FIFTH NATIONAL CONSERVATION CONGRESS 27 



discussion of needed laws and practice and go home with no more knowledge 

 of how to make your community let you apply them? 



Nothing more clearly indicates the neglect of this subject by American 

 foresters than the difficulty met by this subcommittee in finding material for 

 compilation in its report. Hardly any writers have discussed it in a compre- 

 hensive way. Publicity devices are borrowed and changed more or less, but 

 few -men are giving them much original thought. Forest legislation is notori- 

 ously retarded by lack of skilful, well-financed campaigning. So-called press 

 bulletin work is growing in popularity with forestry organizations, public and 

 private, but is often defeating its own strength by failure to present real news 

 in newspaper form. Cartooning, the greatest modern educative medium, is 

 employed the least. The purpose of this report, however, is not to discuss past 

 failures or past achievements, but to outline the main directions in which forestry 

 publicity should be developed. 



PUBLICITY AT MEETINGS OF POPULAR AND TECHNICAL ORGANIZATIONS 



THIS topic embraces forestry meetings of all kinds and also other meetings 

 where forestry is touched upon to some degree but over the arrangements 

 of which forest workers do not have control. We have little excuse if 

 the former are not successful educative mediums. With the latter we must do 

 the best we can. 



The publicity value of a forestry meeting is affected by its earliest pre- 

 liminary arrangements. If there is choice of meeting place, it should be with a 

 view not only of attendance but also of local advertising values. A town with 

 economic connection with the subject, or with historical or other attractions, is 

 better than one with no point to exploit. Other things being equal, local press 

 facilities are important. A town too small to have its own press notices recog- 

 nized elsewhere, or so large that it minimizes the importance of its own hap- 

 penings, is not as likely to help as one that will seek to make the meeting advertise 

 it. It is often unwise to select a place where another and more locally or gener- 

 ally important convention is to be held simultaneously. Your meeting is over- 

 shadowed by the other. 



Another early factor is the program. There is not much publicity in the 

 mere announcement that there is to be a meeting. There must be a basis for 

 continued interest. This requires organization well in advance down to the last 

 detail. Choose several live, interesting topics, advertise good speakers, intimate 

 the probability of newsy facts or controversies — all this early and often. If 

 possible announce innovation in subject, treatment, or organization. Bear in 

 mind always that publicity cannot be given to plans that do not exist. Merely 

 to invite people to come together and meet rarely accomplishes a successful 

 constructive convention. It never accomplishes a well-advertised one. Finally, 

 having made the program practical and constructive in scope, be sure it is not 

 overloaded. In this you are looking ahead to publicity at meeting time, which is 

 always fostered by discussion and controversy. With the time completely filled 

 by set papers, you cannot stage any fireworks. 



