Like most people, you've probably thought of media training as a tool for celebrities, politicians and industry titans. But the truth is that everyone can benefit from a bit of help in front of the camera. Whether it's a broadcast interview, a 1:1 with a journalist or a phone interview, there are some key things to remember when engaging with the media.
For example, how do you deal with a difficult question? What if someone asks about something personal? How do you handle interruptions and distractions during an interview? What if it's not just one person asking questions at once? These are all everyday situations requiring careful planning and preparation beforehand if you want to maintain your composure.
Media training is an excellent investment for anyone who has to speak with the media.
There are many benefits to media training. For example, it will help you be more confident and prepared for interviews with the media. You will also be better at dealing with difficult questions and being relaxed in front of cameras.
Media training is an excellent investment for anyone who interacts and engages with the media regularly--for example, business leaders, media representatives and press officers. The more practice they get at preparing for interviews, answering questions naturally and speaking spontaneously without sounding rehearsed or robotic (which can happen when someone hasn't practised enough), the better off they'll be when it comes time for them to do their first live broadcast interview.
The best time for media training is now because you never know when journalists will come knocking on your door.
This is especially true if you work in the public or political sector and are involved with any story that might make headlines.
Once a crisis hits, it's too late to get prepared--the reporters have already descended upon you like vultures on roadkill and are waiting for their chance to ask questions about what happened.
By then, they've already made up their minds about what happened based on other sources or rumours; anything said during an interview will likely be taken out of context and twisted into something inaccurate (or worse).
If someone is trained not only to handle themselves properly but also how best to communicate their message through the media channels available today--including social media platforms such as Twitter or Facebook, which often serve as outlets before traditional news outlets get wind of events--then they'll be better equipped at handling difficult situations head-on rather than just hoping things go smoothly without anyone knowing anything beforehand!
A little preparation can go a long way toward helping you craft the perfect response when a reporter calls.
- Research the topic.
- Research the reporter.
- Practice your answers.
- Practice your body language, tone of voice and other nonverbal cues in front of a mirror or with a friend who will give you honest feedback.
- It's not enough to have an answer ready; you must have practised it so that it comes off as natural and sincere.
Practising your answers out loud is one of the best ways to ensure they sound natural and sincere. You can do this alone, in front of a mirror or with a friend, but it's even better if you record yourself to see how it comes off on video. If possible, get someone who knows nothing about your situation and has no stake in whether or not the answer works for them to watch through all of your recorded takes and give feedback on which ones worked best for them as viewers/listeners.
You may also want someone familiar with media training techniques and with experience working with other people going through similar situations--a media trainer who specialises in crisis management could be helpful here! A trainer will help you develop truthful and practical answers to communicating what needs to be conveyed without revealing too much information about yourself or anyone involved (which could lead down an uncomfortable path).
When was the last time you practised? Consider signing up for a media training session immediately if it's been a few weeks or months!
If you're like most people, the answer is probably, "it's been a while." And if that's the case, now is a great time to get back into practising your skills.
Practising is essential for success in life, whether it be sports, music, or business. And while practice can feel like an annoying chore at times, it's essential to building confidence and improving performance. We find that individuals who prepare and practice before interviews and public appearances always perform better than those who don't!
That said: don't worry about whether or not someone else sees you practising; focus on doing what needs to be done right now so that next time something similar comes up (like an interview), things will go smoothly because they already have before!
With preparation and practice, you'll be ready no matter when the next journalist calls.
With preparation and practice, you'll be ready no matter when the next journalist calls.
- Practice in front of a mirror or with a friend. You don't need to go out and buy a full-length mirror for this; use what you have available (your cell phone camera can work just fine).
- Practice saying your lines out loud until they feel natural and comfortable, then try not saying anything else while delivering them - focus on making eye contact with yourself or whoever else is watching/listening so that they know where your attention is directed at all times during an interview situation. This will help prevent things like "ummm" when someone asks a question unexpectedly!
- Practice in front of a camera or with a video recording device: We all know how hard it is to get used to being filmed by someone else; having experience doing this before makes everything go smoother later on because there won't be any surprises! It also helps ensure that everything comes across clearly, reducing confusion among viewers who might otherwise get lost if things aren't explained adequately beforehand (especially since most people don't usually spend much time thinking about how things work behind the scenes).
These points clearly explain why media training is an excellent investment for anyone who has to speak with the media. A little preparation can go a long way toward helping you craft the perfect response when a reporter calls.
It's not enough to have an answer ready; you must have practised it so that it comes off as natural and sincere. The best time for media training is now because you never know when journalists will knock on your door.
Contact us today if you'd like to learn more about KC Academy's Media Training courses.
