mhp media unit training programme - home - mhp€¦ · journalists, offers a wide variety of media...

MHP MEDIA UNIT TRAINING PROGRAMME


In a world dominated by a 24/7 news agenda that is fed by constant digital chatter, companies need to be heard, believed and understood. Getting it right isn’t easy. It’s all about being prepared.

MHP’s media unit can make your CEO stand out, your experts sound authoritative and help you to craft effective responses to tough questions in a crisis.

As journalists we have covered some of the biggest stories of the past 20 years and can therefore advise you on how the media will think and behave.

BE PREPARED

By the end of each session, trainees will have a comprehensive understanding of the key principles of effective public speaking; how the media works; what to say in an interview or pre-recorded speech and have the confidence to deal with unexpected situations or questions.

All our training is bespoke and interview or public speaking scenarios are written to meet the needs of the client.

The team will arrange individual or group training courses at a fully equipped television and radio studio or office. A typical session will combine both theory and practical training, where participants can put their skills to the test.

Our team, made up of experienced national print, broadcast and digital journalists, offers a wide variety of media training, from interviews, press conferences and live broadcasts, to vital launch events and hostile doorstep interviews, speech writing and crisis communications.


A typical session will include: • An in-depth look at what

journalists want, and how to tailor your story to meet their needs

• Your organisation’s key messages and media policy, and how best to communicate those messages whilst navigating difficult or unexpected lines of questioning

• Finally, we put your skills to the test during a series of mock interviews using realistic scenarios. These interviews are filmed and played back with detailed feedback.

MHP offers a range of media training packages to suit the individual needs of your business and spokespeople.We can tailor sessions according to a client’s needs and have done multi-day intensive sessions or brief 2-hour refreshers. However, the most common training session we offer takes half a day.

The half-day session is designed to immerse up to four of your team into the world of journalism and equip them with the tools not only to survive a media interview, but to control it and make the most of it.

Ahead of the session we work closely with a client’s in-house communications team to understand the organisation’s requirements and tailor the session accordingly. This will include identifying key target media, agreeing key messages and preparing realistic interview scenarios. They can be tailored to individual publications or even journalists if required.

We offer highly realistic broadcast training at a fully equipped television and radio studio in central London, where clients will learn what it really feels like to do a TV or radio interview either face to face or “down the line”.

WHATEVER YOU NEED

“ The media training session I had with MHP was invaluable in preparing me for journalist interviews, not simply in terms of preparing the messages, tips and techniques, but more crucially, the practice and feedback on my delivery was key to building my skills and my confidence. I would certainly recommend it.”

Mel Rees Ex-Head of Brand, Sun Life Direct


SUGGESTED MEDIA TRAINING COURSES

An extensive introduction into the way the media works, looking at print, broadcast and digital media, what they want and how they think. The sessions can take place either at your offices, a professional studio or at MHP.

Topics covered include: • How to prepare for a media interview, looking at your key

messages and turning them into newsworthy soundbites

• Tips for controlling a media interview, including bridging, flagging and other techniques to help you deal with a difficult line of questioning

• Role plays: each candidate will take part in at least three mock interview scenarios, covering the areas they are likely to face in a real interview

Following the session, participants will receive a detailed feedback report, including ideal answers and key messages and copies of the MHP Media Training handbook.

Half-day media training Approximately 4 hours

This session is designed for small groups of up to four people.

1


This is an extended version of the half-day session and is designed for larger groups (up to eight people). During the practical session, a broader range of scenarios will be covered, including crisis planning, press conference training and writing articles. The training will also cover how digital and online media has impacted the way journalists operate.Sample schedule:

AM: Theory – introduction to print, broadcast and online/social media. What do the press want? How to communicate your story to a journalist, simple interview techniques, practise Q and A sessions.

PM: Practical sessionCrafting core messaging and client media strategy; writing op-eds/ speechwriting; crisis comms role playing, (including on-camera training). We will also provide post session-analysis report and a full MHP media handbook.

