2025:Program/Media relations tips, tricks, and best practices for Wikimedia volunteers and affiliates
Session title: Media relations tips, tricks, and best practices for Wikimedia volunteers and affiliates
- Session type: Workshop - 55 minutes
- Track: Community Health
- Language: en
Over the recent months, there has been increased media interest on topics related to Wikimedia projects and its contributors. During this workshop hosted by the Foundation’s media relations team, we will share learnings and go over best practices and recommendations for engaging with the media to effectively pitch your story ideas, deliver impactful messaging and navigate tricky questions.
Description
This workshop aims to empower global Wikimedia volunteers and affiliates with more tools & tactics to spread awareness and interest about their work on Wikimedia projects through media opportunities.
As there is heightened interest and scrutiny about Wikimedia projects and the movement in the media, this workshop is a space to discuss various opportunities and challenges that volunteers have seen while engaging with press and to learn from sharing ideas with the Foundation’s media relations team on how to navigate through the complex environment. The session will broadly include (not limited to): Best practices for media interactions and pitching Developing comms materials for the press Story pitches Press releases Do’s and don’ts Learning from past experiences
- How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?
We believe that spreading awareness of the work of Wikimedia contributors and projects is essential in building understanding and support among the public for our projects and the people behind it. The session aims to help empower Wikimedia volunteers from all over the world to share their stories with the media in impactful ways, and enables them with tools to navigate tough questions and media scrutiny while delivering their messages.
- What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
Average knowledge about Wikimedia projects or activities
Resources
Speakers
- Vidhu Goyal
- Vidhu Goyal is a Communications Manager with the Wikimedia Foundation’s External Comms team. Since joining the Foundation in 2021, Vidhu has led numerous efforts to raise awareness and understanding of Wikimedia brands, as well as to protect the Foundation’s reputation in times of crisis - including guiding its generative AI media relations strategy, shaping the Foundation’s public response to legal actions in different regions, or securing positive news stories about the value of Wikipedia in India and other key markets.
- Within her current role, Vidhu oversees and leads the Foundation’s global communications for product and technology, as well as partnerships, fundraising and crisis communications responses in certain regions. She also leads on all communications work in India and has been a part of media training and efforts to raise awareness of Wikimedia contributors in Indian media.
- Gwadamirai Majange