• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Mail
T: 1300 737 913 Email
Corporate Media Services
  • HOME
  • MEDIA TRAINING
    • Media Spokesperson Training
    • Executive Media Training
    • Crisis Media Communications Training
    • Public Speaking and Presentation Skills Training
    • Webinars
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • MEDIA SERVICES
    • Media Consulting
    • Media Strategy Development
    • Media Resources
      • Articles Published
      • Videos
      • Australian Media Links
      • International Media Links
  • REVIEWS
  • ABOUT US
    • Our History
    • Why choose us?
    • Meet Our Team
      • Doug Weller
      • Will Kestin
      • Neil Spark
      • Rob Curtain
      • Milton Amezquita
      • Rosalie de Ridder
      • Brett Jenkin
    • Our Training Philosophy
    • Reciprocal Links
    • Site Map
  • CONNECT
  • BLOG
  • Menu

Posts

Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference with Doug Weller Corporate Media Services

Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference with Doug Weller

November 19, 2021/in Blog, Crisis Media Communications, Events, Media Training /by corporatemediaservices

Date: 18 November 2021

Format: Online Webinar

Presenter: Doug Weller

LinkedIn Registered Guests: https://www.linkedin.com/events/10tipsformediaconferences1pmwed6855024735483523072

Video Recording on YouTube: Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference with Doug Weller from Corporate Media Services (and below)

PowerPoint Slides: Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference with Doug Weller from Corporate Media Services (and below)

Say Thank You with an Informative Review: Google or Website

Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference with Doug Weller Corporate Media ServicesDownload

If you have any further questions about crisis media conferences, communications or media training, please contact us.

Webinar Transcript

Hello and welcome to our webinar today – Nailing your Crisis Media Conference. My name is Doug Weller, I am the Director of Corporate Media Services and I’ll be your host, your facilitator today. Just some housekeeping before we start. I’ll be going between some slides and also some video clips today. I won’t go full screen with the slides today as I find when I go full screen in our media training sessions, then I go into those video clips sometimes it can actually freeze the system so the slides will be almost full screen today. Everybody will be able to see them okay. You’ll see the slides off to one side and the video clips are off to the other side. OK let me share the screen

I’d like to start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today. I’d also like to pay my respects to elders past present and emerging

So Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference. I’ll have a presentation first up and then I’ve got time for some questions at the end. I’ll be using the COVID-19 media conferences as examples today. We’ve seen these media conferences being rolled out on a daily basis over the last 20 months and there’s a lot we can learn from these media conferences. After today perhaps review one of these media conferences or a couple of them – sit down with your leadership team and see what sort of processes you could take away from this to roll into your particular situation. When you’ve got a crisis, and every media situation is different, always seek professional communications and legal advice before dealing with journalists and the media your communications people your your media people and your lawyers will keep you safe you need to be absolutely firm and clear and confident about the messages you are delivering in a crisis situation and your lawyers and your Comms people will get you to the right spot.

OK about your facilitator today – so I’ve been involved in the media industry for more than four decades – kicked off as a cadet in commercial radio and TV. After that I went to the ABC – I was at the ABC for 13 years. While I was at the ABC I was posted to Washington where I was the ABC’s Washington Correspondent where I covered the White House, the State Department and of course, The Pentagon and other issues in America at the time. Came back to Australia and was posted to the Canberra press gallery after that went to Melbourne where I fronted the first morning TV news and current affairs program called First Edition with the wonderful Kate Dunstan after the ABC I went to RMIT University in Melbourne whereI lectured in TV Journalism and after eight years I left RMIT to start up this company Corporate Media Services and what a great segway into talking about Corporate Media Services.

So we run training courses throughout Australia and the South Pacific – Media Spokesperson training – getting people to the right spot so they can talk definitely and proudly of their positive media situations and also dealing with those tough issues as they come along. Executive Media Training where we step it up a little because Executives do come up against tougher issues. Crisis Media Communications training and that’s part of what we’re talking about today – Nailing your Crisis Media Conference. We also run Presentation Skills training and Public Speaking training. Our courses are customized – they have to be customised – every situation is different for every client and they are highly interactive so we get people up very quickly in front of the cameras – in front of recorders doing the interviews, replaying, unpacking, giving feedback. So more than 80% of our courses are interactive where people are really moving through those interview processes because that’s where the learning happens with adults.

All right – you need a plan – you need a strategy obviously when you’re dealing with a crisis situation. If you have a crisis so serious that media turns up generally unannounced in the car park at the front gate and all of a sudden – do you go out and front the media in that particular situation? So what you need to do is do most of the work now – most of the planning now so you formulate a strategy – you formulate a plan and part of that really crucial is your Crisis Communications Team. Who is going to be the the team on the day that’s going to assist you in this particular situation. That needs to be established now. Look at those likely incidents that could occur in your organization. Every organisation is different. You would know the top three, six, ten things that could go wrong in your organisation which would mean, so serious, would mean media turning up in the car park, at the front door, at the front gate. Have a look at those incidents and start thinking about how you would respond to that. Start thinking about the messages you would deliver in a situation like that and do as much work as you possibly can now.

So as I say there – anticipate questions, prepare your messages and your holding statements now the best you can. On the day you might need to adjust them and that’s absolutely fine but do as much work as you possibly can now – sitting down with your leadership team, your communications people, your lawyers, so everybody has done a lot of work on those messages before you actually have to go into the situation to prepare quickly for this crisis media conference. Prepare your other communication channels now – social media – really important part of the process, not only in crisis communications, but in all communications. You’ll need a specialist social media team looking at those social media situations. Are you going to be releasing a statement through your social media situations? Is there going to be some activity as far as social media is concerned? Do you need to respond to that so social media obviously a very important part of the process and your social media specialists – your team members – they’ll be part of that crisis communications team, and also look at your other communication channels – your website, your various other communication situations.

Keep the media informed and who will take those media calls when they come in. Generally that’s going to be a communications person, a media person within your organisation. If you don’t have a communications or media person, decide now who will take those calls. You need to keep the media informed. Are you just releasing a statement or are you going to be fronting the media that’s gathering outside? You need to let the media know exactly what is going on. Unexpected door stop protocols – making sure that people understand what to do if they are approached by media as they roll up to your site or as they they come up to to work in the car park. I had an executive say to me once what would I do if all of a sudden there’s a crisis within my organization – Ii get to the car park and media swarm me? Well that’s quite simple you act in a very calm and professional way. You don’t give any comment, you direct the the media to the comms person, or you go inside and tell the comms person could they please come out and deal with the media. But everybody needs to know exactly what to do. Is your spokesperson trained and do you have backup and you’re probably thinking, well Doug you’re a media trainer of course you’re going to say that, but really I think you need about three or four, possibly five people who are ready to roll in a situation like this. The boss may not be there. He or she might be overseas – second in charge may not be there – you may have some situation where the third person is unable to do it, so you need a team of people who are ready to roll. Yes you’ll have your primary spokes people but you’ll really need a backup to make sure that you have people who are ready to roll on on a day when they have to go out and front a crisis media conference.

Pick a safe media point this is really important making sure that you find a quiet safe area, generally outside so your media spokesperson can walk out of the building, up to the media, deliver the messages and when they decide it’s time to go – we’ve decided beforehand when it’s time to go – retreat to the building. I faced a situation years ago when I went to a press conference like this. Everything was well organised. The communication processes were good. The media was being told what was going on. The spokesperson came out – everything was fine but it he walked up to the media and the sun was in his eyes and that caused him a great deal of difficulty in terms of delivering those messages. So everything else was organised but the sun was in this person’s eyes and that caused a problem. Still went through the media conference situation but you could see this person was very uncomfortable. So you’ve really got to think about these media points and making sure that they are nice and safe and comfortable for the spokesperson.

How long will the spokesperson stay? Are you simply going to deliver a statement and then the spokesperson makes an exit? Are you going to have a situation where you’ll deliver a statement and then take a few questions? Sometimes people walk out and they simply take questions. This all needs to be decided by the Crisis Communications Team beforehand so the spokesperson on the day – she or he knows exactly what they need to do in any given situation. It’s not a case of going out and thinking we’ll see how this goes. It needs to follow a very very definite plan all worked out before the spokesperson comes out and delivers the messages to the media. You need to have your spokespeople in a situation where they’re really clear in terms of what they need to do you – need to have their confidence high and their fear low. It’s very hard going out and walking up to a whole bunch of journos and and delivering messages or reading a statement, so you need to have your spokesperson empowered so their confidence is high and their fear is low and that’s the spokesperson having an understanding of a very clear plan in terms of dealing with this very difficult situation.

Seamless entry and exit – very important that you don’t have your spokespeople battling through the media scrum to get to the front, and battling through the media to get back out of the room. You will not see, nor should you see, with the crisis media conferences at COVID-19 media conferences, you will not see Premiers, senior health officials, anybody battling through the media to get to the to the front of the room and battling back out as as they leave. It’s going to be a seamless process entry and exit and I want to show you some examples now. OK let’s have a look at New South Wales

So I’ll just stop it there to make a point. You see the Premier is coming out. It’s going to be a clear entry then a clear exit. He’s waiting for his team to come out and stand behind him. He’s not in a hurry. Big mistake people make in these situations – they come out and they start delivering messages from around about three meters away from the microphones – no – there is no rush. He comes out he stands there, has a final look at his notes and wait for his team to gather behind him.

“Well good morning everyone – it’s great to be here with half the cabinet” OK and then he starts. So let’s have a look a similar situation in Queensland and you’ll see Annastacia Palaszczuk coming out, the team following her out and you can see where where she enters the room and that’s where she will exit the room.

“All right good afternoon everybody. OK good afternoon Queensland”

And then away we go. So clear entry clear/exit. Let’s have a look at Daniel Andrews and there’s something that Daniel Andrews does in addition here which I want to speak about.

“Everyone right to go?” okay okay I’ll just play that again “everyone right to go”

All right so sometimes people say this, sometimes they don’t. It’s not a mistake if you don’t say it but i think it’s a very good thing to do. You’ve got a lot of journalists there, you’ve got a lot of equipment and sometimes things go wrong and when somebody says “is everybody right to go” sometimes they’re not and it allows the the journalist or the camera person to say “oh no can you just hold on a few a few moment we have to fix an issue that we’ve got” You want to make sure that everybody is right to go. The media wants to make sure they’re getting all your messages and if you’re going out to front a media conference you want to make sure that you’re getting your messages across to absolutely everybody so by saying is everybody right to go, it’s courteous and you don’t get too many courteous moments as a journal or a camera person on the road so i think it’s a courteous thing to do. But it also has sent a message to me as a journalist when this has happened that this person is very confident in the space they know what they’re doing in terms of the media and so it sends a really good message. So don’t be afraid to walk out and say is everybody right to go – gives you a bit more time to actually get settled and then away you go. It’s not a mistake if you don’t do it, but I think it’s a very good addition to the process. But the what I was trying to get across in those three clips – clear entry clear exit – nobody’s in a hurry – everybody’s getting getting settled and then away we go.

So I’ll just share the screen again. Your audience. The all-important audience. Use the media to deliver your messages to your audience and identify your internal and external audiences now because once you’ve worked that out then you can start looking at the wording as far as your messages are concerned. You want to make sure that those messages are connecting with the audience you are after and we all have different audiences and you know who your audience is going to be – various stakeholders, government organisations, business groups, staff, family, local residents. So think think now about the audience and then start pulling those messages together.

The messages – the all-important messages. So get on the front foot quickly now. There’s a lot of research out there – some people say you’ve got 15 minutes to get messages out in a crisis – some people say you’ve got half an hour or an hour. What you need to do is try to get your messages out as quickly as possible to get on the front foot as quickly as possible, but you don’t send your spokesperson out to front of media conference until they are absolutely ready to go. So the whole idea pulling together as much as you possibly can beforehand allows you to get out there quickly. But you only send a spokesperson out. You only send your messages out – your statements – out when you’re absolutely happy with those statements – those messages and the spokesperson is feeling absolutely empowered.

