Media Training - Training Executives for Media Interviews

The lights are on. The cameras are pointed at you. What are you going to say?

If that scenario makes you nervous, you're not alone. It's normal to have a healthy suspicion of journalists. Aside from their own ethics and the laws pertaining to slander and libel, the actions of journalists are pretty much out of anyone's control.

In fact, news coverage is full of conflict and cooperation. Journalists have the job of finding and telling a story. They rely on newsmakers to provide information and newsmakers rely on journalists to be fair and balanced in their reporting.

Yeah, right.

But look at what can be accomplished through a positive relationship with the media. A little media training can teach you to project a good image on television, radio or in print interviews - and that can help your business.

If you devote the time and energy to properly preparing for an interview and master the art of subtly controlling the discussion, you will hammer home your key messages. The result will be a credible third party endorsement that is more potent than the slickest advertising campaign.

However, if you fail to properly prepare or misjudge the intentions of a journalist, you can severely damage your organization's most valuable asset: its reputation. In worst cases, botched interviews have swept organizations into crisis management mode.

DPK Public Relations specializes in providing clients with easy to grasp and remember tips and techniques. We offer clients the perspective of a veteran journalist who is intimately familiar with today's news industry. We stress realism over scare tactics, personalized attention over canned presentations, and hands-on interactive training over lectures.

You need to understand and master:

• How to remember your organization's key messages and simplify them into powerful,
  concise sound bites;
  
• The art of "bridging," getting your key messages across clearly and repeatedly no matter what questions a journalist asks;
  
• How to look comfortable and confident in front of the cameras;
  
• When it is appropriate to turn down an interview and when it is a major mistake
  to do so; and
  
• The tricks journalists use during interviews to get the juicy stuff you don't necessarily want
  to discuss.

If you haven't mastered the art of preparing for and participating in media interviews, our media training sessions are perfect for you. We offer half-day and full-day sessions for up to four people at a time.

Our media training curriculum is particularly valuable for those who fit the following profiles:

• Have a news interview scheduled;
  
• Are preparing for a new conference, editorial board briefings or a major announcement;
  
• Have been selected as your company's spokesperson as part of your crisis management plan;
  
• Had a bad experience with an interview and want to make sure it never happens again; or
  
• Simply wish to gain confidence in the event a journalist calls.

Janelle Hail, the CEO of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, had this to say after her media interview training, which prepared her for a nationwide media tour:

"Yesterday was a tremendous learning experience for me. You moved me past the uncertainty of difficult interview questions so that I can comfortably present my message. You were great to work with and I appreciate your professionalism and honesty in helping me. You gave me confidence as you critiqued the interviews. I'm working on those sound bites! "

Media Relations Training Agenda

Media Relations Training Seminar Pricing from DPK Public Relations

First session for up to four participants: $1,750 USD
Each additional session: $800 US

Contact DPK Public Relations for more information on executive level media relations training at 832-467-2904 or by completing our PR contact form.