The Essentials of Media Training

The celebrated Pop artist Andy Warhol once predicted: “In the future, everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes.” Today his prophecy isn’t nearly so far-fetched, thanks to the all-encompassing presence of the media, and how it touches nearly every aspect of our daily lives.

Right now, anyone with a smartphone can capture high-resolution footage of themselves or others and instantly upload it onto social media platforms for all the world to see. At the same time, the Covid-19 pandemic hastened the widespread use of video conferencing, forever changing the way we all engage with family, friends and business associates.

Add to that the twenty-four-hour news cycle, the vast array of choices in cable and online streaming services, and our media saturation is complete. But in terms of how we interact with media, we still have a lot to learn. While technology has advanced exponentially, many of us continue to lack the fundamentals of knowing what to say or do when facing the camera. We need to be media trained.

Media Training & Preparation

Because it is so important, Red Banyan makes media training a core service we offer our clients. Whether personally or professionally, our face time is growing by leaps and bounds, and we need to project the best image of ourselves, and tell our stories in the way we want to them to be heard.

It is not intuitive; no one is born an on-camera storyteller. But through Red Banyan’s systematic training, anyone who completes the process will increase his or her confidence and competence when dealing with the media. As experts in media relations ourselves, we have developed a comprehensive course that provides instruction on how to frame core messages and tell stories in compelling ways.

Media training can be an incredible asset to our daily lives; for instance, it can help you ace an online job interview. But our highly-specialized coaching really proves its worth when you are involved in a crisis situation. That’s the time when your visual presence and public speaking skills are truly put to the test. By following our best practices, you’ll be in better position to prevail when the stakes are at their highest.

Who We Help

Every individual, and every organization, regardless of size, needs this type of training. Some companies may think it’s not necessary for them because they don’t regularly hold press conferences or talk to TV reporters. But often, the people who prepare the least are the ones who need it most.

That’s because they haven’t acquired or refined these specialized skills. And when that inevitable media situation flares up, they won’t know what to do. Whereas public-facing organizations who deal with the media on a regular basis have often developed this discipline on their own. That’s the irony. But everyone can always get better.

For companies and organizations, media training has broad implications beyond just press interviews alone. It helps you develop those same skills which will make you a better communicator, period. So, whether you’re talking to investors or employees, strategic partners or vendors, happy customers or disgruntled ones, you’ll be able to engage with them more assuredly and effectively. That is the value of media training.

How We Can Help

We teach people how to think like reporters and interviewers. It involves anticipating the questions you’re most likely to face—and perhaps most importantly, how to respond to difficult or challenging inquiries. Through our emphasis on interview and speaking prep, we cover the nuances of language that can help you get your point across, whether you’re telling your story in a print publication, on television, or online.

We also make sure you are thoroughly coached in crisis response training. When you’re under the kind of media scrutiny that escalates during a crisis, half the battle is knowing what to avoid. That is why we’ll provide you with tips to help you pivot away from potential danger zones and sensationalist “gotcha” tactics into more comfortable topics you would rather discuss.

We’ll also go over the role and responsibilities of a designated spokesperson, and why it’s an absolute necessity for your company to have one. Whoever it should be, it needs to be someone who can think on his or her feet, and unafraid to face the camera. Since quotes are going to be attributed to this person, it has to be someone who’s willing to put themselves on line for you and your colleagues. We’ll work with you to develop that exemplary spokesperson you deserve.