Crisis Media Training

Learn how to limit reputational damage during crises with credible, confident media interviews

Half-day and full-day crisis media training courses to prepare spokespeople for media scrutiny at times of crisis

What you’ll learn

Every organisation should have effective strategies in place for communicating through the media when a crisis hits. This course prepares spokespeople to use demeanour, tone and empathy to defuse hostility and win round critical audiences. You’ll learn how to prepare for tough probing on challenging issues, using techniques to control your stress response and avoid coming across as defensive. We discuss the way the media works in times of crisis, what journalists are looking for in accountability interviews, the pitfalls to avoid and what we can learn from real-world crisis case studies. 

How you’ll learn

Courses for individuals and groups take place at a broadcast studio in Westminster or in person at our central London training centres or your own offices.  Remote training via Zoom is also available, if preferred.  Delegates are taught by senior broadcast journalists who are also specialist media trainers with years of experience in crisis training.  You’ll put the theory into practice in a series of realistic mock interviews based on the potential crisis scenarios that might affect your business.  Recordings are played back, so the trainer can critique, advise and help you improve throughout the session.  After training, you’ll receive full course notes by email and a link from which to download copies of your recordings.  Each delegate also receives their own, personalised post-training evaluation report from the trainer, assessing their performance during the course and providing suggestions, exercises and tips for continuing to improve and develop.

Who this Crisis Media Training is for

This course is for you if you are a key spokesperson for your organisation at times when its reputation is damaged or at risk.  You may want to follow this course with Select Committee Training which focuses on developing resilience and advanced communications skills for difficult Q&A sessions with MPs.

This training is available as a half-day or full-day training course. Get in touch with us to talk through which might work best for your organisation.

Course Modules

Module 1

Crisis Media Training Theory

  1. Understanding how the media behaves in a crisis
  2. Learning from recent crises and their consequences
  3. The best way to prepare for a crisis media interview
  4. Crisis audit:  identifying your potential crisis issues
  5. Crafting effective crisis messages
  6. Limiting reputational damage with demeanour, tone and empathy
Module 2

Practical exercises

  1. Doorstep interview or crisis print interview
  2. Radio crisis interview
  3. TV crisis interviews
  4. Breathing exercises for overcoming nerves

What our students say

View all testimonials

The small class sizes nurture a comfortable environment where everyone supports and learns from each other. The staff helped me hone in on my writing skills and develop the confidence to feel comfortable on camera.

Camilla Foster
, Reporter
, Newsquest

The lifelike interview settings and tasks that PA Media Training deal in replicate perfectly the real-world feel of a tough media interview and help the delegates come out of the day feeling much more confident that they can play an active role in representing their organisation.

Transport for London
, Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs

I made amazing friends, amazing memories and now it has led me to an amazing job which I never would have gotten without my time at Press Association.  

Holly Bishop
, Digital Reporter
, GB News

I really could not recommend Press Association enough to anyone who is looking to jump into the fascinating world of journalism. The course equips you with all the necessary skills you need to enter the industry and the wide range of topics covered leaves it hard for you to ever feel bored.

Holly Bishop
, Digital Reporter
, GB News

I learned to write concise articles and features, while developing my skills in social media, interviewing sources, and producing stories for an increasingly online audience. The course has allowed me to start a full-time journalism career.

Jonathan Moynihan
, Social Media Producer
, Forces News

What a great session we had on Communicating with Impact. Bridgid shared practical techniques to enhance and develop our communications skills so we can present and speak publicly or to senior stakeholders with confidence and impact.  I speak for my whole team in highly recommending Bridgid Nzekwu if you are after effective and fun communication training.

Vodafone
, Group Legal Director, Corporate Commercial & Compliance

Contact us

For more information , simply fill out the form and a member of our team will be in touch.