Media training: Print and broadcast
Helen co-hosts a fully comprehensive media training session with fellow journalist and training consultant Alex Blyth.
The one-day course is taught in two halves - print media in the morning and broadcast media in the afternoon. Together the session provides all the skills you need to perform well in media interviews and get the coverage you want in print, on radio, on television, and online.
In-house course available on demand. Book now!
Prices detailed below.
What does it cover?
In a full-day session we cover the following:
- What journalists want from you
- How to present your message in such a way that the journalist has to use it
- How to control the conversation
- Techniques for a clear, calm and successful delivery
- How the broadcast media works / how the print media works / the various multi-media platforms and how they work
- 10 golden rules of print media interviews
- 10 golden rules of broadcast media interviews
- How to build long-term relationships with journalists
- Why performing well in media interviews matters
- Making sure the journalist uses you again
- How not to be misquoted
You’ll have chance to put the theory into practice with role play interviews, firstly with a print journalist and then with a broadcast journalist with on-camera interviews. After each role play we evaluate performance, providing constructive feedback to each individual.
Then after the training session, we offer two free follow-up mock interviews - one is conducted as though it is for a print publication and one will be recorded as if it is going on air for broadcast. This gives you an opportunity to practise your skills way after you have finished the course. You will also receive insightful and constructive feedback after each one.
There is no time limit on these free follow-up sessions so you can take them whenever you want.
Who are we?
The training is delivered by two practising journalists, Alex Blyth and Helen Croydon who will specialise in the print media and broadcast media respectively.
Print media training – Alex Blyth
Over the past decade Alex has been published in titles such as The Independent, Director, People Management, Media Week, Accountancy, Revolution, Training & Coaching Today, Marketing Week, Third Sector and PR Week, to name just a few. He has written three books - ‘How to grow your business for entrepreneurs’, published by Pearson, and ‘365 Ways to Cut Costs’ published by the Directory for Social Change, were released in 2009, and “Brilliant Online Marketing”, will be published by Pearson in late 2010. For more details see here: www.alex-blyth.co.uk
Broadcast media training – Helen Croydon
After starting her career as a breakfast newsreader and editor at Silk FM, Helen Croydon spent five years at ITN, first as a radio reporter and presenter, then a video producer, reporter and presenter for various multi-media platforms including Telegraph TV, Blinx TV, Canoe TV, YouTube, Yahoo and MSN. She then launched and headed up a news service for Current TV and now freelances as a news producer and reporter for several national and regional broadcasters including ITV News, NBC, ITV London and ITN Productions. Her broadcast experience also expands into print and she writes for The Guardian, The Times, The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The Independent and several magazines. She also writes a monthly column for The Erotic Review. For more details see here: www.helencroydon.com
Why do you need it?
The media can help you promote your company, increase your market share and raise your personal profile. But, if managed incorrectly, it can also destroy your reputation and damage your company beyond repair. No matter how senior, how experienced, every single senior executive should at some point in their career receive training in this area.
This isn’t just about avoiding the sort of gaffes that Gerald Ratner made famous 20 years ago, and Gordon Brown recently reminded us are so easy to make - this is also about giving you the confidence to convey your company’s positive messages clearly, calmly and effectively.
You will develop the skills and knowledge needed to perform well in a media interview. You will be comfortable dealing with the in-depth, challenging questions that print journalists pose, you won’t be thrown when a broadcast journalist puts a camera and microphone in your face, and you will become adept at delivering the sharp soundbites that make you stand out whatever the media.
Between them, Alex and Helen have many years experience as media trainers and a long list of very happy clients. Here is a selection of what our clients have had to say:
“I’ve got to say it was one of the best training courses I’ve ever had. For so long I’ve used PR and been passionate about it’s role as a potential marketing channel for the business. I now feel that things have slotted into place and it all makes sense. Perfect sense.
” You’ve created a very excited person that is eager to engage with journalists now I understand the approach. In fact I was immediately on the phone with Andrew Stone of the Sunday Times and we booked in a rough timeline for the feature on Crunch.”
- Darren Fell, MD of Crunch.co.uk
“Over the years we have had several media training sessions and to differing degrees these have been of some use. However I never felt that any of these activities were based on a deep understanding of our industry. Recently Alex ran a series of media training workshops and training sessions for us. These sessions were not only based on a deep understanding of our industry but were also
very enjoyable. They’ve produced a significant positive shift in the way we engage with the media and actively promote ourselves. I have recommended Alex to numerous people and we will definitely be using Alex on an ongoing basis.”
- Neil Svensen, Chief Executive and Founder of Rufus Leonard - training delivered to his senior team of 16 people in January and February 2010.
“You managed to tell a couple of people who do not respond well to criticism that we weren’t very good, in a way that meant we didn’t walk out. Well done – that’s probably a first.”
- Richard Perry, Chief Executive, GyroHSR – training delivered to him and Chief Operating Officer, December 2009
“Thank you! Great refresher. Learnt some new tips and tricks. The structure of the 20 points made it easy to follow, and it was also great to look at others’ work and learn about their issues as well as my own. 10/10!”
- Victoria Morris, Head of Corporate Communications UK & Ireland, Henkel plc
How much does it cost?
We charge £600 plus VAT per delegate with a minimum of two delegates per session.
To discuss further please e-mail or call:
Alex Blyth – ab@alex-blyth.co.uk – 07940 768353
Helen Croydon – Helen@helencroydon.com
