Press at a tournament

Running Chess Tournaments
1

Going to have a experience at my (Western Michigan Open) event, never had to deal with this problem before. They (Ramblewood) want to have a news crew (Wood TV 8 ), and the (Grand Rapids Press) newspaper to be at my event. Knowing it would be great press coverage for all parties, it would be great for the club (Greater Grand Rapids Chess Club), important to the property site (Ramblewood), with the pitch for the Michigan Chess Association and the United States Chess Federation.

Since I would be a spokesman, making the case for the club and the United States Chess Federation. Want to make a effective case, that there are federation members in the state of Michigan. They would be asking questions of me being a director, do not want to make the statement of that as a mode of self importance. With handing a press release to the ‘Grand Rapids Press’, want to inform them of how many active USCF members are in the state of Michigan. If they ask questions of me being the director, want to tell them of how many active directors there are in the state of Michigan. With hard numbers of clubs, locals, seniors – as the understanding I know there are 7 seniors and 20 local directors, clubs not even a clue in the state. With it being a tournament, the press release of how many tournaments were performed in the state of Michigan for the year 2004 would also help.

The main problem, since the plan to have the news crew, and the newspaper in the tournament site. Have made up my mind, if the photographer wish to take pictures during the tournament, that the flash would be turned off. As the flash of light would bother the players during the game. Since the news crew would be there, feel they would only take a few minutes of tape of the tournament site. With the newspaper, the reported would be there for a hour or so, with the photographer could be at the site during the whole event to find that right picture.

Would like some help with the press release. If you have a number of ideas please post them. If you have ideas with the news crew, with the reporter and photographer, would like some feedback. If Im going to talk about the federation (press release), need something with harder facts then something off the top of my head.

2

Douglas,

I have been lucky to do some media interviews at National events (Blind, Scholastics, National Open,…). the media was never interested in how many TDs a state had, let alone their TD certification level. Those are details only important behind the scenes. The media is looking for a public view to share with non- USCF players.

They are interested in the event that is being held. Why it is being held, who is there, who can play, how can someone get more involved.

Sometimes the topic of computers and Fisher comes up, but not often.

The media is looking for a “hook” about the event. Something that will make it more than just a normal chess tournament. That “hook” can often be found in the players at the event. A former champ, GM, diverse attendance, number of players, blind players, family attendance, special site, championship titles, number of scholastic players, where someone can get more info…

Keep it general in nature. The media is not interested in many of the details we TDs/organizers feel are important. They are not overly interested in a long explaination of the rating sytem.

If they ask about how the winner is determined a simple explaination about opponets with similar won-lost scores plaing each other game after game, with the best score at the end of X number of games determining the winner, works well sometimes.

You might want to ask USCF for a press kit (try Joan Dubois).

Tim

3

Tim:

I sure will.