A couple of weeks ago Steve Gunn & Associates was asked to help a multinational company that was gearing up to make a difficult announcement concerning a site closure. We developed a focused one-day media training programme tailored to the siuation.
The tutors were Steve Gunn, who has significant experience of media and crisis communications training, as well as managing crisis communications situations, and a regular associate of ours who is an ex-BBC journalist with experience that includes the Today programme on Radio 4, well as Radio 5 Live.
The delegates were the senior managers who would be responsible for making the announcement internally and handling any media enquires.
The media training programme achieved the following:
- Helped managers frame the key messages.
- Provided hands-on experience and coaching for a range of media situations such as door-stepping, interviews and statements.
- Provided hands-on experience and coaching for the internal annoouncement.
Results
The management had expected a difficult time, with a high probability of a strike. Thankfully these fears proved to be unfounded. An atmosphere of collaboration was created and managment and employee representatives are consulting on a range of options to find the best outcome for everyone concerned.
Media statements were issued and picked up, and one of the delegates has given successful radio and television interviews.
There is still a long way to go in the process, but it has got off to a more positive start than originally anticipated.
Ask about our media training and crisis communications training
If you want to be prepared to extract maximum benefit from every media interview and in a position to protect your reputation should a crisis occur, contact Steve Gunn & Associates for details of our media training programmes.