Environmental journalists and reporters will share their insights regarding how professional natural resources manager can access the media to convey the foresty message to the general public. SAF members will also discuss their successes in communicating the forestry message.

Two panels will make for an intriquing 3 hour session. The first panel will be comprised of of local, regional,and national print and broadcast reporters. These members of the media will share tips and techniques with natural resources managers about the intricies of how to successfully place the forestry message in the print and broadcast media. They will go beyond the world of press releases and letters to the editor by telling attendeees how to make their news really newsworthy. Yes, they’ll talk about the “ABCs” of media relations. But they will also inform attendees about the “absolute musts” and the cardinal sins of media relations. They will share with attendees tricks for capturing the media’s imagination and reveal their insight into what makes a great news story.

The second panel will comprise of SAF members who will share stories of how they successfully approached the media. They will share tales of how they fearlessly called or visited reporters and consequently had their viewpoints represented in the media. Some will even tell of stories of how they developed relationships where members of the media called them for their expertise and insight into natural resources issues.

New knowledge, skills, or insights that participants will gain from session: 1) Tips for placing the forestry message in the media. 2) Emerging forestry issues that have the most media appeal 3) Success stories of how other SAF members have placed the SAF forestry in the media.