The strategy and communication branch of CnC International was chosen by the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity to communicate and promote its antismoking campaign and introduce its new anti-smoking policy by holding a day conference for the media, key opinion leaders and VIPs, under the title "National Alliance against Smoking".

About the event

The Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity has launched a campaign to raise awareness about the new anti-smoking law that will come into effect on July 1^st 2009. For that to be communicated to the general public, as well as to specific target groups, a press conference by the Minister of Health and Social Solidarity, Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos, was organised at the Media Press Center of the ministry on the 28^th of April 2009.

The conference aimed at informing the public, key opinion leaders (KOLs), regional and public authorities, and every private and public institution related in health, about the new antismoking policies, as well as cultivate their consent in order to implement the new antismoking laws. Following the Minister's statement, a series of well documented speeches from distinguished guests were made: Dr. Gregory N. Connolly, D.M.D., M.P.H., Professor of the Practice of Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health, talked about what Greece can learn from the successes and failures of tobacco control in the US. Mr. Patrick Reynolds, founder of the "Smokefree America" organization talked about The Smoke free Society. Dr. Panagiotis Behrakis presented the National Steering Committee for Tobacco Control as well as the plan for provisional actions. Professor John Tountas presented the results of a very interesting research he conducted while talking about the benefits of smoking prohibition in all public spaces. Last but not least the Minister's strategy advisor Mr. Alexis Zorbas presented the Ministry's strategic plan for implementing the smoking prohibition. The presenter and coordinator of the speakers was the well known Greek journalist Mr. Jonh Politis.

 Design and implementation

CnC International undertook the design and implementation of the event as well as the strategic planning and implementation of an effective media relations strategy to communicate it.

Campaign Actions

CnC International's involvement in the project comprised of the design, production, organisation and communication of the conference, including communicating and coordinating with the speakers and making the necessary arrangements for their travel to and from Greece and their accommodation, the design and production of the communication materials (press release, folders, background documents distributed to the participants and the mass media, conference room posters), the invitation of attendees, the catering for the event and the production of a related video to be shown during the event.

In detail, CnC International offered the following services:

ORGANIZATION OF THE EVENT

• Preparing and organizing of the audiovisual equipment and technical support,
• Graphic design and production of the communication materials and settings (press kits, folders, invitations, conference room backdrops, banners etc),
• Copyrighting of the invitations, letters, press realeases etc,
• Traveling, accommodation and transfer arrangements for the speakers and participants from abroad,
• Coordinating with the speakers during their staying in Athens,
• Research and compilation of the invitation list and a data base with potential invitees' contact details,
• Dispatching and following up on more that 1700 invitations,
• Extensive research about the antismoking campaigns designed abroad,
• Setting up the conference venue (decoration etc),
• Catering,
• Photographer
• Design and production of a video to be shown during the conference,
• Dinner arrangements
• Securing of a presenter

MEDIA RELATIONS

CnC International planned and implemented a media relations & publicity program in order to communicate the key messages of the antismoking campaign. Among other things, CnC International compiled and sent a press release to the media, accompanied with extended background information and photos from the event. In addition to that, CnC International arranged for the interviewing of Mr. Patrick Reynolds, one of the key speakers of the event, by several magazines and newspapers, as well as for his speech at the American College in Greece (Pierce College).

PRESS OFFICE

Last but not least, CnC International handled the press office for the event, including press monitoring and following-up, gathering  of print and electronic media clippings and producing an extended publicity report.