Paul Griffin Communications media interview skills training program can be delivered in both a full day and half day format style, depending on the number of participants to be trained, the time availability of the participants and the complexity of the client specific issues and challenges facing the trainees. As a general rule, the full day training format permits more of the one-on-one trainer to trainee coaching and tutorial time that produces quality outcomes.

All our Brisbane media training programs are personally conducted by Paul Griffin, the principal of Griffin Communications assisted by a video camera news crew and other trainers as required. Training can be conducted at client locations in Brisbane or anywhere in Australia. If preferred, a professional training venue can be used.

Our media training programs place heavy emphasis on role playing highly realistic print and electronic media interviews that participants could quite conceivably face in their real life situations and are typically based on the various issues currently impacting on a client´s business.

Participants are trained in the following media skills:

• taking a proactive approach to the media interview
• understanding media organisation and culture
• appreciating the journalistic mind set
• developing targeted media messages (must airs)
• knowing journalists favourite trick and difficult questions
• staying calm and in control under pressure
• learning how to handle aggressive journalists
• projecting confidence and credibility    
• delivering brief and succinct responses
• staying focused on your agenda
• preparing answers for the negative questions
• dealing with off the record / on the record comments
• using 'no comment'
• evading awkward questions
• understanding crisis communications and issues management

We engage participants in various video taped TV, Radio and Print style news and current affairs interviews as required by the client´s brief. We adopt a collegial approach to taped interview playback and analysis in which participants and the trainers are all encouraged to discuss and comment on individual performances in a constructive, supportive but frank manner. We seek to empower our participants, not embarrass or intimidate them.

Command presence is a term used by the military to describe an individual´s ability to stay calm under intense pressure and to remain in charge of a situation no matter how extreme the provocation. Command presence is also a key personal attribute necessary to achieve a successful outcome during a crisis situation or aggressive media interview.

A media spokesperson is not completely ready to step up to the news camera or public speaking podium unless he or she has undergone training that takes them at least partially outside their comfort zone. The prospective spokesperson benefits greatly from experiencing intensive media questioning in the safety and privacy of the behind-closed-doors training environment. Only then, when participants learn to acknowledge, deal with and remain unfazed by the destabilizing range of feelings and emotions aroused during this type of unfriendly grilling are they then free to move to deliver a confident media performance.

Participants learn:

• don´t get personal, focus on the issue not the interviewer
• the hearts and minds of the audience/readership are your real end-target
• channel your emotional energies into uplifting your response delivery
• respond to negative questions with positive responses
• don´t repeat negatives
• proactively drive your own agenda of key "must air" messages
• maintain solid eye contact with the interviewer
• keep your responses short and simple (kiss principle)
• stay calm, pleasant and professional no matter what
• the keys to a successful result: preparation, preparation and yet more preparation

Participants are invited to complete a pre-training questionnaire to provide the trainer with a better understanding of the individual needs and experience of each trainee.

Similarly, at the conclusion of the training, participants are invited to complete training assessment questionnaires in order to obtain their perspective on what has been achieved and their views on the quality of the training provided. A written report is provided to the client upon conclusion of the program detailing the trainer´s assessment of the outcomes and any apparent need for follow-up action.

Following is a draft outline of a typical full-day media-training program which can be conducted in Brisbane or elsewhere. It should be noted that all Griffin Communications media training programs are tailored individually to meet the particular needs of participants following in depth consultations with each client.

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