You have the information. The media wants it. Therefore, you are in control of the interview. So the first lesson is: Don’t Panic! Just sit back, relax and let the Convergence media team teach you how to manage the media to your and your company’s best advantage.
Our approach is gently does it for first timer newsmakers, a little harder for those with some experience with the media, and full on for skilled spokespeople who need to prepare for a challenging interview.
Our goals are to build confidence and equip you with valuable skills and knowledge of how the media operates. Modules range from an introductory course for large groups to learn the basics of dealing with the press, to rehearsing for a TV studio interview about a fast-moving crisis situation.
Companies that have taken the Convergence course have been surprised at how the media management skills they have gained bring benefits in other areas of management, such as business strategy development, AGM presentations and communications with stakeholders in general. Media training doubles as an excellent opportunity for companies and organisations to workshop their ‘key messages’ and refine them into simple and, importantly, repeatable phrases.
Convergence’s expertise is recognised by the University of Auckland Business School – we deliver its two-day Media Training and the Fundamentals of PR short courses programme. We also media train participants in each year’s Kellogg Rural Leaders programme run by Lincoln University.
From training individuals one-one one to small groups through to introductory sessions for large groups, Convergence has the flexibility to meet your specific needs.
References
“Convergence media training taught me how to be in control with the media, as well as the importance of knowing the key messages relevant to my project and how to get these messages across in an interview situation. Their training day worked beyond dealing with the media, it was a great team building experience as well. You will be prepared for a tough interview scenario and then you will be tested under lights in a real interview situation - they don’t pull any punches.”
– Mark Miller, Project Manager - Vote Fluoride, Otago District Health Board
“Convergence’s media training enlightened me about taking a difficult question and turning it into an answer that moves the situation on. It’s given our company more confidence in terms of how we would handle that. More importantly, media responses should be an integral part of any company’s business model. Since the training, we have made it a policy to prepare a media response sheet, which includes answers to the ‘killer questions’, for all of our projects. Everyone felt it was worthwhile and enjoyed the day.”
– Jim Speedy, Chief Executive, Covington Group.
“When we were facing a breaking news story about one of our major customer contracts, Convergence leapt into the fray and helped prepare us for interview at a moment’s notice. It was very reassuring to know that we were prepared for the media and had a set of key messages ready.”
– Simon Nikoloff, Chief Executive, KiwiHost.