Media Training Course

MEDIA TRAINING SERVICES

Preparing to interview or be interviewed can be challenging especially when trying to get your message loud and clear out in the media world. The 24-hour news coverage demands clear, concise written, verbal, and visual presentation skills.

The Allan Bonner Media Training Course will enable you to identify, prepare, and deliver your key messages quickly, effectively and with confidence.

Type: Instructor-led, individual or group training
Duration: 1-2 days
Format: Formal lecture, instructional video, participation in realistic simulations video-recorded for follow-up analysis
Location: Our studio in Toronto or your facility
Attendees: Managers and leaders of public and private organizations; executives and spokespeople with IR, PR, and GR responsibilities

With a solid foundation of communication strategy and through practical live on-camera rehearsals, you will learn:

What the media is looking for and how it operates
The elements of an effective communication strategy
How to talk through the media to the public
To recognize the techniques journalists use – and how to stay on-message no matter how tough the questioning

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Media Relations

You will gain an understanding of:

The value of good media relations
Interview strategies that journalists make use of
Response techniques such as key-wording, mirroring, bridging, and refocusing
Social media tips and techniques

Communication Strategy

You will learn:

To develop an effective strategy for dealing with the media
How to create attention-grabbing statements that connect with your audience
The difference between issues, SOCKO™ statements, and discussion points

Realistic Simulation

An essential element in training is doing. You will gain confidence in your ability to deal with the media by preparing and delivering appropriate messages in a series of mock interviews, including:

TV, radio and podcast talk shows – with simulated call-in questioners
Stand-up one-on-one and scrum encounters
Double-ender and single-videographer interviews
Formal news conferences and editorial board interviews

Note: These performances will also be recorded.

Practical Skills for Audio and Visual Media

You will become a more credible spokesperson by learning:

Microphone and camera-friendly presentation techniques
How to paint a picture with words
How to use non-verbal communication to reinforce your message

Note: Your performances will be recorded for analysis and feedback. You will receive a copy of your video and audio work for private review afterwards.

COURSE MATERIALS

All attendees will receive:

University-level textbooks and downloads including Media Relations
Digital downloads of audio and video resources
A workbook for use during the course
A video archive of each individual’s recorded performance

Additional/Optional course modules

Writing for Media
Political Candidate Boot Camp

MEDIA TRAINING PROFESSIONALS

Dr. Allan Bonner and his team are experienced journalists, with decades of experience in TV, radio and print media.

They’ve been interviewed on The New York Times, Newsday, Albuquerque Journal, NBC Nightly News, PBS, NPR, CBS, France 24, BBC, Radio New Zealand, CNBC Europe – published in the Vancouver Province, Calgary Herald, Regina Leader Post, Winnipeg Free Press, Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, National Post, Ottawa Citizen, and many more.

Their resumés include: