Media Training
Media Training
How many of you are a spokesperson for your company? Or, at times, represent your company to the press or media? I'm not talking about having your name in a press release, but, being interviewed by some type of media?
Were you media trained? Were you informed of what to say, how to act, what to DO in front of the media?
If not, then, you shouldn't be speaking to the media.
Time and time again, especially in todays world of Reality TV, I see "stars" being interviewed, or on camera, saying things and doing things that are embarassing, if not wrong. They go to a party and get drunk. They get in a fight with another individual (showing that they can't control their emotions). They say something that is ignorant or sounds ignorant (i.e. not informed). Have you ever seen this? Have you experienced it - where when you see yourself on TV or hear yourself on the radio, or read what you said (or was perceived to be said), you were embarrassed? Or did you not even care?
Media training is not expensive, usually a few hours costs less then a thousand dollars. The benefit is that you can now represent the company (and yourself) in their (or your) best interest. It may be perceived as a "waste of time", as we have experienced so many times in training individuals or groups of individuals, but, afterwards, when they have finished an interview, a tough interview, they call and thank us for the work we did with them.
Being able to answer a question, or, avoid an answer, can provide the difference between being perceived as a knowledgeable person or one that is just a "talking head" for the company.
Wouldn't you prefer to be considered a "good" interview, to be invited to speak again, or to be interviewed again, because you were perceived as an expert?
Get media trained - it's worth the investment.