So what are you going to do in terms of messages? Confirm the incident – I mean what do we want when we roll up to a situation like this as far as media is concerned? We want confirmation what actually happened. Journalists will be chasing the who, what, when, where, why, how – well you may not have all of that information but hopefully you can actually confirm what’s actually occurred when you start delivering the messages. Empathy first and every single time. You may need to offer condolences – hopefully you won’t. You will have seen with the covert 19 media conferences, every single time because unfortunately peaceful people are passing away from COVID, condolences at the beginning of the media conference and this is absolutely and totally appropriate. Then clear concise jargon free messages or a statement – honest transparent and genuine. So I want to show you this example from South Australia. This is the Senior Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier coming out on a day – very tough day. South Australia are about to go into a lock down but really clear about the messages. Really clear in terms of delivering those messages and doing it in a very definite way and the Professor paints a picture so we all understand very clearly what we need to do in terms of the situation on this day so let me let me play this one:

‘Thank you and good morning. Yes a worrying situation here in
South Australia and just to reiterate the really important point for people who are watching this press conference. This is the time to stay put. This is the time not to move around. The virus doesn’t have legs. It moves around when people move around. So if we stay put the virus will stop and we’ll be able to get on top of it. So that’s really one of my my main messages today and the second is – if you’ve got any symptoms whatsoever go and get tested because that’s how we’re going to be able to know if the virus is spreading’

OK so what I love about that – clear, definite paints a picture – the virus doesn’t have legs – it moves around when people move around. ‘This is my major message here today’ and really if that’s the only thing that is used in terms of a grab or a sound bite or a quote – if it’s not going out live most media situations are going to be quotes grabs and sound bites – if that’s the only things it’s used – that’s a wonderful use of media. So that’s what I mean in terms of clear concise understandable messages. I’ve got some other messages here that people might like to consider when they’re dealing with these very tough situations. These are messages that I’ve pulled together over the last 18 months or so when I’ve been helping clients deal with crisis situations involving COVID many times. So confirmation that the incident has occurred, expressing empathy, concern for those people who have been impacted. Working with, and taking direction from the authorities – if it’s a covert situation from the Health Department um constantly in touch with the authorities or with the Health Department to make sure that we’re following the appropriate protocols. Keeping everybody informed the best we can and finding out what’s actually occurred so we can rectify the situation to try and make sure it doesn’t happen again in the future. So that’s a set of messages that you can possibly look at when you’re looking at messages that you would want to deliver in these very difficult situations. But again every situation is different. Every crisis situation is different. Your messages are going to be different but that might just be a good starting point. OK let me go and share the screen again.

So don’t get involved with hypotheticals and don’t speculate, even if journalists are trying to draw you into that space. You are – you are very clear on the messages that you are going to be delivering. You’re following the plan that you’ve worked out with your your team and you do not get into hypotheticals or speculation and you certainly don’t go off the record. If somebody asks you an off the record – a question at the end of the media conference – no – everything needs to be on the record. So as I say there – control and deliver the message then stop. The grab, the sound bite, the quote, whatever you want to call it, so deliver it and then stop. So you need to go through an out-loud rehearsal. As I say down the bottom there with your team beforehand – to get you to that point where you’re delivering those clear concise messages, delivering the message then stopping because confidence is the key in all of this. Most of the people we have in our Media Training, our Crisis Media Training courses – they’re leaders in their particular area they’re experts in their particular area. They’ve got good communication skills. It’s a case of getting them to the point where they need to be, to deliver these messages in this very difficult crisis media situation. And I’ve got there – ‘own your words’. Journalists from any situation – in any situation, will toss words at you and if you toss them back – you own them. You take ownership of those words. Now if it’s a live interview, that’s OK. People hear these things in context – if it’s not we don’t hear the journalist’s question, or see the journalists question – all of a sudden you’ve taken ownership of that particular word and you may not actually want to do that so making sure that you’re delivering your words – not words that have been tossed at you in the the heat of the the crisis media conference

So this is a process which is used around the world. Emergency services organisations often use this when they’re pulling together messages, and it’s a great. What I call four-point message guide. This is what we know, this is what we don’t know, this is what we’re doing and this is what we want you to do – a call to action. So you won’t get a question from a journalist – do I have a call to action today – you need to take yourself to that call to action and that is the bridging process. Using what we call bridging phrases so at some stage in that media conference, if you have a call to action you need to take yourself there. Look can I just say this, could I just add this one thing I’d like to ask of the residents, one thing I’d like to ask of the of the public – it’s a call to action. And we often see calls to action with emergency organisations when they have an incident. And we’ve had endless calls to action over the last 20 months with these COVID-19 media conferences start it off with washing our hands, don’t touch your face, stay at home, social distancing and then follow the rules. We’ve got restrictions in place – follow the rules and what are we getting now – get vaccinated – get vaccinated – get vaccinated – these are calls to action. You don’t have to have a call to action when you’re pulling together the messages but you can deliver a call to action. But a journalist isn’t going to ask you do you have a ‘call to action’ you need to be in a good head space to be able to just roll that out and take control of that particular situation.

All right looking the part this is, in a lot of ways, common sense. But it’s something that people actually forget on the day. People are so focused on the messages – they’re so focused on looking at the media outside and feeling a bit uptight about that – lots of conversations going on – doing the out loud rehearsals and sometimes they just forget that the collar’s not quite right or the jacket’s not quite right so it’s a pretty easy fix. You simply turn around to your communications team or the communications team gets the spokesperson before they go out and just goes okay, yep this is all this is all good – this is appropriate or you go to the bathroom and you have a look in the mirror to make sure everything is nice and neat and tidy. People say well what should I actually be wearing in a situation like this? You decide on the day. What we’ve been seeing with the COVID media conferences – everything from plain business attire through to smart casual – all of it’s been appropriate. Should you wear a high visibility vest if the situation calls for a high vis vest? Safety gear – absolutely, but making sure that you take advice on that because you don’t want to be wearing a high vis vest that’s not appropriate. Try to avoid transition glasses and definitely no sunglasses. I’ve had a number of communications people say to me over the last 12 months why does the U.S President Joe Biden wear sunglasses when he’s speaking to the media and I have absolutely no idea. I’ve read a couple of articles which said that he likes his sunglasses – it’s not a good look so try to avoid those transition glasses and definitely no sunglasses.

OK the media conference. So the spokesperson must calm themselves before going out and there’s a range of ways that people do this. Sometimes people get all the messages together – they’ve done the out loud rehearsals – they’re feeling fine – they’ll go outside, stand in the sun for a little bit. I’ve seen people go into a room where they put all the messages out in front of them on the on the carpet and they just look at them for a few minutes to absorb all of that information. So just calm yourself beforehand, being absolutely clear about the messages that you are going to deliver and then you arrive with authority. And I showed you those examples a little earlier. Deliver your messages and deliver them well and that’s what we saw with the Professor earlier. The major issue at the moment is be very firm about delivering those messages, making sure that you are telling the audience, if it’s going live, what those major messages are. And you’re telling the journalists that are there these are the major messages, and if journalists understand the major messages on the day that’s probably what they’re going to run. As far as quotes grabs and sound bites, if you don’t know the answer – be honest. One of the most refreshing things to come out of these COVID-19 media conferences is that when when a Premier or a health official, or a Health Minister doesn’t know the information, doesn’t know the answer to the question, they’re completely honest about it – ‘Look I’m not sure about that – that’s a good question we’ll get back to you on that – what I can tell you, what I can say, what I can put across’ So don’t feel as though you need to know absolutely everything about everything especially in the early part of a crisis situation. Just be honest and upfront – ‘Look I don’t know about that – we will find out about that, but what I can tell you, what I can offer you’ Correct any misinformation that’s floating out there on, you know, on radio or in social media. Again journalists won’t ask you would you like to correct any misinformation – you need to take yourself there. The spokesperson needs to be empowered to go to that point ‘Look I’d like to actually correct some misinformation that is out there on social media’ and then away you go. Maintaining solid eye contact, and I’ll come back to that. And then you need to depart with authority. Let me show you this example from Tasmania of a nice definite departure situation – ‘Information they provide us with, I think the evidence of how they’ve been prepared to cooperate with us is very clear for everyone to see and that cooperation hasn’t been forthcoming’

So there you go, so nice definite exit, clear entry, clear exit – you’ll see it every single time with these COVID media conferences and that’s exactly how it should actually happen. As far as the eye contact is concerned, it’s important that we see you looking at a journalist or looking at all of the the journalists. People who deal with media a lot, so senior business people, politicians, sometimes they will actually come out and say once they’ve said ‘is everybody right to go’, then they’ll say ‘where would you like me to look’ and what journalists will do, they’ll say can you look at that person in the middle and that’ll allow all of the cameras to get a good look at the front of you. So this is sometimes a bit difficult if you don’t do it a lot. What some people do they they actually get one of their team just stand behind that journalist so the spokesperson has a friendly face to look at – not suggesting for a moment that journalists aren’t friendly, but that’s what they do. But again this is this is something that happens when people deal with the media a lot. I think it’s a hard thing to do if you don’t do a lot of media so my recommendation is just look at the journalist who is asking you that question and engage with that journalist or look around at all of the journalists and you’ll see this with the COVID media conferences. They’re either looking straight at the journalist asking the question quite often, or they’re looking around the room. Just one final issue with all of this, just to make it a little bit more complex – if you are actually looking at the journalist and dealing with that particular journalist, and the journalist over there has asked a question and looking that way, the TV cameras won’t be able to get your face over here. They’ll get the back of your head and that doesn’t work for TV situations. So you may find a journalist, once you’ve answered that question, a journalist over here saying oh could you answer that again, or they’ll ask a similar question to get you to look that way, to deliver the message that way, and that’s absolutely fine – just just repeat the message.

All right some final points. Remove the phone. You don’t need your phone going off obviously in the middle of a media conference – especially a crisis media conference. Don’t confuse the message. Make sure the messages are as clear and understandable as possible. We’ve seen some confusion with the messages with the COVID situation making sure that you’re not confusing the messages.

Don’t deliver throw away lines as you walk away. Some people relax at the end of their media conference and they have a joke. No, everything needs to be on message. You need to be professional at all times. Don’t get annoyed with the journalists. Sometimes people get uptight in these situations and they feel that they’re not very happy with a journalist and they get into an argument. Don’t – you are there to calmly and professionally deliver appropriate messages for your audience in every media situation especially with a crisis media conference

Pick your background. This is very important you want to make sure that you have a good solid background. This rolls back into what we were discussing earlier as far as the media point is concerned – making sure that the background is going to be appropriate. Don’t allow the media to choose the background for you. Make sure your communications people choose that, the crisis communications team, or the spokesperson – making sure that you are very happy with that background.

Should I update or conduct a one-on-one interview later? Well you decide. There are different strategies and different skills when you’re dealing with a one-on-one interview situation. You just can’t make an exit in those situations as you can in the early stages of a crisis situation. So making sure that you are very very clear on what is needed to do a professional one-on-one interview. But again decide on the day – monitor the media coverage – whether it’s going to be traditional media, whether it’s going to be social media – it’s very important that you know what’s going on out there and so this might be having a lot of people keeping across radio, keeping across digital situations, online situations, keeping across TV. You want to know how your situation is being reported and you want to know what sort of quotes and grabs are being used in that particular situation. So pull together a team that’s able to actually monitor various radio stations, TV stations and of course, you’ll have your social media people doing the monitoring there.

And it’s a partnership. I honestly see this as a partnership – between the organisation and the media that is there in that very difficult situation. Tt’s a partnership in terms of getting the messages out there. Media want to gain those messages from you, send those messages out to the audiences and you do actually want to do the same thing, but it’s like any partnership – you need to be careful, you need to be focused, you need to make sure that you are looking after your best interest. So try and work in with the media but at all times making sure that you are gaining what you want from this partnership situation

So the bottom line in all of this, start your planning now. Pull together that crisis communications team, have a look at the incidents that could possibly occur, start to have a look at the messages you could deliver in in any given situation and do as much work as you can possibly do now because you want your spokesperson to go out looking professional, sounding professional. Stay on message and remaining calm because that’s what it is all about. Taking advantage of these this huge media contingent that’s turned up on this day, taking advantage of that to get the messages out to the audience you are after and the planning is absolutely crucial

All right before we wrap up if you’d like to connect with us we have our web page there we’re involved in social media, LinkedIn and and elsewhere

And if you’d like to leave a review thank you – very very happy for you to leave a review. We will have another webinar earlier in 2022 not sure about the topic we’re just trying to work out that at the at the moment

So I sincerely hope that you don’t have to use any of these processes that we’re talking about today. I sincerely hope you don’t have to face a crisis media conference, but if you do, hopefully we’ve given you an idea of how you need to prepare for these very difficult situations. I do hope all of your media moments are happy ones and hopefully today we’ve given you some strategies to deal with and Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/20211118-nailing-your-crisis-media-conference-doug-weller-corporate-media-services.png 720 1280 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2021-11-19 12:35:192021-11-24 13:24:21Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference with Doug Weller

The Great Face Off – The Day Social Media Became Antisocial

March 10, 2021/in Blog /by corporatemediaservices

By Doug Weller

On 18 February 2021, Facebook pulled the plug.

Australian Facebookers woke to find they could not access or share Australian news via Facebook.

