Media Skills Training Workshop

Course review:

Our Media Training courses are designed to provide you with the essential skills, knowledge and techniques required to give confident and successful media interviews.

Speaking to the media has become far more common in recent years for people from all types of companies and organisations. Whether it's talking to the press over the telephone, chatting face to face with a journalist or being interviewed on the radio or television it's imperative that your organisation is presented in a professional manner.

However, if you are inexperienced, the prospect of being faced with a media interview can be rather daunting and even intimidating. And the results can sometimes be disastrous. But it doesn't have to be like that.

This highly practical two day course is ideal for you if you haven’t given media interviews before or if you've had some interviews in the past but felt that they haven’t gone as well as they would have liked. It is also suitable if you are used to the occasional media interview but now have to appear more frequently on radio or television.

During the two days you will learn how to fully prepare for the interview, deal with difficult questions, get your message across successfully and present yourself effectively on radio and television and other types of media.

Attend one of our media training courses and we guarantee that you will be able to handle media interviews more professionally.

You will be able to ...

• Understand the media and how to manage them effectively
• Learn how to fully prepare for your media interviews
• Learn how to get your key messages across clearly
• Speak with greater confidence and influence when talking to the media
• Learn how to think on your feet and deal with awkward questions
• Convey a more professional style when appearing on radio or TV/Camera Media Skills Training - day 1 outline Introduction
• Personal introductions and expectations of the course

Interview Practice

• A short introductory interview with initial feedback on how you come across

Speaking with greater confidence when talking to the media

• Techniques to help control nervous energy
• Developing a confident and more interesting voice

Preparing for the media

• Knowing your audience
• Creating your own personal profile (background information on business / company etc)
• Understanding the interviewer's perspective

Establishing your key message

• Identifying your key message and shaping your approach/argument
• Creating a memorable sound-bite
• Prepare your key message and 3 sound-bites on a given subject

Interview practice

• Individual interview applying techniques developed
• Review of interview

Dealing with questions

• Managing the interviewer's expectations
• Learning how to think on your feet and stay calm when under pressure
• Learning how to avoid journalist 'traps' or 'trick' questions
• Dealing with difficult questions - and how to keep "on message"

Managing different types of Interview

• Print journalist interview
• Telephone or face-to-face interviews

Interview practice

• Preparing questions for a difficult interview
• Individual interview delivery
• Review of interview

Media Skills Training - day 2 outline Review

• Recap on day one and identifying targets for Day Two

Developing greater influence when speaking on the radio

• Understanding how the non verbal elements of the voice convey powerful meanings
• Developing a range of expressive vocal qualities to help influence your message

Managing the radio interview effectively

• Speaking clearly on the radio - using a microphone and/or on the telephone
• Managing the challenges of a 'live' interview
• Getting the most out of your time 'on air'

Interview practice

• Preparing for a radio interview
• Individual interview delivery
• Review of interview

Using body language effectively for TV / Camera interviews

• Using eye contact and facial energy to help enhance your impact
• Learning how to use gesture effectively on camera
• Combining voice and body language to help communicate a powerful message
• What to wear/not to wear etc - clothes, jewellery, make-up etc

Managing the TV interview effectively

• Understanding the different types of TV interview formats. (1 to 1, Panel Interview, remote interview, press conference etc)
• Dealing with different types of questions and how present a positive response
• Getting your message across effectively in a restricted time

Working with different types of Internet Media

• Understanding different types of Internet Media and their challenges (teleconferencing, video conference, web cams etc)
• Thinking on your feet and dealing with questions/interruptions etc

Interview practice

• Preparing for a TV/Internet interview
• Individual interview delivery
• Review of interview

Evaluation

• Personal action plans
• End of course feedback forms

During the workshop you'll receive a manual full of practical tips and further information to help you consolidate what you have just gained from the course.

At the end of the workshop you'll complete a personal action plan with input from the course tutor, to help you continue to develop you skills back in the office.

We also offer a free Followup Service by email for 3 months following the course. During this time, if you have questions you'd like to ask about a forthcoming media interview simply email us and we'll do our best to help.