The Chicago Auto Show blames the media for the lack of attention it is getting. The organizer has been reported to have commented on news stories that question the effectiveness of auto shows such as the on-going one at the McCormick Place in Chicago.
The Chicago Auto Show versus the Media. The Chicago Automotive Trade Association (CATA) is a regional automotive dealers group that organizes the annual Chicago Auto Show. Just recently, CATA President David Sloan took a jab at the media for thinking that the effectiveness of auto shows as a marketing platform for car companies to present new and updated vehicles is slowly declining.
At a breakfast gathering of journalists and public relations people hosted by the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) Sloan said, "A brickbat to those that think the effectiveness of auto shows is on the wane. You may have seen some stories written lately on this premise and to those writers I'd like to point out that you're missing the most important factor in the equation that is the auto show itself." MAMA has always hosted a breakfast to kick off the preview days for the media at the auto show.
Auto trade shows such as the Chicago Auto Show 2017 have never been considered as news events. They are organized for dealer groups and car manufacturers to showcase their new products to those looking to a buy a car. The media is just given a few days to preview the products and to listen to what exhibitors have to say and that is just about it.
It has been noticed that car manufacturers and even companies from other industries have found trade shows to be inferior compared to a company exclusive event. For example, Tech giant Apple found this out and stopped attending the MacWorld Expo which was where it first announced the iPhone back 2007.
Apple now holds its own shows for a product announcement without having to share media coverage with others companies. Creating excitement among auto shows should be an organizer's main concern for the benefit of exhibitors and not throwing brickbats at the media who only act as messengers between the shows and the people it is for.
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