Mastering the Media

Understanding the modern media is a must for success in your working life, helping to promote your message, attract funding, further your cause, impress your bosses and colleagues, stakeholders and partners alike, and bolster your career.

Former BBC News Correspondent of 20 years experience, Simon Hall, gives you insights, tips and tricks for spreading the message that will benefit you, whether in television, radio, online, newspapers, magazines or social media.

The media landscape has seen a revolution in recent years, as the internet has turned broadcasters into publishers, and publishers into broadcasters. Social media has also given rise to the citizen journalist, and the era of instant judgment, whether it’s on a celebrity’s new hairstyle, a football match, or a government announcement.

To be a success in the modern world, in-depth knowledge of how the media operate, and how to work with journalists, are essential parts. In this highly interactive day of learning, we take you through everything you need to know to handle the media in all its forms, from newspapers to television, to the bear pit of social media. 

Mastering the Media is from our Information, Digital & Data Management series. At the Civil Service College, we tailor our courses to each attendee’s role and organisation, ensuring that each participant gets the most out of the training. Our courses and trainers are continuously updated and evaluated to ensure that we are always delivering the best service possible.

Key Training Features

Who Can Attend

Learning Outcomes

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Key Training Features:

• Running a mock newsroom to help you understand the process of selecting and reporting stories.
• How reporters operate in a fast-moving, multi-media world, how they see a story, and what they want from you.
• The golden thread that runs through every news report.
• The art of being interviewed, from what to say and how to say it, to how to present yourself.
• Composing short and sharp, resonant and memorable soundbites, which can be recycled for a range of media outlets.
• Into the lion’s den: the hostile interview and how to handle it.
• The importance of pictures and video in the modern media age, and how to provide them.
• When to release news stories for the maximum impact, and how to cultivate contacts with journalists.
• The art of social media, including the various different platforms, and how best to use them.  

Who Can Attend:

Anyone who works in an area of media interest, whether in front of the cameras or behind the scenes and needs positive publicity to further their cause. 

Learning Outcomes:

• A thorough understanding of how modern media operate.
• How journalists see stories, what they need to make them work, and how to use that to your advantage.
• Tricks for writing a press release that makes your story stand out from the crowd.
• How to anticipate likely questions in an interview, whether recorded or live.
• How to present yourself on television, radio, online and in the press.
• Techniques for handling a press conference.
• What to say, and what not to say, in an interview.
• The importance of rapid reaction in the social media age. 

View course outline