Home
>
Public Relations
>
Media Training - Essentials for ALL Office Professionals

Media Training - Essentials for ALL Office Professionals

Often the first point of contact the media has with an organisation is with the front desk or receptionist. Although designated people within a company may have the training and skills needed to interact with the media, the first point of contact within an organisation can make or break a journalists perception of the company and may impact on how they report about your business.

Here are ten tips on how to be media savvy for all office professionals.

1. Have a Formal Media Policy.

Every organisation should have a policy on talking to the media. A formal policy helps minimise the risks and maximise the opportunities when dealing with the media. It is important to also understand and update this policy. Often a company might have a media relations policy but it is dated or the designated person may be on holidays, always know who is available, their role and how to contact them.

2. List by name in the organisation who can and who can't talk to the media.

This is the basis of a good media policy and well run organisations have clearly designated responsibilities in this area. Again have this list updated regularly, you never know when the media will contact your company.

3. Make sure everyone understands the policy and it is well communicated throughout the organisation.

It is important to communicate the media policy to all front line team members. This is especially important in an emergency or crisis situation. Often roles change and it is better to be prepared and professional.

4. Act as a gatekeeper.

Good office professionals are the heartbeat of an organisation and control the flow of information. A good executive assistant can play a vital role in acting as a gatekeeper and controlling access to key decision makers in an organisation. Always be able to direct all enquiries to relevant people.

5. Be courteous.

Remember the media's impression of you represents the whole organisation and may influence how they report on your company.

6. Ask the journalist for their name, organisation, contact details and most importantly, their DEADLINE.

In the media, seconds make a difference whether a story makes the news or not. Take time to collect the vital information and make it a priority.

7. Always call back within an hour.

This ensures the journalist knows what is happening prior to the deadline and helps them better plan for their story. It also shows interaction, even if your not prepared for the interview or are still unable to make a statement, let the journalists know your progress.

8. Don't be drawn into speculation.

The media are highly trained at extracting information from people. They are some of the most persuasive professionals in the world. Be disciplined and avoid speculation. Always explain who you are and why you cannot give further information. Never lie or guess.

9. Assume everything you say is on the record.

Many journalists will use the line they only want background information and it will not be on the record (i.e. published or broadcast). In my experience it is better to avoid any grey areas and assume every time you speak to a journalist it will be used and in the public domain.

10. Review and evaluate.

If you have been involved with the media - whether positive or negative - it is always worthwhile to review your policies and procedures. Simply ask two questions - what worked well and what could we improve for next time. Monitoring your media also keeps you informed on how your company is being perceived by the public.

Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries. You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com. Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom's blog at http://www.8mmedia.com

best cleaning company Highland Park ..

In The News:

The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.

Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

ChatGPT data breach exposes personal info of users through partner Mixpanel. OpenAI confirms names, emails compromised in security incident.

Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.

Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.

Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.

Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.

Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.

Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.

Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.

Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.

New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.

A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.

AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.

A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.

New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.

Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.

Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.

Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.

Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.

Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.

Researchers discover phishing scam using invisible characters to evade email security, with protection tips including password managers and two-factor authentication.

Media Training - Essentials for ALL Office Professionals

Public Relations