Why Crisis Media Training ?
Every organisation needs to have a rehearsed crisis action plan in order to deal effectively with adverse situations and then to be able to resolve them in a professional manner where reputation remains intact. We can see how important such strategies are from disasters such as the Costa Concordia sinking and adverse coverage of Starbucks over payment of tax.
However, small and medium-sized businesses need to practice an approach too. What would a building company do if a member of the public was seriously injured in the street, or even killed, by a falling piece of scaffolding? What approach would a restaurant take if a customer complained to the press about spending a few weeks seriously ill in hospital with food poisoning after eating out? How would a school cope with news breaking about a teacher having an inappropriate relationship with a student?
What kind of expertise is on offer?
The training comes from Matthew Clarke’s two decades of experience behind a news desk reporting on disasters and crisis situations. Matthew has interviewed spokespeople at councils when there have been expenses stories hitting the press. He has interviewed a managing director of a food firm dealing with the death of two members of staff whilst on duty. Matthew has reported on tankers threatening to wreck on the Cornish coast and fuel tankers causing a leak and bringing a whole motorway to a standstill.
What happens in the training?
KernowPods runs a series of role-play activities which give a 360 degree outlook on a crisis situation. These practice situations regularly throw up action points for an organisation’s crisis strategy. The scenarios are supported with a simple approach on how to deal with difficult questions from the media too.
A crisis media training day will start off with an overview of scenarios and what the journalists aim to achieve. Matthew then takes the trainees through the simple crisis media handling methodology.
A large chunk of the training consists of going through a series of case studies and role-play scenarios where trainees will get the chance to rehearse their approach to disasters. Where the group comes from one company or sector, these scenarios will be tailor written.
Depending on the package chosen, trainees will be able to rehearse how they answer questions in front of a realistic TV camera set up – and then watch the footage back. Self-critique will be encouraged on top of trainer-led critique.