Unfortunately, organisations including some government departments, charities, community sites and others were bundled into the ‘news’ category and were also blocked.

News consumers could still access news directly in other ways, such as via the news organisation’s websites.

The solution for others – especially many community Facebook sites – wasn’t as easy.

Some of these organisations rely purely on their Facebook site to connect with their clients and audiences.

The stoush was all over the Australian Government’s proposed media laws forcing Facebook to pay for Australian news content shared on that platform.

Facebook said, “The proposed law fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between our platform and publishers who use it to share news content. It has left us facing a stark choice: attempt to comply with a law that ignores the realities of this relationship, or stop allowing news content on our services in Australia. With a heavy heart, we are choosing the latter.”

The bunfight was resolved a week later.

In the meantime, Facebook apologised for the situation, claiming the impact on government departments, charities and community sites etc was an unintended consequence of the news ban.

It moved to restore the ‘non media‘ sites, but some were blocked for hours or days.

For those organisations which over the past 17 years have slowly built their communications with customers and clients exclusively via their Facebook sites, it was all quite a shock.

Suddenly they realised that there was no Plan B. No Facebook, no connection.

People who needed their services had nowhere to turn.

Plan B

So, what should a Plan B look like?

A website, where you have a lot more control, is a good start – but it can be expensive to setup and maintain.

Direct mail is also good, but again very costly.

Have a presence on more than one social media site and ensure your customers and clients know their options if one site is blocked or not accessible.

A database of phone numbers is a great backup so you can quickly text or call clients and customers and direct them to a phone number or email.

It is also very important to have a copy of the material you post on social media sites. Can you access your material, information and messages if that site goes down?

The Facebook ban highlighted the danger of relying solely on one social media platform to reach your target audience.

The disruption was short-lived. That was no consolation for those who urgently needed help from organisations, such those that provide help from domestic violence when the site was down.

Without even really noticing it, we have handed enormous power to Facebook and other social media platforms.

Some organisations have become too reliant on them, basing their audience communications around ‘free’ social media sites.

Social media is a great way to connect, but you must have a Plan B in place if the platform, intentionally or not, pulls the plug.

Make sure your audience can access your services and receive your messages if your main social media platform is not available.

Fortunately, the Australian Government and Facebook found a resolution in this case.

But what about next time?

Have your Plan B ready to roll and test it to make sure it works.

Information Only

Any information presented on our website is general. It is not a substitute for professional advice.

Further Assistance

To get the most from your media opportunities and avoid the danger zones, contact Corporate Media Services for more information about our training programs and media consultancy services.

All Corporate Media Services training courses can be conducted online.

For information and bookings please call 1300 737 913 or Director, Doug Weller 0412 298 905.

Sources

Facebook’s botched Australia news ban hits health departments, charities and its own pages

Facebook to ban Australian users from sharing news content

Facebook agrees to reverse news ban on Australian sites after striking deal with federal government (sbs.com.au)

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2021-03-10 14:31:012021-11-12 11:26:56The Great Face Off - The Day Social Media Became Antisocial

Pages

Site Map

November 30, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Pages

  • 2 Crisis Media Communications Training
  • 2 Executive Media Training
  • 2 media fundamentals
  • 2 Media Spokesperson Training
  • 2 media training courses
  • 2 Public Speaking & Presentation Skills Training
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
      • Brett Jenkin
      • Doug Weller
      • Milton Amezquita
      • Neil Spark
      • Rob Curtain
      • Rosalie de Ridder
      • Will Kestin
    • Our History
    • Our Training Philosophy
    • Reciprocal Links
      • Articles Courses Events and Conferences
      • Business Directory Listings
    • Site Map
    • Why choose us?
  • Add a testimonial
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Us new
  • course
  • EG Water
  • Friday
  • Home
  • home 2
  • home 3
  • home 3a
  • home 4
  • HOME CHARCOAL
  • Lisa
  • Marc Edward Agency
  • Media Services
    • Media Consulting
    • Media Resources
      • Articles Published
        • ABC Close to 24-Hour News Plan
        • ABC Makes a New Start
        • Busting the Media Myths
        • Finding the Right Voice
        • Here is the News
        • Is Washington ready for Doug?
        • New Media - Old Rules How one quick quip can destroy your reputation
        • Overseas Posting
        • Saddam on Toast
        • Weller's away to Washington
      • Australian Media Links
      • International Media Links
      • Videos
        • Doug Weller on ABC 7pm Television News Shop Stealing
        • Doug Weller on ABC Television First Edition Tuberculosis
        • Doug Weller on ABC Television News CRA strike
        • Doug Weller on ABC Television News Equal Pay Equal Work Dispute
        • Featured Videos
    • Media Strategy Development
  • Media Training Courses
    • Crisis Media Communications Training
    • Executive Media Training
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Media Spokesperson Training
    • Public Speaking and Presentation Skills Training
  • Media Training Requirements
  • NewCompany
  • NewCompany
  • Nicholson Construction
  • NNSWLHD
  • PanAust Limited
  • Proposal
  • SA Chapter Australian Institute of Architects
  • Saturday
  • Saturday again
  • Scholle IPN
  • Send a Message
  • Takor Group
  • TCA
  • Testimonials
  • Vitamin Z
  • Warrnambool City Council
  • Webinars
  • Youth Services - Youth Group
  • Zagg International

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-11-30 09:45:332021-11-22 20:09:18Site Map
Corporate Media Services Finding the right voice

Finding the Right Voice

November 30, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Finding the Right Voice

Published: 23 January 2008

Publication: Herald Sun

Author: Paula Beauchamp

Words: 148

Image of article: Shown below

**START TRANSCRIPT**

Finding the right voice

More and more organisations are looking to engage with the media and seek out media training to improve the outcome, experts say. Media trainer Doug Weller says much of the focus today is on crisis media management.

“I think organisations realised, more and more after 9/11, that any organisation can be hit with a crisis, that it can happen in a moment”, said Mr Weller, who runs Corporate Media Services.

Organisations want to know what they need to do to communicate quickly and effectively. Most crisis media training courses explain the pressures journalists work under and the steps organisations must take to effectively deliver their message.

If a crisis hits, Weller recommends speaking to the media as soon as possible, even if you don’t yet have all the information at hand. Organisations that seek out media training typically range from medium-sized to very large corporate or government entities.

**END TRANSCRIPT**

Corporate Media Services Finding the right voice

Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

 

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/finding-the-right-voice.jpg 498 546 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-11-30 00:12:172013-03-25 01:28:42Finding the Right Voice

Articles Published

November 29, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Corporate Media Services Articles Published

Corporate Media Services Articles PublishedThis page links to articles that have been previously published by Corporate Media Services or where Corporate Media Services’ media trainers have been quoted.

A transcript is available by clicking on the link in the ‘Title’ column.

 

Date Title Publication Author
Words
01/10/2016 The Spotlight Effect Media Training Magazine Brian Johnson, Doug Weller quoted
2,443
10/11/2010 New Media – Old Rules – How one quick quip can destroy your reputation Articlesbase Doug Weller
473
23/01/2008 Finding the right voice Herald Sun Paula Beauchamp
148
01/11/2007 Busting the Media Myths AAA Doug Weller
989
01/07/2006 ‘Living Spirit’: Muslim Women and Human
Rights Forum – Doug Weller Presenter
Human Rights Commission Editor
76
01/02/1993 Here is the News Herald Sun Editor
66
15/02/1993 ABC makes a new start Herald Sun Editor
173
07/02/1993 ABC Close to 24-hour News Plan Herald Sun TV Extra Editor
234
06/02/1993 Saddam on Toast TV Week Editor
441
05/02/1993 Breakfast at Aunty’s The Age Green Guide Editor
1501
01/12/1989 Is Washington ready for Doug? Queensland Wireless News Editor
122
01/12/1989 Weller’s away to Washingtion Gold Coast Bulletin Editor
84
01/12/1989 Overseas Posting Unknown Editor
236

Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-11-29 23:36:542021-07-10 16:13:16Articles Published
Busting the Media Myths 1

Busting the Media Myths

November 20, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Busting the Media Myths

Published: November/December 2007

Publication: AAA

Author: Doug Weller

Pages: 66-67

Words: 989

Image of article: Shown below

**START TRANSCRIPT**

Busting the media myths

The media can often seem rude, pushy and difficult to understand. Doug Weller give’s a journalist’s point of view and explains why it’s crucial to cooperate with them.

According to some people, journalists are ‘thugs’, ‘parasites’ and ‘scum’. These are just some of the responses we have received when we ask participants what they think of the media at the start of our media training programs. In fact, some responses are even more colourful than this – so much so that they could not be printed here.

I have been a journalist for more than 30 years and even though there are some in the media industry who are not my bosom buddies, I would never describe them using the words listed above. In fact most of the journalists I know are great people – dare I say, some of my best friends are journalists!

So why do some people, particularly those involved in the aged care industry, have such a negative view of journalists and the media?

In a nutshell, it is a clash of cultures and a lack of understanding. In the general community, there is a lack of understanding of how journalists operate, a lack of understanding of what journalists require – especially in crisis – and a lack of confidence to deliver what the journalist wants and needs.

THE OTHER POINT OF VIEW

Journalists work in a pressure cooker. They face deadlines like few other professionals; ‘same-day-stories’ will be done no matter what! If the evening news on the TV is scheduled to go to air at 6pm, it will go to air at 6pm. Not at 6.05pm. Not at 6.01pm.

66 | NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2007 | AAA

All mediums face deadlines and they are sacrosanct. This means, as journalists get closer to those deadlines the pressure increases. And if you refuse to comment on a story, especially in a crisis, journalists will become hostile. They will gather what they require – comments, vision, photos – any way they can. By frustrating journalists who are under pressure to produce a story, you simply ensure the journalist is upset and angry with you when writing that story. That’s not a good move.

Journalists will always meet their deadline! There is no other option. If a journalist, cameraperson or photographer tells an editor they are unable to get what was required to meet the deadline, it is a career destroying move.

THE WRONG RESPONSE

After many years of training people how to deal with the media I believe that most people actually want to comment to the media in a crisis, yet instead, as the pressure increases it all becomes too hard and they say “lock the gates”.

Locking the gates, locking the doors, calling security or the police to keep the media away when you are dealing with a crisis, is an understandable and very normal human reaction. But it causes problems.

If the media is interested in a story relating to your aged care facility it will probably be because you are facing a very difficult situation. It could even involve the death of a resident. The bigger the issue, the bigger the story for the media and the less you may want to talk. However, it should be the other way around. The bigger the issue, the bigger the story, the more interested you should be in speaking to the media.

GIVING THE MESSAGE

You see, it’s not the media on which you need to focus, it is the audience. The media is simply the vehicle by which the message is delivered to that audience. By shutting out the media, you shut out the audience, often when you need to reassure that audience. “No comment” is not a good look, especially in a crisis.

What did you think of the company that last delivered via the media, a curt message of “no comment”? There is always something an aged care facility spokesperson can say. What you need is a formula: a set of words – a process if you like – that will allow them to communicate their message, even when they know very little about a crisis, or can only give very limited comment.

They need to respond quickly. They need to look in control, and appear neat, tidy and confident. They need to deliver a set of words which express concern and action being taken. It doesn’t have to be very long. It just needs to be delivered.

A TELLING EXAMPLE

Some years ago I was covering the story of a death in a residential facility. When I rang the complex the woman on the switch was obviously under pressure and she insulted me, hanging up in my ear. When I arrived with my TV crew we were insulted again and had the gates locked on us. The more the other journalists and I attempted to gain a comment, the more the aged care facility management resisted.

In the end we had TV news helicopters flying above the facility to gather vision. For verbal comment we interviewed family members of those inside the facility. Their comments about the facility were not complimentary.

Without much effort the facility management could have easily handled the situation in a way, which made them look professional, caring and pro-active. The opposite was the case. By the way, on that day we all met our deadline.

For more information contact Doug Weller at djweller@bigpond.net.au or visit his website: www.corporatemediaservices.com.au – see also Gerard Mansour’s state view on dealing with the media on page 25.

DOUG WELLER will be speaking at the Retirement Village Association’s (RVA) National Conference on how to work with the media. The AdvantAGE 07 Conference will be held in Melbourne from 13-15 November at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Victoria. For more information, visit www.rvadvantage.com.au

‘The bigger the issue, the bigger the story, the more interested you should be in speaking to the media.’

‘Doug Weller’

‘By the way, on that day we all met our deadline.’

