How we can help?
We work on a one to one basis or with up to six people per session. The range of coaching options vary depending on the situation, urgency and experience required. Typically, you can pick and mix from the following:
In-house
Studio based
Media coach only, for short one to one
Camera, technician and portable studio
Down the line
For television, radio or press
Access to an experienced journalist
Half day, full day or two day events
One to one or small groups of up to six people
Coaching in-house PR teams to manage internal media coaching
In-house
Studio based
Media coach only, for short one to one
Camera, technician and portable studio
Down the line
For television, radio or press
Access to an experienced journalist
Half day, full day or two day events
One to one or small groups of up to six people
Coaching in-house PR teams to manage internal media coaching
During the media coaching session, we do touch upon the key success factors of effective presentations. However, great presentation skills require further development and we do deliver a highly participative one and two day presentations skills programme. This has been designed to develop and practice great communication and presentation techniques.
Each workshop can take up to eight people and we film and record each presentation made, giving individual feedback on the presentations.
By the end of the session, people will be able to plan a presentation by thinking about their audience, their audience needs and how to make the best use of time made available.
Of course, if time is of the essence, we do deliver our amazing Bite Sized Presentation Techniques session that takes two hours. A great event, highly interactive and able to make a big difference to how presentations are made.
Each workshop can take up to eight people and we film and record each presentation made, giving individual feedback on the presentations.
By the end of the session, people will be able to plan a presentation by thinking about their audience, their audience needs and how to make the best use of time made available.
Of course, if time is of the essence, we do deliver our amazing Bite Sized Presentation Techniques session that takes two hours. A great event, highly interactive and able to make a big difference to how presentations are made.
Understanding Journalists
Understanding journalists
It’s important to understand how journalists work and think. It will help you to get more out of any interview. And it will make it easier for you to sell your ideas. And remember, if a journalist phones you – they’re looking for something.
1. People tell me…
A journalist may claim that other people are saying things that you ought to respond to. “People tell me that you’re doing this…”. It may or may not be strictly true. But you have a choice – you can either use it as an opportunity to say what you might have said anyway or you can use it to avoid speaking on the subject. You might say “Well, I haven’t heard that”.
2. Is there not a danger?
This can be used to get you to admit the possibility of something. For example: “is there not a danger that if you simply do nothing that will happen?”. The fact is that there is always a danger of something. That doesn’t mean that you need to consider it. But beware, saying “yes, that’s possible” to anything could mean that the question turns into your quotation. For example: Question: “is there not a danger that the pound could be worth nothing if we don’t stop arguing about Eurocurrency”. Answer: “yes, that is possible”. This could become: A local businessman today warned that “the pound could be worth nothing if we don’t stop arguing about the Eurocurrency”.
Be clear about what you ARE saying and about what you’re definitely not.
3. Surely you agree …
Listen out for questions asking you to agree with a particular point of view. If it is put to you that you should agree with a statement you might find that becomes your point of view. For example: “would you not agree that children spend too much time watching television?”. This could become: Sarah Smith, a local councillor, today said: “Children spend too much time watching television these days”.
4. Beware flattery
Flattery works. If you come across flattery in any working relationship you are wise to assume that it’s there for a purpose. If a journalist flatters you (and it isn’t hard to flatter any of us) assume that they’re trying to find something out that you may not want to divulge and take it into account before you answer.
5. Not as stupid as they’re making out
Journalists find it easy to pretend that they know nothing about a subject. And doing so can make it easier for interviewees to let their guard down and say too much, over-simplify or patronise. Don’t fall for it.
6. Anything you say can and may be used …
Assume that anything you say in front of a journalist could be used in a story at some point. It will make you take care. Passing remarks can be dangerous.
7. Stressed out
Interviews can be stressful. You need to know how you react to that kind of pressure. A good interviewer can change the stress in an interview at the drop of a hat. Watch out for the cues – interruptions, repetition of questions, overcueing (where you might feel the need to speed up your response), appearing distracted and uninterested. If you don’t deal well with these kind of pressures make sure you don’t find out the hard way.
8. Deny it if you dare
You may have to face pointed assertions in the course of an interview. These come in the form of clear questions such as “this latest budget will mean cuts in staff, won’t it?”. Assertions are easier to work with if you are happy to simply confirm or deny the proposition. Then it’s simply a case of saying what you think and living with the consequences. But if you don’t want to deal with the assertion, perhaps because you don’t want to say how you feel, then these are much more challenging. Avoidance can help you out of the holes you might dig for yourself.
