It’s World Press Freedom Day! Do you have your .press domain yet?

Did you know that UNESCO commemorates May 3 as World Press Freedom Day? It is a worldwide event which offers an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom. On this day, through various initiatives, organizations all over the globe assess the state of the press freedom, defend the media from attacks on their independence, and pay tribute to those journalists who have sacrificed their lives owing to the risks they took in fearlessly reporting stories.

This year’s theme for World Press Freedom Day is “Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law.” The theme draws attention to the importance of an independent judiciary in ensuring legal guarantees for press freedom and the prosecution of crimes against journalists. It also extends to addressing the role of the media in bringing about sustainable development.

For journalists and media companies, World Press Freedom Day is an encouraging opportunity to reaffirm their faith in the power of press and a reminder to express freely, openly and inspiringly.

One of the ways journalists do that is by building and owning an online space where they share their stories independently and unrestricted. This online space could be in the form of a website or a blog. If you are a journalist or work for the news media, consider building your online identity with your name or business name.

When building a website, the first thing you need to take care of is the domain name.

It is obviously a fantastic fit since the term “press” is used to define newspapers or journalists collectively. Therefore, .press domains are a suitable choice for building an online brand for the following:

• Journalists
• Press photographers
• Press associations
• News and media organizations
• Startups offering solutions for journalists and news media
• Journalism students
• Citizen journalists or news bloggers

Since .press is a meaningful, industry-relevant domain extension, there is a lot that you can do with it when it comes to creating a memorable online identity. Just in time for World Press Freedom Day, here are some ways in which you can creatively use a .press domain for your press website or personal brand.

1. Convey your philosophy

We all know of National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden. In 2014, Snowden joined the board of directors at Freedom of the Press Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 2012, to fund and support free speech and freedom of the press. Currently, Snowden serves as the organization’s president. The foundation is one of the most influential entities in its space and boasts of many popular journalists and whistleblowers on its team.

The domain name builds a strong positioning for the organization in an instant. Similarly, you can choose a .press domain that communicates your philosophy for your organization.

The domain Advancing.press is a meaningful one that communicates that the organization believes in a press that is continuously moving forward on its path. Another example could be FreeSpirited.press.

This domain name is a fantastic way to create a brand that reveals that the core nature of the press organization is to be free-spirited in its reporting.

2. Define your purpose

Using a .press domain also offers a brilliant opportunity to define the purpose for which you are building the website. Apart from adding a layer of credibility, the word “press” also establishes the seriousness behind the organization and how it intends to create a difference. Here’s an example:

For an entity that helps break stories by connecting citizens directly with the press, ConnectWith.press is an excellent domain name. Let’s look at another example:

The domain name InformThe.press is an encouraging message for those who might have crucial information for the press. Such domain names go a long way in building a strong positioning for the entity along with clarifying what purpose they fulfill.

3. Explain your focus

Another way you can use a .press domain is to explain the areas you wish to focus on with your website. It could be an industry that you wish to report on, a medium through which you wish to report, or a format of reporting.

The domain name FreeOnline.press explains that the website is an online-only outlet for free press reporting. Here’s another example:

A domain such as TechWeb.press demonstrates that it is an online portal about technology news. It’s short, meaningful and expressive of the website’s clear focus. You can even use such a domain name to communicate the format of the news reporting. For instance:

In this case, the domain name ShortNews.press explains that the website is about news updates presented in a short, crisp format.

4. Build your personal brand

If you are a freelance journalist or a journalism student and wish to create your personal brand in the field of news and media, using a .press domain could be of big help.

You can choose a firstname.press domain to build your personal identity on the internet. For example:

A website with a firstname.press domain name, such as leonard.press, can be used to showcase your best reporting, key stories, journalism projects, analytical blog posts, interviews and photographs.

Branded links are impactful for building credibility on social media. Another way in which you can select a .press domain for personal brand building is to use your full name, such as in this example:

You can also use a meaningful phrase with your name in the domain name, such as TomReports.press:

Here, only the first name and the word “reports” have been used to create a memorable domain name.

Special price on domains for World Press Freedom Day

So, are you ready to express freely with your very own .press website? Visit GoDaddy now to check availability of the most perfect .press domain for yourself. In support of World Press Freedom Day, avail yourself of a special price on .press domains in May 2018.

*Prices in screenshots are subject to change.

Image by: Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash