Media Training, Is It Really Necessary?

The importance of media training is to raise one’s comfort level when working with the press. Understanding how journalists work, what makes them tick and where questions come from is all a part of the media training process. Regardless of how experienced someone may be with interviews, and handling the media, media training can be extremely beneficial and can help one gain ample experience and knowledge when dealing with the media.

Media training can help you to:
• Recognize and understand interview formats and interviewer styles
• Take the lead in an interview and direct it to a particular point of view
• Answer questions both quickly and succinctly, and get specific points across as a goal of the interview
• Handle crisis communication
• Avoid information overload
• Effectively communicate the organization’s message in interviews with print and broadcast media
• Demonstrate and practice various interview techniques and formats, with attention to such details as body language, use of buzz words and specific mannerisms
• Develop an awareness of and sensitivity to consumer and constituency issues related to the company, particularly as viewed by the media

So remember, if you do not think media training is important, remember that you would never walk into a board meeting, new business pitch, negotiation, or presentation without doing your homework first. If you do your homework and give respect to the media training process you will reap the benefits. Our team has years of experience with media relations and our very own Media Whiz, Lynsey Creech, is heading up our media training to help our clients hone their skills with the addition of our new media training room at our office.