A one-day seminar on PR and media relations for IHEU member organisations and their representatives. The Media and PR training will be carried out by Duncan Crary who is Director of Communications at the Institute for Humanist Studies (IHS).

Attendees must pre-register by sending email to and .

Duncan Crary writes:

If possible, I would like to receive in advance a sample press release from each group attending.* This will help me to have some individualized comments right from the start. I can also project samples to the group and we can over them together.

(*It's OK if they don't have one.)

Attendees can send their sample release directly to with the subject line: "IHEU-Media".

Here's a basic outline for the half-day:

FIRST HALF

I. What is the goal of media relations?

II. How to write a press release

1. The basics
a. selecting a topic/issue
b. the format
c. style & technique

2. Go over sample press releases from group and critique as group

3. Workshop
a. Break up into groups and write original press release
b. Regroup, share and critique

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SECOND HALF

III. How to issue a press release

a. How to build a media contact list
b. email, faxing, mailing, calling

I.V. How to interview with the press

1. What to say
a. soundbytes
b. message
c. key promotional info

2. What not to say

3. Mock interviews (time permitting)

IV. Publicity events

V. Other types of mass communications and promotion (Web site, e-zine, podcast, etc)