My first press trip

— Posted Thursday 11th February 2010 by Candice Wagener

It’s a Friday afternoon about four weeks to Christmas and I am standing on the escalator at Stansted airport. In my left hand a suitcase, in my right a list of journalists for my very first press trip.

As Siren’s resident German (taken on after doing the international part of my PR studies here) it makes sense that I host the Air Berlin trip to Nuremberg. But I’m still nervous – I don’t know any of the writers and pray everything goes well. This is a trip I have been planning for weeks.

At the check-in desk I see two young women and two men talking with a red-suited Air Berlin girl. I hear myself say “Hello I am Candice are you here for the press trip?” They all turn and smile. After getting the fifth and last member of our party checked in (stuck in afternoon traffic), we are on our way through customs. Everyone seems tired after a long week, talking about previous press trips they have been on, and how most of them have never been to Germany before.

Minutes later we are sitting in the VIP lounge and the journalists perk up. They get stuck in to the wine, rum and coke, and beer. By the time the champagne and meal comes round on the aircraft everyone is chatting like they have known each other for years and I feel excited about what is to come. The flight goes smoothly and we make our way from the airport to the Movenpick hotel nearby. While the group heads for the bar I make for bed. There’s a long day ahead tomorrow.

Looking back I wonder why I was worried about things going wrong. We enjoyed a great tour around this amazing old city making the most of its delicious German sausages, pretzels, beer and mulled wine. We even met the famous German Christkind at the Nuremberg Christkindles market – despite her bodyguard we even managed to get autographs! The day also finished with a visit to the famous Nazi Party Rally Grounds where Hitler used to give his speeches to thousands. As a German, this was the most poignant part of the trip.

Our group became surprisingly friendly during the weekend – proof that PR’s and journalists can work well together after all. The strange thing about it all is that this Christmas market trip probably won’t result in copy for almost a year. But in the meantime, I’m looking forward to many more press trips to come.