This is Part 1 of a 2-part series on organizing a publicity event for your historic preservation group. Part 2 discusses How to Plan a Publicity Event for Your Historic Preservation Group.

A publicity event is the ideal way to communicate information about a newsworthy or milestone event. Common publicity events for preservation groups include press conferences, ribbon cuttings, and dedication ceremonies.

All of these events share many of the same planning needs, but press conferences differ in one critical way. A press conference must be assembled quickly — even within a day. Ribbon-cutting events and dedication ceremonies are less time-sensitive. They can usually be planned weeks or months in advance.

Reasons to Hold a Press Conference

A press conference is designed to heighten awareness and interest in a newsworthy topic or event. For example, you might hold a press conference to launch a new grant program to help rehabilitate multiple buildings in a transitional part of town.

A press conference provides a forum for the news media to gather information quickly through direct questions and answers. Although your board, staff, and most dedicated volunteers might attend your press conference, usually these events are held exclusively for the press.

Reasons to Organize a Ribbon-Cutting Event

The purpose of a ribbon-cutting event is to celebrate the opening or groundbreaking of a building or site. Unlike press conferences, ribbon cuttings are usually open to all interested parties. When you host a ribbon-cutting event, you'll want to communicate key messages to both the public and the press. You should invite multiple speakers to present different elements of your project success story.

When you organize a ribbon-cutting event, you can include panels with floor plans and a breakdown of funding sources presented on easels. You might also use a little theatrics: unveil a plan, ceremonially dig in the dirt, or cut an actual ribbon.

Reasons to Organize a Dedication Ceremony

A dedication ceremony is a terrific way to celebrate a property's local landmark designation or listing on the State or National Register—and to share it with the community at large. You can recognize the property's historic designation with a plaque and unveil it at the ceremony. Be sure to inform the press about your ceremony with a press advisory or press release.

Go to Part 2 of this article, How to Plan a Publicity Event for Your Historic Preservation Group.

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