Definition of news conference

The term "news conference" is derived from two distinct words that came together in the early 20th century to become an essential part of modern journalism. The phrase "news" is self-explanatory and refers to the latest or current events or happenings in various fields. "Conference," on the other hand, means a gathering or meeting of people to discuss or make decisions collectively. In the early 1900s, the traditional way of disseminating news was through telegrams, which were expensive and time-consuming. Newspapers and wire services started looking for a more efficient and cost-effective way of communicating breaking news to their audiences. This led to the concept of a press conference, where journalists could gather together in one place and hear directly from prominent public figures or organizations about important events or issues. The first recorded use of the term "news conference" is attributed to the Associated Press (AP) in 1920 when they used it to describe a meeting called by President Woodrow Wilson to update the media on the progress of the Versailles Peace Conference. Over time, the term became widely adopted in journalism and has since remained a staple of modern news reporting. Banquets, cocktail parties, and other social events that are sometimes mistakenly referred to as news conferences should be distinguished from the official information gathering events for which the term is used in the media.