It only takes a second to say the wrong thing

Whether it's a Council Meeting, Public Consultation or face to face meeting with a journalist, Elected Members need to be aware of the impact their words may have.

Today's guilty judgment on Councillor on Shirley Brown doesn't just reflect badly on the Councillor involved, but also brings the council's reputation into question.

It highlights the importance of understanding the value of your council's reputation and also the need to develop your Members communication and media skills.

Handling the Media isn't a skill that comes naturally to everyone, but understanding the importance of building relationships with the media, particularly with your local journalists will really help to protect and enhance your council's reputation.

If you're planning to develop the communication skills of your Key Members and raise the media awareness across your council, it's actually a lot less expensive then you think, it's also a lot easier.