations. | | | | 4. Speak slowly. Trying to talk fast makes it sound like |
| Then she says that she has personally incurred over | | | | you are not sincere. |
| $500k in legal bills to defend herself and she has to | | | | 5. Make the press release as visual as possible, have |
| deal with this instead of working for Alaska. | | | | plenty of photo opportunities. |
| She says she is making a choice to build up and fight | | | | |