Media Handling Skills for Communications Teams

Effective communication is essential, especially when managing routine media enquiries or responding to crisis-related requests.

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Course Details

Effective communication is essential, especially when managing routine media enquiries or responding to crisis-related requests. Timely, accurate, and appropriate responses protect your organisation’s reputation and ensure the right information reaches the right people at the right time.

What to expect

This course is ideal as a team-building opportunity for established in-house communications teams, or as an introductory skills programme for new press officers.

The course covers the key elements of a communications officer’s role, from handling and triaging media enquiries to drafting clear, accurate statements for senior leaders and portfolio holders.

Participants will also learn how to anticipate, identify, and avert potential media crises. They will gain confidence in managing incoming media requests during a crisis or serious incident, with an emphasis on timely responses, maintaining a clear flow of accurate information, and activating escalation pathways to the relevant executives or subject-matter experts when needed.

Our training courses are tailored to each participant, with individual interview scenarios devised for each person. We can take a maximum of six participants per course. We send out pre-course questionnaires to help us tailor the training so that you get exactly what you need from the day.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will develop practical, confidence-building skills, including:

• Handling and triaging media enquiries

• The importance of consistent and timely communications

• Providing appropriate responses to standard media questions

• How to spot and avert a potential media crisis

• Develop effective communication tools – Q&As, quotes, key messages, briefing statements

• Managing crisis-related media requests, including escalation routes and information flows

• Drafting clear, accurate media statements for senior leaders and portfolio holders

• When and how to activate escalation routes

• Protect and manage the image of your organisation

All Participants Receive

Workshop materials
Media Interview rule book and handy tips to help with future media interviews
Written assessments if required
A certificate of attendance if required

Who should attend

Communication officers
Media and PR officers
Newly appointed managers
Anyone who needs to respond to media enquiries

Book This Course

Use this form to book, or call us now on 01628 474 154 to discuss the best option for your organisation.

Related Courses for PR and Communications Professionals

• Proactive PR

• Effective Press release writing

• Train the Trainer – Media Training

• Media Bootcamp for PR professionals

Need something different?

We deliver tailored training across the UK and internationally.

If you have three or more people who require this course, ask us about an in-house training programme. It will be more cost effective, and save you the effort of travelling.

We will bring our equipment, materials and cameras to your own premises. We tailor the training to you and your organisation.

Get in touch or call us now to discuss the best option for your organisation.

Tel: 01628 474154
enquiries@mediafriendly.org