Media training
Our media training prepares spokespeople and managers to face the print or broadcast media, enabling them to become effective advocates for their organisation. We help trainees define sharp and clear messages, and then work with them so that they can communicate those messages with confidence during a variety of interview situations.
Courses are facilitated by Robert Taylor (managing director of Taylor-made Communications), Michael Johnson, a journalist and communications consultant with over 30 years' experience, and Allan Piper, a former Fleet Street journalist. Training includes video analysis of all interviews, provided by video consultants Dan Rack and Nigel Blackman.
Our courses are usually for between two and nine trainees, and are aimed at anyone who speaks to the media on behalf of their organisation. We've trained CEOs who are about to speak to BBC TV, directors who do interviews with the national press and managers who deal only with their own trade media. Nearly always the people we train say that the lessons they have learned also help them communicate more effectively with customers, colleagues and suppliers.
There are two key attributes that lead to the success of our media-training courses:
- A challenging and confrontational interview style. We make our simulated interviews as tough and aggressive as possible – the sort of interview that Jeremy Paxman or John Humphrys might conduct. Trainees always appreciate this, and revel in the challenge.
- An inclusive style of facilitation. Many media trainers have great credentials, but many also lack the ability to facilitate a day-long course, to empathise with the various needs of a wide range of individuals and to give simple lessons that people will remember and act upon. Taylor-made's media-training courses are founded upon excellent facilitation.
