The phone rings, and out of the blue a journalist is on the line asking you some tricky questions about your organisation's activities. How on earth do you handle it? How do you make your point to adversarial and aggressive questions? Your company's reputation may depend on the answers you give.
The real essence of effective communication is to be as much of yourself as possible, and to present your company to the best advantage in any situation. Coming across as contrived, too slick or brash simply won't get you anywhere.
The fact is that the media may provide you with enormous opportunity to get your message across to the right audience. But if you don't recognise this opportunity and exploit the situation - your rivals probably will.
In an advanced Media Skills Training Programme for spokespeople entitled Face The Media, delegates will engage with the facilitator on pertinent organisational matters in simulated interview and press conference scenarios.
Designed around real day-to-day issues, this one-day training programme customized for media spokespeople, will take the basic elements of how to manage the media many steps further.
At the end of the programme, participants will feel better equipped to handle ‘curved ball'-types of questions, cope under pressure, as well as feel a greater degree of confidence when interfacing with the media in crisis or non-crisis situations.
Delegates will be asked targeted questions on pertinent company matters, with each ‘live' interview recorded by a hard news camera crew.
The footage will then be played back, carefully assessed and critiqued, providing each participant with the unique opportunity to see how they come across in the eyes of their audience.
Prior to the commencement of the training programme, delegates will be invited to familiarize themselves with key topics to prepare themselves in advance for the ‘hot seat.'
Training equipment includes a camera rig, lighting and sound equipment, a television monitor and video recorder. Comprehensive notepacks, laminated speaker cards, notepads and pens will also be provided. Participant will also receive a DVD copy of the recordings.
A detailed verbal and written evaluation will be provided to department heads at the conclusion of the training programme.
