One or two people speaking on behalf of the organization that is calling the news conference is ideal. Many more than that, and it becomes too confusing. The media will usually want to hear from people at the top. So try to recruit your CEO or president as one of the spokespeople. You should also have a PR person on hand to control the news conference and possibly even to speak. Though it isn’t always possible, whoever speaks on behalf of your organization should have formal media training.

Never call a news conference with only one spokesperson. It can be overwhelming to stand in front of all those reporters who are screaming questions. Providing two or three people in the front of the room gives the spokespeople the chance to decide who wants to answer the question, depending on their background and expertise. It also gives them each time to gather their thoughts before answering the next question.

For a more in-depth guide to holding news conferences, check out The News Conference: When to Hold It and How to Do It Right.