AAA | NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2007 | 67

**END TRANSCRIPT**

Busting the Media Myths 1

Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/busting-the-media-myths-1.jpg 585 372 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-11-20 11:59:002021-11-22 19:22:01Busting the Media Myths

Media Training Courses

November 19, 2021/by corporatemediaservices

We help people like you

Take control and get the media working for YOU

And with the media on your side, it’s a kind of marketing utopia on the upside and a tool to help you defending your reputation when things get tough…


Your messages are amplified, you reach more people, you can build trust and credibility, especially in difficult times, generate genuine interest in what you do and you can strengthen your brand and positioning… all for a fraction of what it would cost going it alone, if not free!

So how is it done?

You need to understand how the media works, have a solid media strategy in place and the resources and skills to execute it. Everyone in your organisation, from your Communications Team to your Spokespersons and Executives, must be skilled up, proactive and on the same page. You’ll know they are when:

  • You’re considered a ‘go to’ source of information or comment on your sector or industry
  • Your spokespeople have plenty of good opportunities to get your message out
  • Your core messages begin to take on a life of their own and build momentum with ease
  • You see interest in your organisation, product or service from sources other than advertising
  • You handle the tough issues professionally from a position of strength
  • Your reputation becomes stronger and more resilient.

Role-specific media training gives your media team the knowledge, skills and confidence to excel

Your Communications Team will…


Learn how to generate media interest in your organisation, product or service with highly-effective press releases and proven distribution methodologies.

Your Spokespeople will…

Media Spokesperson Training

Become expert at articulating your message, staying on-message and confidently managing a wide range of media relations.

Your Executive Team will…

Executive media training specialists

Know how to say and do the right things, even under pressure.

Your Crisis Media team will…


Know precisely how to handle the media in the event of a crisis and mitigate the risk of reputation damage.

Your Public Speakers and Presenters will…

public speaking & presentation skills

Be able to captivate audiences with informative and interesting presentations and a relaxed, composed delivery.

Learn more about…

MEDIA SPOKESPERSON TRAINING
EXECUTIVE MEDIA TRAINING
CRISIS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING
PUBLIC SPEAKING & PRESENTATION SKILLS TRAINING

“One word – outstanding!”

April 17, 2016
Lenette Gear, Head of Operations Healthcare – Australian Unity
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 12:17:142016-04-17 12:17:14“One word – outstanding!”

“Absolutely brilliant. Very practical, fantastic content, very experienced presenters and professional delivery. A very worthwhile investment.”

April 17, 2016
Jessica Ridgeway, CEO – Epic Health
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 12:14:432016-04-17 12:14:43“Absolutely brilliant. Very practical, fantastic content, very experienced presenters and professional delivery. A very worthwhile investment.”

“Fantastic program, very useful and insightful.”

April 17, 2016
Dean Burgess, Director – Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:35:252016-04-17 11:35:25“Fantastic program, very useful and insightful.”

“Excellent. Very good tools to take back into the professional arena.”

April 17, 2016
Leigh Dunn, General Manager – The GPT Group
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:34:422016-04-17 11:34:42“Excellent. Very good tools to take back into the professional arena.”

“Exemplary.”

April 17, 2016
J F Kelly, Program Director Cities – Grattan Institute
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:33:572016-04-17 11:57:18“Exemplary.”

“Professional trainers who clearly knew how to deliver.”

April 17, 2016
Superintendent Neil Paterson – Victoria Police
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:30:082016-04-17 11:30:08“Professional trainers who clearly knew how to deliver.”

“Fantastic program – I learnt a lot.”

April 17, 2016
David Brown, Executive Manager (Sales) – Siemens Healthcare
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:29:162016-04-17 11:30:33“Fantastic program – I learnt a lot.”

“Truly sensational and although challenging, I’d be very happy to do it again.”

April 17, 2016
Luca Cella, Marketing Manager – Beretta Australia
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:28:082016-04-17 11:28:09“Truly sensational and although challenging, I’d be very happy to do it again.”

“Excellent. I enjoyed and needed the practice. Doug and Milton were both fantastic and very helpful.”

April 17, 2016
Sally Scott, Partner – Hall and Wilcox Lawyers
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 09:06:592016-04-17 09:34:42“Excellent. I enjoyed and needed the practice. Doug and Milton were both fantastic and very helpful.”
PreviousNext

Our philosophy is simple but unique. Simple because it makes sense… Unique, because the things we believe make for the most powerful media training require a bespoke approach.

The 5 essential components of effective media training


  • Relevant

    What works for one organisation won’t always work for another. It’s just how it is.

    That’s why we believe it’s essential we get to know your requirements early on and then do the work to specifically tailor our knowledge into programs that are perfectly designed for you. Who you are, what you do, your current position, your goals and objectives, your opportunities and threats and the experience of your team are all important factors in designing your programs.

    Not only will your people learn how the media industry works and how journalists operate, they’ll see past the theory and understand exactly how this knowledge applies to your organisation and their role.

  • Based on Real-Life

    The truth is that many people are scared of journalists and the media.

    Overcoming this fear is a core part of the work we do in our trainings and that starts with giving people a taste of what they can expect in real life.

    Gone are the days when media interviews were scheduled in studios, today, most of them happen on the fly. Radio, television and press journalists are all working out on the road, so that’s the way we do most of our training programs.

    Each one is run by a highly experienced Journalist and Cameraman, with all the modern gear. And every participant has the chance to experience what a media encounter will be like in real life. For confidence, we believe this is critical.

  • Comprehensive

    Media today is multi-dimensional and a successful media team really needs to be confident and comfortable working across a range of media including radio, television, press, social and PR.

    Our training programs cover each of these disciplines as it applies to each of the roles; Your communications team will learn how to utilise a range of media to boost your exposure and your spokespeople and executives will learn how to communicate effectively in each different setting.

  • Strategic

    Your people can only be as effective as your media strategy allows. If you already have a strategy in place, we’ll ensure it’s woven through the training programs we provide for you. And if you need to develop or refine your strategy, we’ll start there first and help you do it.

    With a solid strategy and clear messages, your training programs can then be developed.

  • Results-oriented

    At the end of the day, you need your people to be confident, proactive and articulate in their capacity as part of your media team. And you want to be sure that the team as a whole is working effectively together on carrying out your media strategy.

    What makes our training effective is outlined here in these essential elements but what underpins all that is depth of experience and training skill.

    It’s one thing to be a Journalist, but something entirely different to be a trainer as well. The Corporate Media Services trainers are selected because they’re both. That means you get the knowledge you need delivered in a way that is easy to take in and learn.

    Confidence building and empowerment are at the core of our media training philosophy. By providing a challenging but non-threatening learning experience, participants gain the maximum benefit from our media courses.

    Afterall, the effectiveness of any training can only be judged by how well participants respond and grow.

Corporate Media Services Our Team

Training programs designed by experienced, award-winning Senior Journalists and delivered in real-world simulations using the latest equipment

Develop and enhance skills and confidence quickly, whether you’re new to the game or you have some experience already

GET SAVVY ON THE IN‘S AND OUT’S OF THE MEDIA
BE A CONFIDENT, NATURAL AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR
USE THE MEDIA TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
AVOID COMMON PITFALLS
KEEP THE RIGHT FOCUS ON YOUR ORGANISATION

How can we help you?

MEDIA SPOKESPERSON TRAINING
EXECUTIVE MEDIA TRAINING
CRISIS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
PUBLIC SPEAKING & PRESENTATION SKILLS TRAINING

“I often say that our Corporate Media Services team is in the fear removal business.

Our goal is to leave you feeling empowered and confident about media interactions, no matter what your media comfort level is.”

Doug Weller – Founder, Corporate Media Services

Doug Weller

Doug Weller – Founder, Corporate Media Services

Could your organisation benefit from media training?


 Are you making the most of the media to get your messages out?

 Do your people know how the media works?

 Are they confident engaging with the media?

 Do your people know how to give them what they want and get what you want in return?

 Are you and your people clear on the key messages to be delivering to the media?

 Is everyone in your organisation able to clearly articulate the same congruent message?

 Is there a clear and concrete structure for dealing with the media in your organisation?


If you answered no to a few of those questions, chances are media training could be extremely valuable for you.

Let’s discuss your requirements & tailor the right solution for you


Call 1300 737 913

or +61 412 298 905


Send us an email

Click here to send an email


Submit an enquiry form

Click here to submit an emquiry

“One word – outstanding!”

April 17, 2016
Lenette Gear, Head of Operations Healthcare – Australian Unity
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 12:17:142016-04-17 12:17:14“One word – outstanding!”

“Absolutely brilliant. Very practical, fantastic content, very experienced presenters and professional delivery. A very worthwhile investment.”

April 17, 2016
Jessica Ridgeway, CEO – Epic Health
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 12:14:432016-04-17 12:14:43“Absolutely brilliant. Very practical, fantastic content, very experienced presenters and professional delivery. A very worthwhile investment.”

“Fantastic program, very useful and insightful.”

April 17, 2016
Dean Burgess, Director – Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:35:252016-04-17 11:35:25“Fantastic program, very useful and insightful.”

“Excellent. Very good tools to take back into the professional arena.”

April 17, 2016
Leigh Dunn, General Manager – The GPT Group
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:34:422016-04-17 11:34:42“Excellent. Very good tools to take back into the professional arena.”

“Exemplary.”

April 17, 2016
J F Kelly, Program Director Cities – Grattan Institute
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:33:572016-04-17 11:57:18“Exemplary.”

“Professional trainers who clearly knew how to deliver.”

April 17, 2016
Superintendent Neil Paterson – Victoria Police
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:30:082016-04-17 11:30:08“Professional trainers who clearly knew how to deliver.”

“Fantastic program – I learnt a lot.”

April 17, 2016
David Brown, Executive Manager (Sales) – Siemens Healthcare
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:29:162016-04-17 11:30:33“Fantastic program – I learnt a lot.”

“Truly sensational and although challenging, I’d be very happy to do it again.”

April 17, 2016
Luca Cella, Marketing Manager – Beretta Australia
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:28:082016-04-17 11:28:09“Truly sensational and although challenging, I’d be very happy to do it again.”

“Excellent. I enjoyed and needed the practice. Doug and Milton were both fantastic and very helpful.”

April 17, 2016
Sally Scott, Partner – Hall and Wilcox Lawyers
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 09:06:592016-04-17 09:34:42“Excellent. I enjoyed and needed the practice. Doug and Milton were both fantastic and very helpful.”
PreviousNext

Cutting edge, no-nonense advice, training & strategy delivered by

Award-winning, senior journalists

Your trainers are hand-picked, experienced professionals who’ve worked recently in the media industry and have an intimate knowledge of media and how you can make the most of it.

To ensure our training programs are as realistic and effective as possible, you’re assured of…


  • World-class Experience

    Award winning senior journalists with solid reporting, editing and media program presenting experience in Australia and overseas.

  • LATEST CERTIFICATION

    Trainers with solid journalism backgrounds and Certificate IV Training and Assessment certified.

  • Proven adult learning techniques

    Multi-sensory adult training techniques cater for visual, auditory and kinesthetic (interactive) learning styles. Experiential learning is at the core of our training methodology.

  • Ongoing Industry Links

    Trainers who maintain their links with the media industry to remain cutting edge.

  • Latest Examples

    Constant monitoring of all media to ensure the latest media examples are used in training.

  • Latest Equipment

    Camera crews use TV news industry-standard Electronic News Gathering (ENG) cameras and units.

Doug Weller

Doug Weller

Karalee Katsambanis

Karalee Katsambanis

Brett Jenkin

Brett Jenkin

Caroline Davey


Milton Amezquita

Milton Amezquita

Lisa Cozens

Lisa Cozens

Rosalie de Ridder

Rosalie de Ridder

If you’d like a tailored media training solution that will provide your people with solid skills and natural confidence, contact us today

Call 1300 737 913

or +61 412 298 905

Send us an email

Click here to send an email

Submit an enquiry form

Click here to submit an emquiry

Select a training course to learn more

Executive Media Training

Media Spokesperson Training

Crisis Media Communications Training

Public Speaking & Presentation Skills Training

Not sure what kind of training you need?

GO TO QUESTIONNAIRE
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-11-19 09:35:342023-08-07 14:50:49Media Training Courses
Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference with Doug Weller Corporate Media Services

Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference with Doug Weller

November 19, 2021/in Blog, Crisis Media Communications, Events, Media Training /by corporatemediaservices

Date: 18 November 2021

Format: Online Webinar

Presenter: Doug Weller

LinkedIn Registered Guests: https://www.linkedin.com/events/10tipsformediaconferences1pmwed6855024735483523072

Video Recording on YouTube: Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference with Doug Weller from Corporate Media Services (and below)

PowerPoint Slides: Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference with Doug Weller from Corporate Media Services (and below)

Say Thank You with an Informative Review: Google or Website

Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference with Doug Weller Corporate Media ServicesDownload

If you have any further questions about crisis media conferences, communications or media training, please contact us.

