Press Junket
Event where media conduct rapid-fire interviews with celebrities or executives.
Definition
A Press Junket is a coordinated media event where multiple journalists interview celebrities, executives, or other newsmakers in quick succession, typically in the same location over one or two days. Common in entertainment for movie promotion, junkets maximize media coverage efficiently.
Interviews are usually short (5-15 minutes) and follow a structured schedule. Journalists are often grouped by region or outlet type, with bigger outlets receiving more time or exclusive access.
Why It Matters
Junkets allow subjects to reach dozens of media outlets in a single day rather than conducting individual interviews over weeks or months. This is especially valuable when promoting time-sensitive projects or coordinating international publicity.
For media, junkets provide guaranteed access to high-profile subjects they might not otherwise reach, though critics argue the controlled format can limit substantive questioning.
Examples in Practice
A movie studio might fly 50 journalists to Los Angeles for a two-day junket where cast members conduct back-to-back interviews. Each journalist gets 10 minutes with lead actors and 5 minutes with supporting cast.
Virtual junkets became common during COVID-19, with remote video interviews replacing in-person sessions, reducing costs and environmental impact.