Media Training Matters
A business owner or manager may wonder if it’s necessary to understand how the media functions and whether it will somehow interact with their business’s activities. Media training is meant to help anyone in the company who might encounter the media, like the CEO, founders, board of directors, or public relations staff. The website themuse.com offers some questions to ask in order to identify whether media training is necessary. These are a few frequently-asked questions for clients seeking media training.
What is Media Training?
Media trainers instruct companies on the best ways to interact with the media, with a focus on eliciting positive press about the business. Training could be broken down by the type of media coverage a company may encounter (print, broadcast, or online), or it can be taught to address all media platforms during the same media training session.
Why Get Media Training?
To avoid mistakes that might cost money. An inappropriate response to a question can cost a business market share, lower stock prices and perhaps even cause the business to be investigated. An interview that is properly prepared and executed can have the opposite effect by increasing business and attracting new clients.
How to Choose a Media Trainer?
Hire a trainer with prior experience in journalism or broadcasting. It’s extremely helpful to leverage their knowledge regarding how reporters think and approach the subjects of their news coverage. If possible, also look for a media trainer who has experience with the company’s industry as well.
The huffingtonpost.com outlined five basic reasons businesses should seriously consider media training for employees who may encounter the media.
Speak in a manner people will notice
People who take media training learn how to use words, tonality, and body language to support their point
Define Key Messages
Learn to talk about key messaging clearly and with brevity
Develop prepared responses to difficult questions
Sometimes journalists ask hard questions to put the subject on the spot. Anticipating and preparing for these questions in advance is crucial
Control the interview
With proper media training, the subject of the interview can redirect to a line of questioning he or she wants to discuss in order to achieve a desired outcome
If prepared, misquoting if less likely
When someone speaks to the media in a well-informed and prepared way, the likelihood of being misquoted is far lower
Media training can occur online through programs such as Webex, or the media training company may have a studio so it can simulate a television or radio interview format for its clients. The general idea is for a client to become comfortable with the various formats an interview with the media might take.
According to our website everything-pr.com, “Anyone looking to interact with the media at some point during their career would benefit from media training. Those who interact with the media without the proper training risk their reputation and credibility as well as the reputation and credibility of the business or organization they’re representing.” This might also caution everyone against how they could suddenly find themselves in front of a camera, no matter what their career might entail, or whether they intend to interact with the media.