Full-day media trainingApproximately 8 hours

For up to eight participants.

2


A short, snappy course designed to offer tailored training to those who have already been media trained. Shorter on theory, the session is designed to prepare clients who have already received media training from MHP for specific media appearances and will allow them to learn key messaging, undergo realistic rehearsals and fine tune their technique. They can also be used in the midst of a crisis, when a spokesperson needs to be brought up to speed and made ready for a testing media appearance.

“ I have always found MHP to be most helpful when preparing for a media interview. The media training programme which I experienced first-hand when I began taking media interviews was invaluable in teaching me how to conduct myself on camera and on radio. I had some experience previously, but the training helped my confidence, and I believe has enabled me to gain more direct interview requests from TV and radio as a consequence.”

Jan Hytch – President, National Association of Estate Agents:

Refresher courses Approximately 2 hours

3


Organisations often feel under siege when they find themselves at the centre of a crisis. While communicating in a crisis always carries an element of risk, a carefully considered response, delivered by the right means, can actually give businesses a platform to engage with their multiple stakeholders and an opportunity to demonstrate leadership.

Working with MHP’s crisis team, this course prepares clients for the media aspects of a broader reputational problem.

This workshop is divided into two parts:

Part 1 • An examination of how the media works during a crisis and

the tactics that journalists use to get their information and write their stories

• Tips on how businesses can prepare for and respond to a crisis in order to protect their reputation

Part 2This section is more practical, giving participants the opportunity to role-play their media response to a realistic and multi-faceted crisis scenario in real time. Participants will be asked to develop and present a communications plan for managing the crisis.

Crisis communications workshop Approximately 5 hours

This workshop is suitable for groups of up to 20 people.

4


Digital campaignsA half-day course that tells you how to design and run a successful digital media campaigns. Beginning with an analysis of the landscape and the tools needed for a campaign, the course covers the effective use of social media, promoted material and websites.

Blue chip trainingMHP can create bespoke training for clients as required. These could include: A week with your senior corporate team, training senior staff for a wide variety of events. Speechwriting and op-ed drafting. Making a press office work. Contact building with relevant journalists and tailored advice on their demands.

Risk managementInvestigative journalists will advise on potential future stories, allowing you to plan your crisis comms strategy.

Conferences and presentationsA three-hour workshop designed to prepare spokespeople for keynote speeches or presentations at conferences or other events.

The MHP team will help you to prepare in detail ahead of the appearance through identifying key messages and presentation rehearsals.

In addition to these training sessions, MHP’s senior advisory team also offers a range of bespoke services:

“ Media training by MHP enabled me to deliver confident interviews to the media and taught me how to deliver my key messages above all else. The training was personal, professional and highly effective and took me out of my comfort zone to help prepare me for those unexpected questions and media tactics.”

Mike Unsworth – Project Director, Navitus Bay, the offshore wind farm developer

OUR BESPOKE SERVICES


Parliamentary Committee trainingMHP offers a comprehensive Select Committee training package, which will prepare senior executives to give oral evidence before UK Parliamentary Committees.

The package includes: • Research into committee members and

previous committee hearings

• Crafting of an effective narrative and a series of messages that clearly communicate your business activity and interests

• At least one full dress rehearsal, which will mirror the conditions of the actual evidence session, with a cross-examination panel

• Media interviews to mirror the likely media interest

Speech writing and editorial featuresA three-hour course which includes a practical writing workshop with analysis by a seasoned speech writer. They will help you to develop your narrative and writing skills to ensure your speech or feature is as powerful as possible. The MHP team will also give advice on “selling in” your speech or Op-Ed piece to make sure that it reaches your desired audience.

Podcasts and Video• MHP Media can help you produce professional

broadcast standard audio podcasts or video content for your own channels or B-Roll material to offer to third party news or video production companies

• MHP can provide experienced producers and presenters to help you plan and produce your own TV and radio content


THE MEDIA UNIT TEAM

IAN KIRBYIan Kirby heads the team. He advises at a senior level on all aspects of the media, from media relations to corporate reputation, crisis communications and campaigning work.

