The newest edition of Balkan Civic Practices carries the title “Media Relations – Guide for Civil Society Organizations”. Civil society organisations (CSOs) have more or less diverse experiences with media and journalists. Very often, the activities, projects, and efforts of CSOs are ignored, poorly understood or falsely presented. As could be deducted from numerous discussions with various CSOs from Slovenia and the Western Balkan countries, many have similar remarks, complaints and fears about the media. This guide attempts to give answer to most common questions, doubts and misconceptions about the media while communicating and working with them.
The introductory chapter talks about the relevance of media and media relations for CSOs. The second chapter introduces specific character and functioning of the media – their logic, rules and ways. The third chapter gives suggestions on how to communicate with the media and organise CSOs media work. It presents some tools and techniques of media relations – press release, press conference, interview and media events. Chapter four presents a conclusion and a practical check-up list when organizing different types of media events. The final chapter gives suggestions for further reading and links to useful websites.
The author of the guide is Kristina Plavšak Krajnc, M.I.A. from Slovenia. She has been active in the field of media relations and public communication since 1996. She is the founding member and the director of Media Forum, Center for Public Communication, Ljubljana. Currently she is advisor to the President of Republic of Slovenia, on cooperation with CSOs.
The guide is published by the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC), Skopje, Macedonia. The publication was prepared in partnership with Center for Information Service, Cooperation and Development of NGOs (CNVOS), Ljubljana, Slovenia (development of the guide), Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization (EHO), Novi Sad, Serbia (translation and distribution in Serbia) and Diakonia Agapes (DA), Tirana, Albania (translation and distribution in Albania).
Balkan Civic Practices is a periodical publication of BCSDN and is published once to twice a year. Every issue contains articles on a focus theme and related topics, based on previously held seminar/workshop/training on the same topic. The selection of topics is done by the network. Additional to the English edition, the publication is available in three regional languages (Albanian, Serbian/Croatian, and Macedonian). The publication has been produced with the financial support by the EC.
Balkan Civic Practices #4 (PDF): English , Macedonian , Serbian/Croatian , Albanian
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
1.1 Why the media are important for the CSOs
1.2 What are media relations
CHAPTER 2
Knowing and understanding the media
2.1 What and who are media and journalists
2.2 How do different media work
CHAPTER 3
Working with the media
3.1 How to communicate with the media
3.2 How to efficiently organize media relations
3.3 Tools and techniques of media relations
Press release
Press conference
Interview
Media events
CHAPTER 4
Conclusion and check-up list
CHAPTER 5
Further reading and links
Hard copies in limited addition are available at the network Secretariat at:
Macedonian Center for International Cooperation
Nikola Parapunov bb.
P.O.Box 55
1060-Skopje
Macedonia
Tel.: + 389 (0)2 30 65 381 int. 184
Fax: + 389 (0)2 30 65 298
E-mail: secretariat@balkancsd.net
Website: http://www.balkancsd.net
Albanian edition can be requested from:
Diakonia Agapes
Ruga: "Durrësit”
PO Box 1545
Tirana, Albania
Tel.: + 355 4 25 63 68
Fax: + 355 4 23 05 64
Serbian edition can be requested from:
Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization
Cirila i Metodija 21
21000 Novi Sad
Serbia
Tel.: + 381 21 469 588
Fax: + 381 21 496 616/466 911
E-mail: office@ehons.org
Website: http://www.ehons.org
Resources