EFFECTIVE MEDIA HANDLINGCONSILIA is a partnership of highly skilled communications professionals who combine in-depth knowledge of the media with long experience as trainers. We are retained by the European Commission on a long-term contract to provide media skills courses to all senior Commission officials. CONSILIA also advises on the handling of complex and intractable communications issues, including crisis communication and information management.
CONSILIA is also an accredited supplier of training courses to the Bar Council. Attendance at an all day Law Society course will lead to a credit of 7 CPD hours.
COURSE OBJECTIVES AND OUTLINE
EFFECTIVE MEDIA HANDLING
This one day course introduces participants to the principles of effective media handling, and gives them the opportunity to practise their skills. Handling arguments effectively in the media and understanding how to reconcile the conflicting demands of a lawyer's professionalism and the media's need for stories is a valuable skill which this course will impart. Introduced and led by an experienced journalist, the course covers the workings of the media, and explains how journalists go about their jobs. It outlines the pressures under which the media works - technology, deadlines and a competitive marketplace - and teaches participants how to handle encounters with various sorts of journalists.The morning is devoted to an introduction to the media and some relatively straightforward exercises. During the afternoon, more complicated and difficult scenarios and exercises are covered with the aim of giving attendees an in depth understanding of media issues and the requisite skills.
Examples of how issues were handled well - and badly - will be given. Course attendees will exercise their skills in mock encounters with the course tutor. All forms of interview - print, radio and TV, (studio, location, down the line, and 'doorstep') are covered. The course uses scenarios and case histories and is limited in numbers (to six attendees) in order that each participant can practise his or her skills in exercises in front of a camera. Exercises are recorded then played back for review and analysis.
Full course notes will be given at the end of the session to all participants. Courses can be tailored to meet the needs of specific organisations or individuals if required.
COURSE OUTLINE
0915
INTRODUCTION to course and structure of the day.0930-1000
Background to the media How the media works, what drives journalists, basic guidance on packaging stories.1000-1100
First exercise - PRINT
Each participant is interviewed by the course tutor role playing a writer from the legal press, on an issue of current interest. Relatively soft interview, with aim of seeing how effectively participants can package messages. Each interview during the day is recorded and played back for analysis.1100-1145
Second exercise - RADIO
As in the previous exercise, only this time with tutor role playing a news journalist; slightly harder questioning.1145-1245
Third exercise - THE TV INTERVIEW
Each participant is interviewed on the same issue, but this time on TV with video playback.1245-1345
LUNCH1345-1430
Fourth exercise - THE STAND UP
Each participant does a short 'stand up' news interview with the course tutor.1430-1600
Fifth exercise - THE TV DISCUSSION
Each participant takes part in a discussion programme, with a fellow participant role playing an opposing viewpoint.1600-1700
Sixth exercise - DOWN THE LINE
Each participant takes part in a 'down the line' interview.1700-1730
SUMMARY and conclusions
COURSE TUTOR CVs
Philip Geddes has been in communications for over 20 years. He has worked for the BBC and other broadcasters, and The Financial Times, and has advised many leading international companies, and public bodies, including the European Commission on their relations with the media. His speciality is advising major corporations on complex communications issues. In the past three years he has worked for one in four FT-SE 100 companies. He has worked for many of the UK's largest law firms in an advisory capacity.
Mark Rogerson produced and presented Radio 4's Financial World Tonight and subsequently became BBC TV's Economics Correspondent. He has also worked on The Money Programme and on Superchannel's European Business Week. He has developed and co-ordinated a range of communications and crisis management programmes for clients throughout Europe. He has advised several of the UK's leading law firms on PR matters.
Courses are normally conducted at your premises; otherwise we use meeting rooms at the Institute of Directors in Pall Mall.
Courses cost £350 per person if conducted on your premises; £400 (including refreshments and lunch) if conducted at the Institute of Directors.
Payment. Please pay by cheque only, payable to CONSILIA Ltd. All courses must be paid for before attendance can be registered.
phone 020 7930 5026 or fax 020 7930 5043