Before joining MHP, Ian was Political Editor at the News of the World for 13 years. During that time, he interviewed four Prime Ministers, covered five wars and won awards for his campaigning journalism. He expanded the paper’s political staff to a team of six, signed up high profile columnists and was part of the senior management team at News International. He also advised News Corporation on political, economic and media issues. He has appeared regularly on television and radio (including Newsnight, Sky News, Dispatches, Panorama and the Today Programme).

At MHP his campaigns have continued to win awards.

KEITH GLADDIS Keith Gladdis has worked at the cutting edge of journalism for more than 20 years and has held senior positions at titles including the Daily Mail and the News of the World before joining MHP.

As Executive News Editor of the Daily Mail he managed one of the most respected and effective teams of journalists on Fleet Street, responsible for the news, politics and campaigning content of the newspaper. He helped navigate the newsroom through the 2015 General Election, the 2016 Brexit campaign and led the coverage of Donald Trump’s win in the Presidential race. Keith was also responsible for all foreign news content and managed a team of reporters based around the world while working closely with the Mail Online website.

As a Whitehall Editor for the News of the World he was responsible for all ‘heavy content’ in the newspaper including campaigns, politics, foreign news and polling. He led the News of the World’s Iraq war coverage from Allied Central Command in Qatar (2003) and interviewed senior politicians including the Prime Minister. Keith started in journalism in 1996 as a graduate trainee for the Liverpool Echo.


ADAM BATSTONE Adam Batstone is a broadcast and online expert. He advises clients on how to turn their stories into compelling visual packages and effective digital campaigns.

He spent 25 years working as a journalist with newspapers, radio, TV and most recently the BBC News website. Adam has worked on some of the biggest stories both overseas and in the UK. He has detailed knowledge of broadcast news production and how those techniques are being applied in the digital multi-channel world. Adam was one of the small group of senior journalists who helped make the BBC News website one of the most popular and influential sources of news in the world.

ANDREW LEACHAndrew Leach has worked in PR for seven years and was previously a journalist for more than 20 years on regional and national newspapers.

At MHP he works in the financial practice advising a range of stock market listed and private UK and overseas clients on investor and corporate communications, crisis management and media strategy. He spent more than 20 years in financial journalism beginning his career at The Birmingham Post and Mail and became City Editor of the Birmingham Post and Deputy City Editor of The Scotsman. Andrew spent ten years at Financial Mail on Sunday joining as editor of its Midas investment column and later Associate City Editor.


NICOLE MARTINNicole Martin advises a wide range of clients on their media strategies. She was a journalist at the Daily Telegraph for 10 years before joining MHP. During her time at the paper she worked as a general news reporter, social affairs specialist and media correspondent.

At MHP Nicole uses her skill and contacts to help clients create compelling stories and has won praise from her clients for the “astonishing” and “perfectly positioned” coverage she has secured in the national, trade, online and broadcast media. Her experience as a journalist means she can offer credible crisis training.

NICK COLLINSNick Collins joined MHP in 2015 after seven years in the national press, primarily at the Daily and Sunday Telegraph. He began his career as a general news reporter being appointed Science Correspondent in 2010, and Transport Correspondent in 2013.

He has an in-depth understanding of policy areas and the media agenda across these briefs, as well as a wealth of contacts at the highest levels of the national media.

Having also worked as a newsdesk editor at both the Telegraph and The Independent, and as acting news editor of the i paper, Nick has an inherent understanding of what makes a great news story and of the editorial processes that determine how news is covered in the digital era, both in print and online. Nick’s primary role at MHP is to advise clients on how the national media is likely to react to issues and stories that affect their business and reputation, and to help them achieve optimal coverage in the national and local media.


For more information on our courses and prices, please contact the MHP media unit at [email protected]

mhp media unit training programme - home - mhp€¦ · journalists, offers a wide variety of media...

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