Being an experienced or confident speaker doesn’t automatically make someone a good media interviewee.
An interview with a journalist is a very different proposition from presenting to colleagues, speaking to customers or hosting a meeting. There may be limited time, unexpected questions and, particularly in broadcast interviews, little opportunity to rethink an answer once you’ve given it.
This is where media training comes in.
For us at PR42, good media training isn’t about writing a script or trying to make every answer sound overly polished. It’s about communicating clearly and preparing for different types of questions.
The first step is understanding the story. What are the key messages you want to get across? What does your audience actually need to know? And what does the journalist need from you? Once those are clear, it becomes easier to answer questions – without getting drawn from the main point.
A simulated interview can highlight habits that might not be obvious in everyday conversation, whether that’s using too much jargon, body language, giving overly long answers or missing an opportunity to delve deeper. It also gives you the chance to experience more challenging questions in a controlled setting.
There’s also a practical benefit. Knowing what to expect can make situations feel more manageable, particularly when dealing with broadcast media, live interviews or unfamiliar subjects.
Media training shouldn’t remove someone’s personality. Journalists don’t want to interview a spokesperson who sounds as though every sentence has been approved by committee. The best interviews are informed, concise and engaging, while still sounding like a genuine conversation.
You can’t predict every question. But you can make sure that when the microphone is switched on, you’re ready.
Case study:
PR42 recently held a media training day for client VIVA Cruises.
Michelle Daniels, director sales – UK & Ireland and Australia & New Zealand, at VIVA Cruises said: “The media training designed by PR42 was interesting, engaging and informative. We gained invaluable skills not just for handling the press across radio, print and TV, but also for navigating high-stakes crisis management. Beyond traditional media, the techniques we learned translate perfectly to daily business needs like presentations, panel discussions and public speaking. It is the ultimate training for learning how to stay calm under pressure, sound confident and navigate uncertainty while turning any situation to your advantage.”
If you’d like our support with media training, please get in touch.
Being an experienced or confident speaker doesn’t automatically make someone a good media interviewee.
An interview with a journalist is a very different proposition from presenting to colleagues, speaking to customers or hosting a meeting. There may be limited time, unexpected questions and, particularly in broadcast interviews, little opportunity to rethink an answer once you’ve given it.
This is where media training comes in.
For us at PR42, good media training isn’t about writing a script or trying to make every answer sound overly polished. It’s about communicating clearly and preparing for different types of questions.
The first step is understanding the story. What are the key messages you want to get across? What does your audience actually need to know? And what does the journalist need from you? Once those are clear, it becomes easier to answer questions – without getting drawn from the main point.
A simulated interview can highlight habits that might not be obvious in everyday conversation, whether that’s using too much jargon, body language, giving overly long answers or missing an opportunity to delve deeper. It also gives you the chance to experience more challenging questions in a controlled setting.
There’s also a practical benefit. Knowing what to expect can make situations feel more manageable, particularly when dealing with broadcast media, live interviews or unfamiliar subjects.
Media training shouldn’t remove someone’s personality. Journalists don’t want to interview a spokesperson who sounds as though every sentence has been approved by committee. The best interviews are informed, concise and engaging, while still sounding like a genuine conversation.
You can’t predict every question. But you can make sure that when the microphone is switched on, you’re ready.
Case study:
PR42 recently held a media training day for client VIVA Cruises.
Michelle Daniels, director sales – UK & Ireland and Australia & New Zealand, at VIVA Cruises said: “The media training designed by PR42 was interesting, engaging and informative. We gained invaluable skills not just for handling the press across radio, print and TV, but also for navigating high-stakes crisis management. Beyond traditional media, the techniques we learned translate perfectly to daily business needs like presentations, panel discussions and public speaking. It is the ultimate training for learning how to stay calm under pressure, sound confident and navigate uncertainty while turning any situation to your advantage.”
If you’d like our support with media training, please get in touch.