9. That’s just news sneaking up on you
The longer the interview goes on the more a journalist can find out. Asides, passing remarks and even interruptions can speak volumes. It can open up the possibility of odd questions being introduced when you least expect it. The interview can literally sneak up on you. So beware.
10. On or off the record
For the record: off the record means that anything you say can be used but not attributed. On the record means that anything you say can be used and attributed. Health warning: not everyone shares these definitions so it is important that you agree the ground rules with the journalist at the start of the interview – retrospective retractions usually don’t work.
11.Watch out for Columbo
A Columbo is asking key questions when they are least expected. When your guard is down you may be asked an apparently innocent question. Again, assume that anything you say may be used and say nothing you wouldn’t have said anyway.
It’s important to understand how journalists work and think. It will help you to get more out of any interview. And it will make it easier for you to sell your ideas. And remember, if a journalist phones you – they’re looking for something.
1. People tell me…
A journalist may claim that other people are saying things that you ought to respond to. “People tell me that you’re doing this…”. It may or may not be strictly true. But you have a choice – you can either use it as an opportunity to say what you might have said anyway or you can use it to avoid speaking on the subject. You might say “Well, I haven’t heard that”.
2. Is there not a danger?
This can be used to get you to admit the possibility of something. For example: “is there not a danger that if you simply do nothing that will happen?”. The fact is that there is always a danger of something. That doesn’t mean that you need to consider it. But beware, saying “yes, that’s possible” to anything could mean that the question turns into your quotation. For example: Question: “is there not a danger that the pound could be worth nothing if we don’t stop arguing about Eurocurrency”. Answer: “yes, that is possible”. This could become: A local businessman today warned that “the pound could be worth nothing if we don’t stop arguing about the Eurocurrency”.
Be clear about what you ARE saying and about what you’re definitely not.
3. Surely you agree …
Listen out for questions asking you to agree with a particular point of view. If it is put to you that you should agree with a statement you might find that becomes your point of view. For example: “would you not agree that children spend too much time watching television?”. This could become: Sarah Smith, a local councillor, today said: “Children spend too much time watching television these days”.
4. Beware flattery
Flattery works. If you come across flattery in any working relationship you are wise to assume that it’s there for a purpose. If a journalist flatters you (and it isn’t hard to flatter any of us) assume that they’re trying to find something out that you may not want to divulge and take it into account before you answer.
5. Not as stupid as they’re making out
Journalists find it easy to pretend that they know nothing about a subject. And doing so can make it easier for interviewees to let their guard down and say too much, over-simplify or patronise. Don’t fall for it.
6. Anything you say can and may be used …
Assume that anything you say in front of a journalist could be used in a story at some point. It will make you take care. Passing remarks can be dangerous.
7. Stressed out
Interviews can be stressful. You need to know how you react to that kind of pressure. A good interviewer can change the stress in an interview at the drop of a hat. Watch out for the cues – interruptions, repetition of questions, overcueing (where you might feel the need to speed up your response), appearing distracted and uninterested. If you don’t deal well with these kind of pressures make sure you don’t find out the hard way.
8. Deny it if you dare
You may have to face pointed assertions in the course of an interview. These come in the form of clear questions such as “this latest budget will mean cuts in staff, won’t it?”. Assertions are easier to work with if you are happy to simply confirm or deny the proposition. Then it’s simply a case of saying what you think and living with the consequences. But if you don’t want to deal with the assertion, perhaps because you don’t want to say how you feel, then these are much more challenging. Avoidance can help you out of the holes you might dig for yourself.
9. That’s just news sneaking up on you
The longer the interview goes on the more a journalist can find out. Asides, passing remarks and even interruptions can speak volumes. It can open up the possibility of odd questions being introduced when you least expect it. The interview can literally sneak up on you. So beware.
10. On or off the record
For the record: off the record means that anything you say can be used but not attributed. On the record means that anything you say can be used and attributed. Health warning: not everyone shares these definitions so it is important that you agree the ground rules with the journalist at the start of the interview – retrospective retractions usually don’t work.
11.Watch out for Columbo
A Columbo is asking key questions when they are least expected. When your guard is down you may be asked an apparently innocent question. Again, assume that anything you say may be used and say nothing you wouldn’t have said anyway.
To talk over your ideas or issues, do give us a call. We can also coach you via skype or phone if the situation is urgent. We can be contacted on 0121 366 87 99.