COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY
At Polymedia, our media training services are delivered by former journalists, broadcast interviewers, camera crews and experienced PR specialists. We know what journalists are looking for, and how they think.
Whether you are preparing for your first media appearance, looking to improve an experienced spokesperson’s skills or are preparing your senior team for a crisis, we can tailor the training to your organisation, sector and objectives.
Our approach is practical. You will take part in realistic mock interviews and receive constructive feedback, so you can identify what works, understand what needs improvement and build confidence through practice.
What is media training?
Media training prepares individuals and teams to communicate effectively with journalists across print, online, radio and television. Our courses also cover other forms of interview, such as those by social media influencers or ‘citizen journalists’ who may not follow the traditional rules.
We cover the practical skills needed before, during and after an interview, from developing clear messages to dealing with challenging or unexpected questions.
For senior leaders and spokespeople, media interviews can be high-pressure situations. A journalist may challenge your assumptions, ask about an issue you were not expecting or push you towards a response that does not reflect your intended message.
PR media training helps you prepare for those situations. You learn how interviews work, what journalists need from you, how to avoid common pitfalls and how to communicate clearly under pressure.
Our media training courses
Our courses are flexible rather than fixed packages. We can develop a programme around your experience, role, sector and the situations you are likely to encounter.
Individual spokesperson training
One-to-one training focused on your role, responsibilities, communication style and the media situations you are likely to face.
Group media training
Practical training for several spokespeople, helping your team develop consistent messages and a shared approach to media interviews.
Broadcast interview training
Intensive practice for television, radio and video interviews, including recorded, realistic interviews with detailed feedback on content and presentation.
Press and online media training
Guidance on handling newspaper, magazine, trade press and online interviews, including techniques for dealing with detailed or challenging questions.
Crisis media training
Scenario-based training for senior teams preparing to communicate during a crisis, with realistic positive and negative scenarios, challenging questions and team-based exercises.
Bespoke in-house sessions
We can deliver training at your premises, our Hampshire offices or a suitable independent venue or studio, depending on your requirements.
What our media training covers
- Developing clear, credible key messages
- Structuring answers and staying on message
- Bridging techniques for moving from difficult questions to relevant messages
- Handling hostile, challenging or emotive questions
- Understanding common interview pitfalls and protocols
- Understanding how journalists approach interviews and what they need from a story
- Print and online interview techniques
- Broadcast interview techniques for television, radio and video
- Body language and non-verbal communication
- Building confidence in front of a camera
- Recognising techniques that can provoke an emotional response
- Realistic interviews followed by detailed feedback
For more advanced training, we can introduce scenarios based on your organisation’s actual risks, issues and likely areas of media interest.
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REPRESENTING YOUR ORGANISATION
Who benefits from media training?
Media training can benefit anyone who may need to represent your organisation publicly, particularly when the stakes are high. CEOs and founders may face questions from journalists about business performance, investment, acquisitions, growth, disputes or major announcements.
Marketing and communications teams may regularly handle media enquiries and need to prepare colleagues for interviews or identify the right spokesperson for a particular story. HR teams and senior managers may need to communicate sensitive announcements, organisational changes or issues affecting employees.
Professionals in regulated or specialist sectors may face detailed questions about complex subjects and need to explain them clearly to a general audience. Training can also be valuable before a major announcement, launch, campaign or period of increased media attention, giving your spokespeople the opportunity to practise before the real interview arrives.
Why choose Polymedia for media training?
Our trainers include former journalists who have conducted hundreds of interviews, alongside broadcast and PR specialists. That gives you direct insight into how journalists think, how interviews work and what makes an effective spokesperson.
Sessions are director-led and tailored to your organisation and the people taking part.
We focus on practical experience rather than theoretical presentation, using realistic questions and scenarios to help you develop skills you can use immediately.
Training can be delivered in Hampshire, at your premises where suitable, or at an independent venue or studio elsewhere in the Central South region. We also work with organisations across the UK.
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Thank you for a great day. Sincerely, it was some of the most valuable training I have been on in recent years and, while somewhat exhausted by the end of it, we left a very happy bunch!
Island Roads
Sector Expertise
Some specialist sectors
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FAQs
What is media training and do I need it?
Media training helps you prepare for interviews with journalists across broadcast, print and online media. It can be particularly useful if you are inexperienced with the media, expect increased scrutiny or need to prepare for a potentially sensitive situation.
How long does a media training course take?
It depends on your requirements. Our introductory sessions can take around four hours, while advanced training is typically a full day. Crisis programmes can be tailored to the size of your team, your objectives and the scenarios you want to test.
Is media training available online or only in person?
Our training is primarily delivered face to face because practical interview exercises and recorded sessions are an important part of the experience. We can discuss alternative formats if required.
How much does media training cost?
Costs depend on the format, number of participants and level of training required. Contact us with your requirements and we’ll send you our pricing guide.
Can you tailor media training to our industry?
Yes. We tailor the training to your organisation, sector, spokespeople and likely media scenarios. We can also build exercises around specific issues, announcements or crisis situations you are preparing for.
Would you like to talk with us about media training?
01329 822866
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We'd love to talk with you
If you want to build visibility, strengthen your reputation and make more of the expertise already inside your business, let’s talk.
Polymedia offers a free initial consultation with no obligation. We’ll take the time to understand your business, your audiences and what you want PR to achieve, then recommend an approach that makes sense for you.
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