Press Releases and Backgrounders
Lots of these things are done in-house nowadays but sometimes time conspires with holidays and maternity leave to confound even the best organised of outfits.
Case history - International Ibuprofen Foundation and Aspirin Foundation
I write the clinically-oriented press releases and media statements for the IIF and AF. By their nature, many are urgent affairs - you respond to media stories immediately, not next week. Especially when the draft has to be approved by several member organisations. Thank goodness for e-mail.
Case history - backgrounder on new clinical trial evidence
Stroke management is still a bit of a Cinderella - maybe the drugs just aren't sexy enough for the media. I was asked to update an agency's backgrounder on stroke and write a new one outlining the key findings of a pivotal clinical trial of a novel treatment. So, we also had to explain how it worked and what sort of a difference it would mean for patients. We weren't talking about saving lives but improving outcomes. Potentially dry and a potentially uninterested audience. We did a good job though. Tight deadline too, I think.
Case history - press release from a symposium
I was asked to go to London for this sizable meeting which would review the mechanism of action of a new drug for respiratory disease. It was technical argument of the sort beloved of hospital specialists. The press release was for GPs. It helped that the main speaker came from my patch and I only struggled when we shifted from clinical matters to the local football team.