Webinar Transcript

Hello and welcome to our webinar today – Nailing your Crisis Media Conference. My name is Doug Weller, I am the Director of Corporate Media Services and I’ll be your host, your facilitator today. Just some housekeeping before we start. I’ll be going between some slides and also some video clips today. I won’t go full screen with the slides today as I find when I go full screen in our media training sessions, then I go into those video clips sometimes it can actually freeze the system so the slides will be almost full screen today. Everybody will be able to see them okay. You’ll see the slides off to one side and the video clips are off to the other side. OK let me share the screen

I’d like to start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today. I’d also like to pay my respects to elders past present and emerging

So Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference. I’ll have a presentation first up and then I’ve got time for some questions at the end. I’ll be using the COVID-19 media conferences as examples today. We’ve seen these media conferences being rolled out on a daily basis over the last 20 months and there’s a lot we can learn from these media conferences. After today perhaps review one of these media conferences or a couple of them – sit down with your leadership team and see what sort of processes you could take away from this to roll into your particular situation. When you’ve got a crisis, and every media situation is different, always seek professional communications and legal advice before dealing with journalists and the media your communications people your your media people and your lawyers will keep you safe you need to be absolutely firm and clear and confident about the messages you are delivering in a crisis situation and your lawyers and your Comms people will get you to the right spot.

OK about your facilitator today – so I’ve been involved in the media industry for more than four decades – kicked off as a cadet in commercial radio and TV. After that I went to the ABC – I was at the ABC for 13 years. While I was at the ABC I was posted to Washington where I was the ABC’s Washington Correspondent where I covered the White House, the State Department and of course, The Pentagon and other issues in America at the time. Came back to Australia and was posted to the Canberra press gallery after that went to Melbourne where I fronted the first morning TV news and current affairs program called First Edition with the wonderful Kate Dunstan after the ABC I went to RMIT University in Melbourne whereI lectured in TV Journalism and after eight years I left RMIT to start up this company Corporate Media Services and what a great segway into talking about Corporate Media Services.

So we run training courses throughout Australia and the South Pacific – Media Spokesperson training – getting people to the right spot so they can talk definitely and proudly of their positive media situations and also dealing with those tough issues as they come along. Executive Media Training where we step it up a little because Executives do come up against tougher issues. Crisis Media Communications training and that’s part of what we’re talking about today – Nailing your Crisis Media Conference. We also run Presentation Skills training and Public Speaking training. Our courses are customized – they have to be customised – every situation is different for every client and they are highly interactive so we get people up very quickly in front of the cameras – in front of recorders doing the interviews, replaying, unpacking, giving feedback. So more than 80% of our courses are interactive where people are really moving through those interview processes because that’s where the learning happens with adults.

All right – you need a plan – you need a strategy obviously when you’re dealing with a crisis situation. If you have a crisis so serious that media turns up generally unannounced in the car park at the front gate and all of a sudden – do you go out and front the media in that particular situation? So what you need to do is do most of the work now – most of the planning now so you formulate a strategy – you formulate a plan and part of that really crucial is your Crisis Communications Team. Who is going to be the the team on the day that’s going to assist you in this particular situation. That needs to be established now. Look at those likely incidents that could occur in your organization. Every organisation is different. You would know the top three, six, ten things that could go wrong in your organisation which would mean, so serious, would mean media turning up in the car park, at the front door, at the front gate. Have a look at those incidents and start thinking about how you would respond to that. Start thinking about the messages you would deliver in a situation like that and do as much work as you possibly can now.

So as I say there – anticipate questions, prepare your messages and your holding statements now the best you can. On the day you might need to adjust them and that’s absolutely fine but do as much work as you possibly can now – sitting down with your leadership team, your communications people, your lawyers, so everybody has done a lot of work on those messages before you actually have to go into the situation to prepare quickly for this crisis media conference. Prepare your other communication channels now – social media – really important part of the process, not only in crisis communications, but in all communications. You’ll need a specialist social media team looking at those social media situations. Are you going to be releasing a statement through your social media situations? Is there going to be some activity as far as social media is concerned? Do you need to respond to that so social media obviously a very important part of the process and your social media specialists – your team members – they’ll be part of that crisis communications team, and also look at your other communication channels – your website, your various other communication situations.

Keep the media informed and who will take those media calls when they come in. Generally that’s going to be a communications person, a media person within your organisation. If you don’t have a communications or media person, decide now who will take those calls. You need to keep the media informed. Are you just releasing a statement or are you going to be fronting the media that’s gathering outside? You need to let the media know exactly what is going on. Unexpected door stop protocols – making sure that people understand what to do if they are approached by media as they roll up to your site or as they they come up to to work in the car park. I had an executive say to me once what would I do if all of a sudden there’s a crisis within my organization – Ii get to the car park and media swarm me? Well that’s quite simple you act in a very calm and professional way. You don’t give any comment, you direct the the media to the comms person, or you go inside and tell the comms person could they please come out and deal with the media. But everybody needs to know exactly what to do. Is your spokesperson trained and do you have backup and you’re probably thinking, well Doug you’re a media trainer of course you’re going to say that, but really I think you need about three or four, possibly five people who are ready to roll in a situation like this. The boss may not be there. He or she might be overseas – second in charge may not be there – you may have some situation where the third person is unable to do it, so you need a team of people who are ready to roll. Yes you’ll have your primary spokes people but you’ll really need a backup to make sure that you have people who are ready to roll on on a day when they have to go out and front a crisis media conference.

Pick a safe media point this is really important making sure that you find a quiet safe area, generally outside so your media spokesperson can walk out of the building, up to the media, deliver the messages and when they decide it’s time to go – we’ve decided beforehand when it’s time to go – retreat to the building. I faced a situation years ago when I went to a press conference like this. Everything was well organised. The communication processes were good. The media was being told what was going on. The spokesperson came out – everything was fine but it he walked up to the media and the sun was in his eyes and that caused him a great deal of difficulty in terms of delivering those messages. So everything else was organised but the sun was in this person’s eyes and that caused a problem. Still went through the media conference situation but you could see this person was very uncomfortable. So you’ve really got to think about these media points and making sure that they are nice and safe and comfortable for the spokesperson.

How long will the spokesperson stay? Are you simply going to deliver a statement and then the spokesperson makes an exit? Are you going to have a situation where you’ll deliver a statement and then take a few questions? Sometimes people walk out and they simply take questions. This all needs to be decided by the Crisis Communications Team beforehand so the spokesperson on the day – she or he knows exactly what they need to do in any given situation. It’s not a case of going out and thinking we’ll see how this goes. It needs to follow a very very definite plan all worked out before the spokesperson comes out and delivers the messages to the media. You need to have your spokespeople in a situation where they’re really clear in terms of what they need to do you – need to have their confidence high and their fear low. It’s very hard going out and walking up to a whole bunch of journos and and delivering messages or reading a statement, so you need to have your spokesperson empowered so their confidence is high and their fear is low and that’s the spokesperson having an understanding of a very clear plan in terms of dealing with this very difficult situation.

Seamless entry and exit – very important that you don’t have your spokespeople battling through the media scrum to get to the front, and battling through the media to get back out of the room. You will not see, nor should you see, with the crisis media conferences at COVID-19 media conferences, you will not see Premiers, senior health officials, anybody battling through the media to get to the to the front of the room and battling back out as as they leave. It’s going to be a seamless process entry and exit and I want to show you some examples now. OK let’s have a look at New South Wales

So I’ll just stop it there to make a point. You see the Premier is coming out. It’s going to be a clear entry then a clear exit. He’s waiting for his team to come out and stand behind him. He’s not in a hurry. Big mistake people make in these situations – they come out and they start delivering messages from around about three meters away from the microphones – no – there is no rush. He comes out he stands there, has a final look at his notes and wait for his team to gather behind him.

“Well good morning everyone – it’s great to be here with half the cabinet” OK and then he starts. So let’s have a look a similar situation in Queensland and you’ll see Annastacia Palaszczuk coming out, the team following her out and you can see where where she enters the room and that’s where she will exit the room.

“All right good afternoon everybody. OK good afternoon Queensland”

And then away we go. So clear entry clear/exit. Let’s have a look at Daniel Andrews and there’s something that Daniel Andrews does in addition here which I want to speak about.

“Everyone right to go?” okay okay I’ll just play that again “everyone right to go”

All right so sometimes people say this, sometimes they don’t. It’s not a mistake if you don’t say it but i think it’s a very good thing to do. You’ve got a lot of journalists there, you’ve got a lot of equipment and sometimes things go wrong and when somebody says “is everybody right to go” sometimes they’re not and it allows the the journalist or the camera person to say “oh no can you just hold on a few a few moment we have to fix an issue that we’ve got” You want to make sure that everybody is right to go. The media wants to make sure they’re getting all your messages and if you’re going out to front a media conference you want to make sure that you’re getting your messages across to absolutely everybody so by saying is everybody right to go, it’s courteous and you don’t get too many courteous moments as a journal or a camera person on the road so i think it’s a courteous thing to do. But it also has sent a message to me as a journalist when this has happened that this person is very confident in the space they know what they’re doing in terms of the media and so it sends a really good message. So don’t be afraid to walk out and say is everybody right to go – gives you a bit more time to actually get settled and then away you go. It’s not a mistake if you don’t do it, but I think it’s a very good addition to the process. But the what I was trying to get across in those three clips – clear entry clear exit – nobody’s in a hurry – everybody’s getting getting settled and then away we go.

So I’ll just share the screen again. Your audience. The all-important audience. Use the media to deliver your messages to your audience and identify your internal and external audiences now because once you’ve worked that out then you can start looking at the wording as far as your messages are concerned. You want to make sure that those messages are connecting with the audience you are after and we all have different audiences and you know who your audience is going to be – various stakeholders, government organisations, business groups, staff, family, local residents. So think think now about the audience and then start pulling those messages together.

The messages – the all-important messages. So get on the front foot quickly now. There’s a lot of research out there – some people say you’ve got 15 minutes to get messages out in a crisis – some people say you’ve got half an hour or an hour. What you need to do is try to get your messages out as quickly as possible to get on the front foot as quickly as possible, but you don’t send your spokesperson out to front of media conference until they are absolutely ready to go. So the whole idea pulling together as much as you possibly can beforehand allows you to get out there quickly. But you only send a spokesperson out. You only send your messages out – your statements – out when you’re absolutely happy with those statements – those messages and the spokesperson is feeling absolutely empowered.

So what are you going to do in terms of messages? Confirm the incident – I mean what do we want when we roll up to a situation like this as far as media is concerned? We want confirmation what actually happened. Journalists will be chasing the who, what, when, where, why, how – well you may not have all of that information but hopefully you can actually confirm what’s actually occurred when you start delivering the messages. Empathy first and every single time. You may need to offer condolences – hopefully you won’t. You will have seen with the covert 19 media conferences, every single time because unfortunately peaceful people are passing away from COVID, condolences at the beginning of the media conference and this is absolutely and totally appropriate. Then clear concise jargon free messages or a statement – honest transparent and genuine. So I want to show you this example from South Australia. This is the Senior Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier coming out on a day – very tough day. South Australia are about to go into a lock down but really clear about the messages. Really clear in terms of delivering those messages and doing it in a very definite way and the Professor paints a picture so we all understand very clearly what we need to do in terms of the situation on this day so let me let me play this one:

‘Thank you and good morning. Yes a worrying situation here in
South Australia and just to reiterate the really important point for people who are watching this press conference. This is the time to stay put. This is the time not to move around. The virus doesn’t have legs. It moves around when people move around. So if we stay put the virus will stop and we’ll be able to get on top of it. So that’s really one of my my main messages today and the second is – if you’ve got any symptoms whatsoever go and get tested because that’s how we’re going to be able to know if the virus is spreading’

OK so what I love about that – clear, definite paints a picture – the virus doesn’t have legs – it moves around when people move around. ‘This is my major message here today’ and really if that’s the only thing that is used in terms of a grab or a sound bite or a quote – if it’s not going out live most media situations are going to be quotes grabs and sound bites – if that’s the only things it’s used – that’s a wonderful use of media. So that’s what I mean in terms of clear concise understandable messages. I’ve got some other messages here that people might like to consider when they’re dealing with these very tough situations. These are messages that I’ve pulled together over the last 18 months or so when I’ve been helping clients deal with crisis situations involving COVID many times. So confirmation that the incident has occurred, expressing empathy, concern for those people who have been impacted. Working with, and taking direction from the authorities – if it’s a covert situation from the Health Department um constantly in touch with the authorities or with the Health Department to make sure that we’re following the appropriate protocols. Keeping everybody informed the best we can and finding out what’s actually occurred so we can rectify the situation to try and make sure it doesn’t happen again in the future. So that’s a set of messages that you can possibly look at when you’re looking at messages that you would want to deliver in these very difficult situations. But again every situation is different. Every crisis situation is different. Your messages are going to be different but that might just be a good starting point. OK let me go and share the screen again.

