Media training. Crisis management. Meet them head on, with confidence.

Learn how to handle the media, how to prepare for crises and deal with them effectively. I can give one-on-one coaching or a group workshop to get you prepared.

In the age where everyone is a journalist, responding to the media can be a truly daunting task.  But with the right preparation and coaching, it doesn't have to be. Here are a few basic hints to get you started . . .

Giving media interviews:  prepare well, never get angry

Just ‘winging it’ during an interview can be dangerous. Instead use these tips:

Ahead of the interview

• Define your own clear answers to the questions you fear most. They're the ones that are likely.
• Ask how the interview will be used, and see if they'll provide you the questions in advance.
• Know your content inside and out - and rehearse in role-play with a team member.

During the interview

• Relax, smile and be open - and remember the interviewer's name!
• Give brief concise answers, then just stop and smile. Don't waffle on to fill time.
• Never say 'no comment'.   It is not a clever way to dodge a bullet - in fact it suggests guilt.
• Don't talk 'off the record'. There is no agreement about what this means. Assume that absolutely anything you say - or write - could be quoted.
• Be prepared for 'what do you really think' type questions. Have a reply that feels authentic.
• If you think it will be hostile, record the interview with the device visible.
• Have a pre-arranged signal to your staff that triggers you being called away.

PR crises: plan ahead, react intelligently

Crises come up suddenly and unexpectedly; that's why they are called crises.

They also have a strong tendency to catch individuals and organizations completely off-guard - and to make everyone look unprepared at best, incompetent or even criminal at worst. Here are some sensible steps you can take in managing unexpected events:

Before the storm clouds appear

• Identify your most likely types of PR crises, and map a basic response to each
• Establish a crisis team and workflows that kick in when a crisis hits
• Arrange media training

When a crisis breaks

• Activate the crisis team
• Gather all the facts
• Develop and select your response; honesty is the best policy
• Schedule regular updates if it becomes an ongoing event