Boldt Communications is pleased to offer a range of media training options to meet your communications and media training needs. These training packages can be customized, based on your specific needs, and the experience of workshop participants. For example, you may want us to spend more time on communications strategy and media pitching, and less on interview practice. Or, perhaps you’ve got lots of media relations experience, but really need more practice working with your key messages, or keeping your cool in front of a camera. Each training session can be tailored to your needs.
Please note that session curriculum details and fees may vary, based on curriculum options chosen and number of participants in your training session(s). Sessions may be delivered in person (with COVID-19 safety protocols and maximum participant restrictions in place), or virtually – your choice.
Individual Basic Media Training for Leaders and Executives ($2,500)
This half-day basic media-training package includes:
- An overview of what media are looking for in stories;
- A review of the typical structure of a media interview (based on the medium – print, in person vs. over the phone; radio; television) and how to prepare for each kind of interview;
- A discussion of key messages and how best to use them: how to refine you key messages and select/prioritize two to three messages that you wish to deliver in a given media interview; practice on delivering them with brevity and confidence, and without sounding like you’ve memorized them or are reading them from a script (how to make them your own);
- Tips and tricks – we’ll help you learn: reporter tricks designed to trip you up (and will give you a few of your own tricks to keep up your sleeve); bad habits to avoid in media interviews; preparation techniques for an interview; and how to conduct an interview and deliver your key messages with confidence;
- An interview practice session, with or without video (or both – your choice) to get comfortable with easy and more stressful media interviews, and to understand voice delivery and body language.
Deliverables
- A customized curriculum that lines up with your specific training needs
- One two-hour session to go over media interview structure, key messages and how to use them, and the basic tips and tricks (journalists and your own) for getting through an interview;
- One 90-minute practice interview session based on topic(s) selected by you, using what you’ve learned. Boldt’s trainer will provide feedback and suggestions for improvements or adjustments to interview approach, to get the most out of this session.
The half-day session is held over four hours (not including setup and teardown) including a 30-minute a break between the theory and the practice session. This package can be adapted to accommodate two participants, for an additional fee, and an additional 30 minutes in length. Additional interview practice sessions can also be added to this package, for an additional fee.
Training sessions can be done both in person and remotely, over video chat. In-person training sessions are preferred by Boldt, particularly for interview practice sessions, but not essential.
We can also design intensive, in-depth executive training packages to meet the specific preparation and coaching needs of executives and individuals. Ask us for more details on this option.
Group Basic Media Training (3-8 participants) – Theory Only ($3000)
This half-day training session will include an overview of basic communications and media concepts (including but not necessarily limited to):
- Modern media dynamics (including social media)
- Communications planning fundamentals
- Media relations fundamentals
- Key messages and how to use them
- What elements make for a good story
- How to pitch a news story to journalists
- Interview formats and techniques
- The importance of practice and rehearsal
- Interview do’s and don’ts
- Presentation tips
Deliverables
- A customized curriculum that lines up with your specific training needs
- One half-day session to go over media interview structure, key messages and how to use them, and the basic tips and tricks (journalists and your own) for getting through an interview.
This is a 4-hour session, including a half-hour break. Boldt will conduct a 30-60 minute interview with the convener prior to the training session to customize the training curriculum and discuss relevant topics and approaches for the group.
We can also design intensive, in-depth training packages to meet the specific preparation and coaching needs of groups. Ask us for more details on this option.
Please note that audio/video practice interviews are not included in this package.
Small Group Media Training (3 – 8 participants) – Theory and Practice ($5000)
This training session begins with a half-day overview of basic communications and media concepts (including but not necessarily limited to):
- Modern media dynamics (including social media)
- Communications planning fundamentals
- Media relations fundamentals
- Key messages and how to use them
- What elements make for a good story (in general)
- How to pitch a news story to journalists
- Interview formats and techniques
- The importance of practice and rehearsal
- Interview do’s and don’ts
- Presentation tips
After lunch (or similar break), each participant will each have an opportunity for “mock” interviews for practice, on relevant topics and key messages of your choice; this may include audio and/or video of interviews, if requested, for playback, review and critique by Boldt’s trainer and fellow participants.
The session takes place over one day and is a maximum of seven (7) hours, including a lunch or other significant break. Boldt will conduct a 30-60 minute interview with the convener prior to the training session to discuss relevant topics and approaches for the group.
We can also design intensive, in-depth training packages to meet the specific preparation and coaching needs of groups. Ask us for more details on this option.
Large Group Media Training (9+ participants) – Theory and Practice ($9,500)
Day 1: Six (6) hours
This training session will begin with a half-day overview of basic communications and media concepts (including but not necessarily limited to):
- Modern media dynamics (including social media)
- Communications planning fundamentals
- Media relations fundamentals
- Key messages and how to use them
- What elements make for a good story (in general)
- How to pitch a news story to journalists
- Interview formats and techniques
- The importance of practice and rehearsal
- Interview do’s and don’ts
- Presentation tips
After lunch or similar break we take a deeper dive into topics and communications/media channels specific to the group/organizations communications needs. There will also be time for Q&A with group participants.
Day 2: Six (6) hours
On this second day, we’ll apply what workshop participants have learned in day one, including:
- Developing a compelling media pitch: We’ll divide participants into smaller workshop groups to develop a media pitch based on what they have learned and what media are looking for in a story, and then ask them to present their pitch to the entire group;
- Close the day by inviting workshop participants to be “interview subjects,” and apply some of the skills and techniques they’ve learned over the course of the training session, with feedback from Boldt’s trainer and the broader participant group. (Maximum eight “mock” interviews for this length of workshop)
The training takes place over two days and is a maximum of six (6) hours per day, including a lunch or other significant break.
Boldt will conduct a 30–60 minute interview with the convener prior to the training session to discuss relevant topics and approaches for the group.
We can also design intensive, in-depth training packages to meet the specific preparation and coaching needs of groups. Ask us for more details on this option.