So don’t get involved with hypotheticals and don’t speculate, even if journalists are trying to draw you into that space. You are – you are very clear on the messages that you are going to be delivering. You’re following the plan that you’ve worked out with your your team and you do not get into hypotheticals or speculation and you certainly don’t go off the record. If somebody asks you an off the record – a question at the end of the media conference – no – everything needs to be on the record. So as I say there – control and deliver the message then stop. The grab, the sound bite, the quote, whatever you want to call it, so deliver it and then stop. So you need to go through an out-loud rehearsal. As I say down the bottom there with your team beforehand – to get you to that point where you’re delivering those clear concise messages, delivering the message then stopping because confidence is the key in all of this. Most of the people we have in our Media Training, our Crisis Media Training courses – they’re leaders in their particular area they’re experts in their particular area. They’ve got good communication skills. It’s a case of getting them to the point where they need to be, to deliver these messages in this very difficult crisis media situation. And I’ve got there – ‘own your words’. Journalists from any situation – in any situation, will toss words at you and if you toss them back – you own them. You take ownership of those words. Now if it’s a live interview, that’s OK. People hear these things in context – if it’s not we don’t hear the journalist’s question, or see the journalists question – all of a sudden you’ve taken ownership of that particular word and you may not actually want to do that so making sure that you’re delivering your words – not words that have been tossed at you in the the heat of the the crisis media conference

So this is a process which is used around the world. Emergency services organisations often use this when they’re pulling together messages, and it’s a great. What I call four-point message guide. This is what we know, this is what we don’t know, this is what we’re doing and this is what we want you to do – a call to action. So you won’t get a question from a journalist – do I have a call to action today – you need to take yourself to that call to action and that is the bridging process. Using what we call bridging phrases so at some stage in that media conference, if you have a call to action you need to take yourself there. Look can I just say this, could I just add this one thing I’d like to ask of the residents, one thing I’d like to ask of the of the public – it’s a call to action. And we often see calls to action with emergency organisations when they have an incident. And we’ve had endless calls to action over the last 20 months with these COVID-19 media conferences start it off with washing our hands, don’t touch your face, stay at home, social distancing and then follow the rules. We’ve got restrictions in place – follow the rules and what are we getting now – get vaccinated – get vaccinated – get vaccinated – these are calls to action. You don’t have to have a call to action when you’re pulling together the messages but you can deliver a call to action. But a journalist isn’t going to ask you do you have a ‘call to action’ you need to be in a good head space to be able to just roll that out and take control of that particular situation.

All right looking the part this is, in a lot of ways, common sense. But it’s something that people actually forget on the day. People are so focused on the messages – they’re so focused on looking at the media outside and feeling a bit uptight about that – lots of conversations going on – doing the out loud rehearsals and sometimes they just forget that the collar’s not quite right or the jacket’s not quite right so it’s a pretty easy fix. You simply turn around to your communications team or the communications team gets the spokesperson before they go out and just goes okay, yep this is all this is all good – this is appropriate or you go to the bathroom and you have a look in the mirror to make sure everything is nice and neat and tidy. People say well what should I actually be wearing in a situation like this? You decide on the day. What we’ve been seeing with the COVID media conferences – everything from plain business attire through to smart casual – all of it’s been appropriate. Should you wear a high visibility vest if the situation calls for a high vis vest? Safety gear – absolutely, but making sure that you take advice on that because you don’t want to be wearing a high vis vest that’s not appropriate. Try to avoid transition glasses and definitely no sunglasses. I’ve had a number of communications people say to me over the last 12 months why does the U.S President Joe Biden wear sunglasses when he’s speaking to the media and I have absolutely no idea. I’ve read a couple of articles which said that he likes his sunglasses – it’s not a good look so try to avoid those transition glasses and definitely no sunglasses.

OK the media conference. So the spokesperson must calm themselves before going out and there’s a range of ways that people do this. Sometimes people get all the messages together – they’ve done the out loud rehearsals – they’re feeling fine – they’ll go outside, stand in the sun for a little bit. I’ve seen people go into a room where they put all the messages out in front of them on the on the carpet and they just look at them for a few minutes to absorb all of that information. So just calm yourself beforehand, being absolutely clear about the messages that you are going to deliver and then you arrive with authority. And I showed you those examples a little earlier. Deliver your messages and deliver them well and that’s what we saw with the Professor earlier. The major issue at the moment is be very firm about delivering those messages, making sure that you are telling the audience, if it’s going live, what those major messages are. And you’re telling the journalists that are there these are the major messages, and if journalists understand the major messages on the day that’s probably what they’re going to run. As far as quotes grabs and sound bites, if you don’t know the answer – be honest. One of the most refreshing things to come out of these COVID-19 media conferences is that when when a Premier or a health official, or a Health Minister doesn’t know the information, doesn’t know the answer to the question, they’re completely honest about it – ‘Look I’m not sure about that – that’s a good question we’ll get back to you on that – what I can tell you, what I can say, what I can put across’ So don’t feel as though you need to know absolutely everything about everything especially in the early part of a crisis situation. Just be honest and upfront – ‘Look I don’t know about that – we will find out about that, but what I can tell you, what I can offer you’ Correct any misinformation that’s floating out there on, you know, on radio or in social media. Again journalists won’t ask you would you like to correct any misinformation – you need to take yourself there. The spokesperson needs to be empowered to go to that point ‘Look I’d like to actually correct some misinformation that is out there on social media’ and then away you go. Maintaining solid eye contact, and I’ll come back to that. And then you need to depart with authority. Let me show you this example from Tasmania of a nice definite departure situation – ‘Information they provide us with, I think the evidence of how they’ve been prepared to cooperate with us is very clear for everyone to see and that cooperation hasn’t been forthcoming’

So there you go, so nice definite exit, clear entry, clear exit – you’ll see it every single time with these COVID media conferences and that’s exactly how it should actually happen. As far as the eye contact is concerned, it’s important that we see you looking at a journalist or looking at all of the the journalists. People who deal with media a lot, so senior business people, politicians, sometimes they will actually come out and say once they’ve said ‘is everybody right to go’, then they’ll say ‘where would you like me to look’ and what journalists will do, they’ll say can you look at that person in the middle and that’ll allow all of the cameras to get a good look at the front of you. So this is sometimes a bit difficult if you don’t do it a lot. What some people do they they actually get one of their team just stand behind that journalist so the spokesperson has a friendly face to look at – not suggesting for a moment that journalists aren’t friendly, but that’s what they do. But again this is this is something that happens when people deal with the media a lot. I think it’s a hard thing to do if you don’t do a lot of media so my recommendation is just look at the journalist who is asking you that question and engage with that journalist or look around at all of the journalists and you’ll see this with the COVID media conferences. They’re either looking straight at the journalist asking the question quite often, or they’re looking around the room. Just one final issue with all of this, just to make it a little bit more complex – if you are actually looking at the journalist and dealing with that particular journalist, and the journalist over there has asked a question and looking that way, the TV cameras won’t be able to get your face over here. They’ll get the back of your head and that doesn’t work for TV situations. So you may find a journalist, once you’ve answered that question, a journalist over here saying oh could you answer that again, or they’ll ask a similar question to get you to look that way, to deliver the message that way, and that’s absolutely fine – just just repeat the message.

All right some final points. Remove the phone. You don’t need your phone going off obviously in the middle of a media conference – especially a crisis media conference. Don’t confuse the message. Make sure the messages are as clear and understandable as possible. We’ve seen some confusion with the messages with the COVID situation making sure that you’re not confusing the messages.

Don’t deliver throw away lines as you walk away. Some people relax at the end of their media conference and they have a joke. No, everything needs to be on message. You need to be professional at all times. Don’t get annoyed with the journalists. Sometimes people get uptight in these situations and they feel that they’re not very happy with a journalist and they get into an argument. Don’t – you are there to calmly and professionally deliver appropriate messages for your audience in every media situation especially with a crisis media conference

Pick your background. This is very important you want to make sure that you have a good solid background. This rolls back into what we were discussing earlier as far as the media point is concerned – making sure that the background is going to be appropriate. Don’t allow the media to choose the background for you. Make sure your communications people choose that, the crisis communications team, or the spokesperson – making sure that you are very happy with that background.

Should I update or conduct a one-on-one interview later? Well you decide. There are different strategies and different skills when you’re dealing with a one-on-one interview situation. You just can’t make an exit in those situations as you can in the early stages of a crisis situation. So making sure that you are very very clear on what is needed to do a professional one-on-one interview. But again decide on the day – monitor the media coverage – whether it’s going to be traditional media, whether it’s going to be social media – it’s very important that you know what’s going on out there and so this might be having a lot of people keeping across radio, keeping across digital situations, online situations, keeping across TV. You want to know how your situation is being reported and you want to know what sort of quotes and grabs are being used in that particular situation. So pull together a team that’s able to actually monitor various radio stations, TV stations and of course, you’ll have your social media people doing the monitoring there.

And it’s a partnership. I honestly see this as a partnership – between the organisation and the media that is there in that very difficult situation. Tt’s a partnership in terms of getting the messages out there. Media want to gain those messages from you, send those messages out to the audiences and you do actually want to do the same thing, but it’s like any partnership – you need to be careful, you need to be focused, you need to make sure that you are looking after your best interest. So try and work in with the media but at all times making sure that you are gaining what you want from this partnership situation

So the bottom line in all of this, start your planning now. Pull together that crisis communications team, have a look at the incidents that could possibly occur, start to have a look at the messages you could deliver in in any given situation and do as much work as you can possibly do now because you want your spokesperson to go out looking professional, sounding professional. Stay on message and remaining calm because that’s what it is all about. Taking advantage of these this huge media contingent that’s turned up on this day, taking advantage of that to get the messages out to the audience you are after and the planning is absolutely crucial

All right before we wrap up if you’d like to connect with us we have our web page there we’re involved in social media, LinkedIn and and elsewhere

And if you’d like to leave a review thank you – very very happy for you to leave a review. We will have another webinar earlier in 2022 not sure about the topic we’re just trying to work out that at the at the moment

So I sincerely hope that you don’t have to use any of these processes that we’re talking about today. I sincerely hope you don’t have to face a crisis media conference, but if you do, hopefully we’ve given you an idea of how you need to prepare for these very difficult situations. I do hope all of your media moments are happy ones and hopefully today we’ve given you some strategies to deal with and Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/20211118-nailing-your-crisis-media-conference-doug-weller-corporate-media-services.png 720 1280 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2021-11-19 12:35:192021-11-24 13:24:21Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference with Doug Weller

The Great Face Off – The Day Social Media Became Antisocial

March 10, 2021/in Blog /by corporatemediaservices

By Doug Weller

On 18 February 2021, Facebook pulled the plug.

Australian Facebookers woke to find they could not access or share Australian news via Facebook.

Unfortunately, organisations including some government departments, charities, community sites and others were bundled into the ‘news’ category and were also blocked.

News consumers could still access news directly in other ways, such as via the news organisation’s websites.

The solution for others – especially many community Facebook sites – wasn’t as easy.

Some of these organisations rely purely on their Facebook site to connect with their clients and audiences.

The stoush was all over the Australian Government’s proposed media laws forcing Facebook to pay for Australian news content shared on that platform.

Facebook said, “The proposed law fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between our platform and publishers who use it to share news content. It has left us facing a stark choice: attempt to comply with a law that ignores the realities of this relationship, or stop allowing news content on our services in Australia. With a heavy heart, we are choosing the latter.”

The bunfight was resolved a week later.

In the meantime, Facebook apologised for the situation, claiming the impact on government departments, charities and community sites etc was an unintended consequence of the news ban.

It moved to restore the ‘non media‘ sites, but some were blocked for hours or days.

For those organisations which over the past 17 years have slowly built their communications with customers and clients exclusively via their Facebook sites, it was all quite a shock.

Suddenly they realised that there was no Plan B. No Facebook, no connection.

People who needed their services had nowhere to turn.

Plan B

So, what should a Plan B look like?

A website, where you have a lot more control, is a good start – but it can be expensive to setup and maintain.

Direct mail is also good, but again very costly.

Have a presence on more than one social media site and ensure your customers and clients know their options if one site is blocked or not accessible.

A database of phone numbers is a great backup so you can quickly text or call clients and customers and direct them to a phone number or email.

