Description of media relation activities

Upon our advice, ProPager chose for the media activities related to the Roadshow in Buglaria, the PR Agency “Creative Solutions”. Our partner was constantly in contact with the European Representation in Sofia and the main medias in the country. The work of the PR gave a lot greater impact of the Roadshow.

Establishment of media relation (Work done by the PR agency):
•    Preparing a media list – nation-wide & local media (Some are mentioned earlier in this document. Full list will be sent directly to ProPager by the PR agent.)
•    Preparing a list of PRs in the cities, we were about to visit
•    Preparing a press-release in Bulgarian
•    Contacting all available national and local media through phone and e-mail. Where possible personal contacts were established.
•    Press-clipping
•    Preparing a press kit for the media
•    Producing radio chronicle and video broadcasting

Organization of the press conference:
•    Invitation of journalists and follow-up with them
•    Invitation of representatives of the European Parliament representation in Sofia
•    Invitation of representatives of the European Commission representation in Sofia
•    Engaging a conference moderator
•    Preparation of the scenario for the Press Conference
•    Working with Bulgarian journalists to arrange maximum media coverage
•    Arranging a professional photographer to  take photos of the road show teams, the pressconference and pilot stand on 11th.
•    Editing the texts in Buglarian for the press kit
•    Regularly and timely sending press releases to Bulgarian media

The press conference took place on November 11th 2008 at 11:30 o’clock in the Info-center of the European Commission Representation in Sofia.

Speakers:
o    Mrs. Zinaida Zlatanova, Head of the European Commission Representation - welcome introduction
o    Mr. Carl- Henrik Hamrin from DG “Justice, Freedom and Security “ of the European Commission - description of the campaign
o    Mr. Mihail Hristov, Representative of the Information office of the European Parliament representation in Bulgaria - European citizenship in Bulgarian context
o    Mr. Daniel Vankov, Chairman of “Open Youth” and coordinator of the campaign – Practical issues about the campaign (website, route, preparation, teams, expected outcomes, etc.)

After the speeches, the opportunity was given to the journalists to take interviews with animators and speakers. After it all participants in the press conference went to “Sveta Nedelia” square for a pilot opening of a stand. It was done by Mr. Hamrin. Though, unofficially started, the campaign gathered a lot of attention from citizens. At the end a catering service was organised and journalists could make individual interviews with the speakers and animators again as well as with ordinary citizens.

Journalists who took part in the Press Conference are shown in the Sofia part of the actions’ description.

Organisation of media presence in each city of the Roadshow
In order to make the Roadshow successful not only at national level but also at regional and local level, the PR agency paid special attention to inform and invite the local journalists to visits the stand. The activity was reinforced by:
•    Personal contacts
•    Instucting the team members to give special attention to visiting journalists
•    Working closer with local authorities and their PRs
•    Participating in 5 towns personally: in Sofia – for the pressconference on 11th and the stand opening on 12th of November, in Plovdiv – November 16th, in Veliko Turnovo – November 18th, in Yambol – November 21st and in Burgas – November 22nd.
•    Writing press-releases especially for each city to be visited.
•    Sending local press-releases to the local media and to local authorities PRs.

Monitoring
See the PR annex for all press, radio and TV broadcasts and Internet publications.

Download stories from:

Alma Mater Radio cafe

Radio Focus

Darik Radio

Bulgarian National Television

Evrokom

TV2