WonkComms Breakfast Club Berlin: Leveraging the News Cycle

Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 9:00–10:00 a.m. (CET). An optional 30-minute networking session will immediately follow as of 10:00 a.m.

Address: MERICS, Alte Jakobstrasse 85-86, 10179 Berlin

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Today’s social media platforms can reach people directly in a way that wasn’t possible a decade ago. But the fact remains that if you want to influence a lot of people, nothing beats a good writeup in a major news outlet.

And yet, as news cycles get shorter and stories break 280 characters at a time, how do think tanks – not typically known for our off-the-cuff analyses or quick turnarounds – fit in?

WonkComms Breakfast Clubs are a series of informal events bringing together think tank comms professionals to discuss issues of common interest and work together to tackle questions like these.

In this event, we’ll be looking at ways that think tank communicators can fit in with the news cycle and work at the same pace as journalists. We’ll be thinking about how to construct press releases that fit in with the news agenda and current events. And we’ll be exploring approaches to communicating with journalists that help to maximise your chances of good coverage.

Our conversation will be kickstarted by Claudia Wessling, who will share lessons from MERICS work with news organisations as well as her previous work as a journalist; and Anja Wehler-Schöck, who will discuss the ways that she uses think tank work in her role as International Editor at Tagesspiegel.

Coffee, croissants and comms—what could be a better start to your morning?

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Speakers:

, Director Communications and Publications at MERICS

, International Editor at Tagesspiegel

Moderator:

, Head of Communications at German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)

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About WonkComms Breakfast Clubs: WonkComms is a global network of think tank communications professionals who share ideas and best practices. Our first event was in the UK in 2013 and we have since expanded our activities to the USA, Latin America, Spain, Germany and Belgium. We organise informal events on subjects that are of practical interest to our community. You can find us on X and LinkedIn.The WonkComms Breakfast Club series in Berlin is organised by Soapbox.

Host or Publisher WonkComms