It is also very important to have a copy of the material you post on social media sites. Can you access your material, information and messages if that site goes down?

The Facebook ban highlighted the danger of relying solely on one social media platform to reach your target audience.

The disruption was short-lived. That was no consolation for those who urgently needed help from organisations, such those that provide help from domestic violence when the site was down.

Without even really noticing it, we have handed enormous power to Facebook and other social media platforms.

Some organisations have become too reliant on them, basing their audience communications around ‘free’ social media sites.

Social media is a great way to connect, but you must have a Plan B in place if the platform, intentionally or not, pulls the plug.

Make sure your audience can access your services and receive your messages if your main social media platform is not available.

Fortunately, the Australian Government and Facebook found a resolution in this case.

But what about next time?

Have your Plan B ready to roll and test it to make sure it works.

Information Only

Any information presented on our website is general. It is not a substitute for professional advice.

Further Assistance

To get the most from your media opportunities and avoid the danger zones, contact Corporate Media Services for more information about our training programs and media consultancy services.

All Corporate Media Services training courses can be conducted online.

For information and bookings please call 1300 737 913 or Director, Doug Weller 0412 298 905.

Sources

Facebook’s botched Australia news ban hits health departments, charities and its own pages

Facebook to ban Australian users from sharing news content

Facebook agrees to reverse news ban on Australian sites after striking deal with federal government (sbs.com.au)

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2021-03-10 14:31:012021-11-12 11:26:56The Great Face Off - The Day Social Media Became Antisocial

Site Map

November 30, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Pages

  • 2 Crisis Media Communications Training
  • 2 Executive Media Training
  • 2 media fundamentals
  • 2 Media Spokesperson Training
  • 2 media training courses
  • 2 Public Speaking & Presentation Skills Training
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
      • Brett Jenkin
      • Doug Weller
      • Milton Amezquita
      • Neil Spark
      • Rob Curtain
      • Rosalie de Ridder
      • Will Kestin
    • Our History
    • Our Training Philosophy
    • Reciprocal Links
      • Articles Courses Events and Conferences
      • Business Directory Listings
    • Site Map
    • Why choose us?
  • Add a testimonial
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Us new
  • course
  • EG Water
  • Friday
  • Home
  • home 2
  • home 3
  • home 3a
  • home 4
  • HOME CHARCOAL
  • Lisa
  • Marc Edward Agency
  • Media Services
    • Media Consulting
    • Media Resources
      • Articles Published
        • ABC Close to 24-Hour News Plan
        • ABC Makes a New Start
        • Busting the Media Myths
        • Finding the Right Voice
        • Here is the News
        • Is Washington ready for Doug?
        • New Media - Old Rules How one quick quip can destroy your reputation
        • Overseas Posting
        • Saddam on Toast
        • Weller's away to Washington
      • Australian Media Links
      • International Media Links
      • Videos
        • Doug Weller on ABC 7pm Television News Shop Stealing
        • Doug Weller on ABC Television First Edition Tuberculosis
        • Doug Weller on ABC Television News CRA strike
        • Doug Weller on ABC Television News Equal Pay Equal Work Dispute
        • Featured Videos
    • Media Strategy Development
  • Media Training Courses
    • Crisis Media Communications Training
    • Executive Media Training
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Media Spokesperson Training
    • Public Speaking and Presentation Skills Training
  • Media Training Requirements
  • NewCompany
  • NewCompany
  • Nicholson Construction
  • NNSWLHD
  • PanAust Limited
  • Proposal
  • SA Chapter Australian Institute of Architects
  • Saturday
  • Saturday again
  • Scholle IPN
  • Send a Message
  • Takor Group
  • TCA
  • Testimonials
  • Vitamin Z
  • Warrnambool City Council
  • Webinars
  • Youth Services - Youth Group
  • Zagg International

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-11-30 09:45:332021-11-22 20:09:18Site Map
Corporate Media Services Finding the right voice

Finding the Right Voice

November 30, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Finding the Right Voice

Published: 23 January 2008

Publication: Herald Sun

Author: Paula Beauchamp

Words: 148

Image of article: Shown below

**START TRANSCRIPT**

Finding the right voice

More and more organisations are looking to engage with the media and seek out media training to improve the outcome, experts say. Media trainer Doug Weller says much of the focus today is on crisis media management.

“I think organisations realised, more and more after 9/11, that any organisation can be hit with a crisis, that it can happen in a moment”, said Mr Weller, who runs Corporate Media Services.

Organisations want to know what they need to do to communicate quickly and effectively. Most crisis media training courses explain the pressures journalists work under and the steps organisations must take to effectively deliver their message.

If a crisis hits, Weller recommends speaking to the media as soon as possible, even if you don’t yet have all the information at hand. Organisations that seek out media training typically range from medium-sized to very large corporate or government entities.

**END TRANSCRIPT**

Corporate Media Services Finding the right voice

Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

 

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/finding-the-right-voice.jpg 498 546 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-11-30 00:12:172013-03-25 01:28:42Finding the Right Voice

Articles Published

November 29, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Corporate Media Services Articles Published

Corporate Media Services Articles PublishedThis page links to articles that have been previously published by Corporate Media Services or where Corporate Media Services’ media trainers have been quoted.

A transcript is available by clicking on the link in the ‘Title’ column.

 

Date Title Publication Author
Words
01/10/2016 The Spotlight Effect Media Training Magazine Brian Johnson, Doug Weller quoted
2,443
10/11/2010 New Media – Old Rules – How one quick quip can destroy your reputation Articlesbase Doug Weller
473
23/01/2008 Finding the right voice Herald Sun Paula Beauchamp
148
01/11/2007 Busting the Media Myths AAA Doug Weller
989
01/07/2006 ‘Living Spirit’: Muslim Women and Human
Rights Forum – Doug Weller Presenter
Human Rights Commission Editor
76
01/02/1993 Here is the News Herald Sun Editor
66
15/02/1993 ABC makes a new start Herald Sun Editor
173
07/02/1993 ABC Close to 24-hour News Plan Herald Sun TV Extra Editor
234
06/02/1993 Saddam on Toast TV Week Editor
441
05/02/1993 Breakfast at Aunty’s The Age Green Guide Editor
1501
01/12/1989 Is Washington ready for Doug? Queensland Wireless News Editor
122
01/12/1989 Weller’s away to Washingtion Gold Coast Bulletin Editor
84
01/12/1989 Overseas Posting Unknown Editor
236

Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-11-29 23:36:542021-07-10 16:13:16Articles Published
Busting the Media Myths 1

Busting the Media Myths

November 20, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Busting the Media Myths

Published: November/December 2007

Publication: AAA

Author: Doug Weller

Pages: 66-67

Words: 989

Image of article: Shown below

**START TRANSCRIPT**

Busting the media myths

The media can often seem rude, pushy and difficult to understand. Doug Weller give’s a journalist’s point of view and explains why it’s crucial to cooperate with them.

According to some people, journalists are ‘thugs’, ‘parasites’ and ‘scum’. These are just some of the responses we have received when we ask participants what they think of the media at the start of our media training programs. In fact, some responses are even more colourful than this – so much so that they could not be printed here.

I have been a journalist for more than 30 years and even though there are some in the media industry who are not my bosom buddies, I would never describe them using the words listed above. In fact most of the journalists I know are great people – dare I say, some of my best friends are journalists!

So why do some people, particularly those involved in the aged care industry, have such a negative view of journalists and the media?

In a nutshell, it is a clash of cultures and a lack of understanding. In the general community, there is a lack of understanding of how journalists operate, a lack of understanding of what journalists require – especially in crisis – and a lack of confidence to deliver what the journalist wants and needs.

THE OTHER POINT OF VIEW

Journalists work in a pressure cooker. They face deadlines like few other professionals; ‘same-day-stories’ will be done no matter what! If the evening news on the TV is scheduled to go to air at 6pm, it will go to air at 6pm. Not at 6.05pm. Not at 6.01pm.

66 | NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2007 | AAA

All mediums face deadlines and they are sacrosanct. This means, as journalists get closer to those deadlines the pressure increases. And if you refuse to comment on a story, especially in a crisis, journalists will become hostile. They will gather what they require – comments, vision, photos – any way they can. By frustrating journalists who are under pressure to produce a story, you simply ensure the journalist is upset and angry with you when writing that story. That’s not a good move.

Journalists will always meet their deadline! There is no other option. If a journalist, cameraperson or photographer tells an editor they are unable to get what was required to meet the deadline, it is a career destroying move.

THE WRONG RESPONSE

After many years of training people how to deal with the media I believe that most people actually want to comment to the media in a crisis, yet instead, as the pressure increases it all becomes too hard and they say “lock the gates”.

Locking the gates, locking the doors, calling security or the police to keep the media away when you are dealing with a crisis, is an understandable and very normal human reaction. But it causes problems.

If the media is interested in a story relating to your aged care facility it will probably be because you are facing a very difficult situation. It could even involve the death of a resident. The bigger the issue, the bigger the story for the media and the less you may want to talk. However, it should be the other way around. The bigger the issue, the bigger the story, the more interested you should be in speaking to the media.

GIVING THE MESSAGE

You see, it’s not the media on which you need to focus, it is the audience. The media is simply the vehicle by which the message is delivered to that audience. By shutting out the media, you shut out the audience, often when you need to reassure that audience. “No comment” is not a good look, especially in a crisis.

What did you think of the company that last delivered via the media, a curt message of “no comment”? There is always something an aged care facility spokesperson can say. What you need is a formula: a set of words – a process if you like – that will allow them to communicate their message, even when they know very little about a crisis, or can only give very limited comment.

They need to respond quickly. They need to look in control, and appear neat, tidy and confident. They need to deliver a set of words which express concern and action being taken. It doesn’t have to be very long. It just needs to be delivered.

A TELLING EXAMPLE

Some years ago I was covering the story of a death in a residential facility. When I rang the complex the woman on the switch was obviously under pressure and she insulted me, hanging up in my ear. When I arrived with my TV crew we were insulted again and had the gates locked on us. The more the other journalists and I attempted to gain a comment, the more the aged care facility management resisted.

In the end we had TV news helicopters flying above the facility to gather vision. For verbal comment we interviewed family members of those inside the facility. Their comments about the facility were not complimentary.

Without much effort the facility management could have easily handled the situation in a way, which made them look professional, caring and pro-active. The opposite was the case. By the way, on that day we all met our deadline.

For more information contact Doug Weller at djweller@bigpond.net.au or visit his website: www.corporatemediaservices.com.au – see also Gerard Mansour’s state view on dealing with the media on page 25.

DOUG WELLER will be speaking at the Retirement Village Association’s (RVA) National Conference on how to work with the media. The AdvantAGE 07 Conference will be held in Melbourne from 13-15 November at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Victoria. For more information, visit www.rvadvantage.com.au

‘The bigger the issue, the bigger the story, the more interested you should be in speaking to the media.’

‘Doug Weller’

‘By the way, on that day we all met our deadline.’

AAA | NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2007 | 67

**END TRANSCRIPT**

Busting the Media Myths 1

Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/busting-the-media-myths-1.jpg 585 372 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-11-20 11:59:002021-11-22 19:22:01Busting the Media Myths

Media Training Courses

November 19, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

We help people like you

Take control and get the media working for YOU

And with the media on your side, it’s a kind of marketing utopia on the upside and a tool to help you defending your reputation when things get tough…


Your messages are amplified, you reach more people, you can build trust and credibility, especially in difficult times, generate genuine interest in what you do and you can strengthen your brand and positioning… all for a fraction of what it would cost going it alone, if not free!

So how is it done?

You need to understand how the media works, have a solid media strategy in place and the resources and skills to execute it. Everyone in your organisation, from your Communications Team to your Spokespersons and Executives, must be skilled up, proactive and on the same page. You’ll know they are when:

  • You’re considered a ‘go to’ source of information or comment on your sector or industry
  • Your spokespeople have plenty of good opportunities to get your message out
  • Your core messages begin to take on a life of their own and build momentum with ease
  • You see interest in your organisation, product or service from sources other than advertising
  • You handle the tough issues professionally from a position of strength
  • Your reputation becomes stronger and more resilient.

Role-specific media training gives your media team the knowledge, skills and confidence to excel

Your Communications Team will…


Learn how to generate media interest in your organisation, product or service with highly-effective press releases and proven distribution methodologies.

Your Spokespeople will…

Media Spokesperson Training

Become expert at articulating your message, staying on-message and confidently managing a wide range of media relations.

Your Executive Team will…

Executive media training specialists

Know how to say and do the right things, even under pressure.

Your Crisis Media team will…


Know precisely how to handle the media in the event of a crisis and mitigate the risk of reputation damage.

