Media Skills Training Course

Public Media Skills Training Course

(Click here for Tailored Media Training)

This one-day Public Media Skills Training Course is designed for anyone whose role includes speaking to the press and presenting their organisation to the wider world directly via the media.

Media Skills courses are run by Trixie Rawlinson - Julie Wales - Joe Britto

Whether you work as a Press Officer, a Communications Managers/Directors or anyone tasked with giving interviews to the press, this course will equip you with the necessary skills to effectively handle the media.

Click here for our Public Speaking Course - One to One Media Skills Training

Media Skills Training Course Objectives

* To understand the demands of different media
* Practice being interviewed face to face
* On camera and the dreaded down the line
* Understanding how to get your message across
* Doing more than just answering the questions
* Interviewing with passion and speaking with clarity
* How to deal with nerves - everyone has them
* Deal with difficult questions and hostile interviews
* How to prepare
* What to ask before hand and understand your rights
* How to write a press release
* Tailoring for different media
* Crisis Management

Media Skills Training Course Programme

Different media have different demands and, like our tailored training, each day is structured to reflect the specific circumstances, needs and abilities of the participants attending on the day. The course content may include many of the exercises listed below, and any additional material that the trainers feel is relevant to the delegates on the day.

Dealing with the Media

We examine the different types of interview you might face. Is it a face to face meeting or over the phone? Is it live or pre-recorded? In TV and Radio many interviews are done 'remotely' so you can't see the whites of anyone's eyes. How might that impact you? And how is the interview to be used? It might be edited to become part of a bigger story, and if so, in what context will you appear?

Each interview format places different demands on you. Anticipating them and understanding their impact on your ability to perform well can mean you are not 'wrong footed' by broadcast technology.

You'd be amazed how many people agree to an interview without any clear idea of what the story is about, what their part in it is, the timescale and how or when it might happen. We cover all the basics on what to ask and how to prepare for an interview.

Media Interview Skills

The best interviewees are usually those who've had a bit of practice. From story outlines you have given us in advance, we will run you through an interview - with increasing degree of toughness if that's what's needed. You get to do long, short, friendly and less so. You also get to do face to face and 'remote'. Typically, you can expect to do three or four interviews during a days training. And believe us - that's enough for one day! The Impact Factory media skills training studio has full camera and playback facilities so you can evaluate your own performance.

Media Training Tips and Techniques

"I'm glad you asked me that..."

A journalist is interested in getting the story. You're interested in putting yourself or your organisation across in the best light. The two are not always the same. We look at how to get your key messages across and avoid being drawn into saying more than you intended.

I'm coming to that..."

Broadcast media is always tight on time and getting your punchiest point out within the first 30 seconds is a great skill. We have exercises around framing succinct messages, which you can then practice under the pressure of the camera.

Phoaaarr! - Passion and the Media

Passion is a compelling ingredient in a good interview. We look at using conviction as part of your communication.

Handling nerves

The more confident you feel the more confident you look ... and it's a weird thing that the more you look it, the more you feel it. We have exercises around looking and feeling in control and keeping your cool.

Press Releases

How to structure and order the facts in a press release so that it gets noticed and tailoring it for different media.

Media Crisis Management

We look at how to handle a negative story. The different tactics on what position to take, giving or declining interviews and issuing statements.

Personal Media Style

Each delegate will identify their own media skills strengths and qualities and then receive positive feedback from their fellow Media Training Course participants on what they perceive as their strengths and /or what they have seen them do that works for them.

Personal Media Skills Take Out

Each person will have an opportunity to say

What they are taking away from the Media Skills Training Course
What specifically they know they will use
Where they will practise

Final Media Skills Hand-outs

Documents:

Dealing with the Media

Web cards

These cards give details of access to our extensive library of helpful documents.