Your Public Speakers and Presenters will…

public speaking & presentation skills

Be able to captivate audiences with informative and interesting presentations and a relaxed, composed delivery.

Learn more about…

MEDIA SPOKESPERSON TRAINING
EXECUTIVE MEDIA TRAINING
CRISIS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING
PUBLIC SPEAKING & PRESENTATION SKILLS TRAINING

“One word – outstanding!”

April 17, 2016
Lenette Gear, Head of Operations Healthcare – Australian Unity
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 12:17:142016-04-17 12:17:14“One word – outstanding!”

“Absolutely brilliant. Very practical, fantastic content, very experienced presenters and professional delivery. A very worthwhile investment.”

April 17, 2016
Jessica Ridgeway, CEO – Epic Health
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 12:14:432016-04-17 12:14:43“Absolutely brilliant. Very practical, fantastic content, very experienced presenters and professional delivery. A very worthwhile investment.”

“Fantastic program, very useful and insightful.”

April 17, 2016
Dean Burgess, Director – Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:35:252016-04-17 11:35:25“Fantastic program, very useful and insightful.”

“Excellent. Very good tools to take back into the professional arena.”

April 17, 2016
Leigh Dunn, General Manager – The GPT Group
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:34:422016-04-17 11:34:42“Excellent. Very good tools to take back into the professional arena.”

“Exemplary.”

April 17, 2016
J F Kelly, Program Director Cities – Grattan Institute
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:33:572016-04-17 11:57:18“Exemplary.”

“Professional trainers who clearly knew how to deliver.”

April 17, 2016
Superintendent Neil Paterson – Victoria Police
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:30:082016-04-17 11:30:08“Professional trainers who clearly knew how to deliver.”

“Fantastic program – I learnt a lot.”

April 17, 2016
David Brown, Executive Manager (Sales) – Siemens Healthcare
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:29:162016-04-17 11:30:33“Fantastic program – I learnt a lot.”

“Truly sensational and although challenging, I’d be very happy to do it again.”

April 17, 2016
Luca Cella, Marketing Manager – Beretta Australia
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:28:082016-04-17 11:28:09“Truly sensational and although challenging, I’d be very happy to do it again.”

“Excellent. I enjoyed and needed the practice. Doug and Milton were both fantastic and very helpful.”

April 17, 2016
Sally Scott, Partner – Hall and Wilcox Lawyers
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 09:06:592016-04-17 09:34:42“Excellent. I enjoyed and needed the practice. Doug and Milton were both fantastic and very helpful.”
PreviousNext

Our philosophy is simple but unique. Simple because it makes sense… Unique, because the things we believe make for the most powerful media training require a bespoke approach.

The 5 essential components of effective media training


  • Relevant

    What works for one organisation won’t always work for another. It’s just how it is.

    That’s why we believe it’s essential we get to know your requirements early on and then do the work to specifically tailor our knowledge into programs that are perfectly designed for you. Who you are, what you do, your current position, your goals and objectives, your opportunities and threats and the experience of your team are all important factors in designing your programs.

    Not only will your people learn how the media industry works and how journalists operate, they’ll see past the theory and understand exactly how this knowledge applies to your organisation and their role.

  • Based on Real-Life

    The truth is that many people are scared of journalists and the media.

    Overcoming this fear is a core part of the work we do in our trainings and that starts with giving people a taste of what they can expect in real life.

    Gone are the days when media interviews were scheduled in studios, today, most of them happen on the fly. Radio, television and press journalists are all working out on the road, so that’s the way we do most of our training programs.

    Each one is run by a highly experienced Journalist and Cameraman, with all the modern gear. And every participant has the chance to experience what a media encounter will be like in real life. For confidence, we believe this is critical.

  • Comprehensive

    Media today is multi-dimensional and a successful media team really needs to be confident and comfortable working across a range of media including radio, television, press, social and PR.

    Our training programs cover each of these disciplines as it applies to each of the roles; Your communications team will learn how to utilise a range of media to boost your exposure and your spokespeople and executives will learn how to communicate effectively in each different setting.

  • Strategic

    Your people can only be as effective as your media strategy allows. If you already have a strategy in place, we’ll ensure it’s woven through the training programs we provide for you. And if you need to develop or refine your strategy, we’ll start there first and help you do it.

    With a solid strategy and clear messages, your training programs can then be developed.

  • Results-oriented

    At the end of the day, you need your people to be confident, proactive and articulate in their capacity as part of your media team. And you want to be sure that the team as a whole is working effectively together on carrying out your media strategy.

    What makes our training effective is outlined here in these essential elements but what underpins all that is depth of experience and training skill.

    It’s one thing to be a Journalist, but something entirely different to be a trainer as well. The Corporate Media Services trainers are selected because they’re both. That means you get the knowledge you need delivered in a way that is easy to take in and learn.

    Confidence building and empowerment are at the core of our media training philosophy. By providing a challenging but non-threatening learning experience, participants gain the maximum benefit from our media courses.

    Afterall, the effectiveness of any training can only be judged by how well participants respond and grow.

Corporate Media Services Our Team

Training programs designed by experienced, award-winning Senior Journalists and delivered in real-world simulations using the latest equipment

Develop and enhance skills and confidence quickly, whether you’re new to the game or you have some experience already

GET SAVVY ON THE IN‘S AND OUT’S OF THE MEDIA
BE A CONFIDENT, NATURAL AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR
USE THE MEDIA TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
AVOID COMMON PITFALLS
KEEP THE RIGHT FOCUS ON YOUR ORGANISATION

How can we help you?

MEDIA SPOKESPERSON TRAINING
EXECUTIVE MEDIA TRAINING
CRISIS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
PUBLIC SPEAKING & PRESENTATION SKILLS TRAINING

“I often say that our Corporate Media Services team is in the fear removal business.

Our goal is to leave you feeling empowered and confident about media interactions, no matter what your media comfort level is.”

Doug Weller – Founder, Corporate Media Services

Doug Weller

Doug Weller – Founder, Corporate Media Services

Could your organisation benefit from media training?


 Are you making the most of the media to get your messages out?

 Do your people know how the media works?

 Are they confident engaging with the media?

 Do your people know how to give them what they want and get what you want in return?

 Are you and your people clear on the key messages to be delivering to the media?

 Is everyone in your organisation able to clearly articulate the same congruent message?

 Is there a clear and concrete structure for dealing with the media in your organisation?


If you answered no to a few of those questions, chances are media training could be extremely valuable for you.

Let’s discuss your requirements & tailor the right solution for you


Call 1300 737 913

or +61 412 298 905


Send us an email

Click here to send an email


Submit an enquiry form

Click here to submit an emquiry

“One word – outstanding!”

April 17, 2016
Lenette Gear, Head of Operations Healthcare – Australian Unity
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 12:17:142016-04-17 12:17:14“One word – outstanding!”

“Absolutely brilliant. Very practical, fantastic content, very experienced presenters and professional delivery. A very worthwhile investment.”

April 17, 2016
Jessica Ridgeway, CEO – Epic Health
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 12:14:432016-04-17 12:14:43“Absolutely brilliant. Very practical, fantastic content, very experienced presenters and professional delivery. A very worthwhile investment.”

“Fantastic program, very useful and insightful.”

April 17, 2016
Dean Burgess, Director – Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:35:252016-04-17 11:35:25“Fantastic program, very useful and insightful.”

“Excellent. Very good tools to take back into the professional arena.”

April 17, 2016
Leigh Dunn, General Manager – The GPT Group
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:34:422016-04-17 11:34:42“Excellent. Very good tools to take back into the professional arena.”

“Exemplary.”

April 17, 2016
J F Kelly, Program Director Cities – Grattan Institute
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:33:572016-04-17 11:57:18“Exemplary.”

“Professional trainers who clearly knew how to deliver.”

April 17, 2016
Superintendent Neil Paterson – Victoria Police
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:30:082016-04-17 11:30:08“Professional trainers who clearly knew how to deliver.”

“Fantastic program – I learnt a lot.”

April 17, 2016
David Brown, Executive Manager (Sales) – Siemens Healthcare
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:29:162016-04-17 11:30:33“Fantastic program – I learnt a lot.”

“Truly sensational and although challenging, I’d be very happy to do it again.”

April 17, 2016
Luca Cella, Marketing Manager – Beretta Australia
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 11:28:082016-04-17 11:28:09“Truly sensational and although challenging, I’d be very happy to do it again.”

“Excellent. I enjoyed and needed the practice. Doug and Milton were both fantastic and very helpful.”

April 17, 2016
Sally Scott, Partner – Hall and Wilcox Lawyers
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2016-04-17 09:06:592016-04-17 09:34:42“Excellent. I enjoyed and needed the practice. Doug and Milton were both fantastic and very helpful.”
PreviousNext

Cutting edge, no-nonense advice, training & strategy delivered by

Award-winning, senior journalists

Your trainers are hand-picked, experienced professionals who’ve worked recently in the media industry and have an intimate knowledge of media and how you can make the most of it.

To ensure our training programs are as realistic and effective as possible, you’re assured of…


  • World-class Experience

    Award winning senior journalists with solid reporting, editing and media program presenting experience in Australia and overseas.

  • LATEST CERTIFICATION

    Trainers with solid journalism backgrounds and Certificate IV Training and Assessment certified.

  • Proven adult learning techniques

    Multi-sensory adult training techniques cater for visual, auditory and kinesthetic (interactive) learning styles. Experiential learning is at the core of our training methodology.

  • Ongoing Industry Links

    Trainers who maintain their links with the media industry to remain cutting edge.

  • Latest Examples

    Constant monitoring of all media to ensure the latest media examples are used in training.

  • Latest Equipment

    Camera crews use TV news industry-standard Electronic News Gathering (ENG) cameras and units.

Doug Weller

Doug Weller

Karalee Katsambanis

Karalee Katsambanis

Brett Jenkin

Brett Jenkin

Caroline Davey


Milton Amezquita

Milton Amezquita

Lisa Cozens

Lisa Cozens

Rosalie de Ridder

Rosalie de Ridder

If you’d like a tailored media training solution that will provide your people with solid skills and natural confidence, contact us today

Call 1300 737 913

or +61 412 298 905

Send us an email

Click here to send an email

Submit an enquiry form

Click here to submit an emquiry

Select a training course to learn more

Executive Media Training

Media Spokesperson Training

Crisis Media Communications Training

Public Speaking & Presentation Skills Training

Not sure what kind of training you need?

GO TO QUESTIONNAIRE
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-11-19 09:35:342023-08-07 14:50:49Media Training Courses

Media Services

November 19, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Media Services

Corporate Media Services - ServicesCorporate Media Services provides a range of professional and confidential Media Services.

Media Consulting

Media Strategy Development

Media Resources

  • Australian Media Links
  • International Media Links
  • Articles Published
  • Videos

Click here to find out more information about our media training or telephone 1300 737 913.

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-11-19 09:20:532024-10-15 10:45:08Media Services

International Media Links

September 8, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

International Media Links

Corporate Media Services International Media LinksHere is a short list of some International Media websites that may be of interest.

CNN https://edition.cnn.comCable News Network

BBC https://www.bbc.com/newsBritish Broadcasting Corporation

Daily Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.ukBritish daily broadsheet newspaper

Wall Street Journal (WSJ) https://www.wsj.comEnglish-language international daily newspaper

Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-09-08 22:28:232021-11-22 19:47:59International Media Links

Our Training Philosophy

September 8, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Corporate Media Services Our Training Philosophy

Corporate Media Services Training PhilosophyOur Approach

Corporate Media Services’ objective is to provide interactive media training that is realistic and informative. Our practical approach to training applies realistic scenarios to prepare participants to effectively manage their own real life media situations.

All Corporate Media Services’ trainers are experienced professionals who have recently worked in the media industry. They provide a fresh perspective and possess up-to-date media and communication skills.

Customised Training Programs

Corporate Media Services training programs are designed to suit a variety of training requirements. Our three core training options can be customised to suit any specific requirements that you or your organisation may have.

These options apply to all of our media training and media services. The options can be adapted for half-day, full-day or multi-day programs.

Training can be conducted at the client’s premises or at other locations as arranged.

Corporate Media Services’ trainers conduct all interviews in ‘realistic environments’. This ensures participants gain the necessary skills to deal with journalists in the ‘real media world’. Media training covers print, radio, television and online.

Confidentiality

Total confidentiality is assured. All Corporate Media Services’ trainers sign a strict confidentiality agreement before each training program to ensure nothing of a private or confidential nature is discussed outside the training room.

What is discussed in the training room, stays in the training room.

Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-09-08 16:10:352016-03-01 13:32:44Our Training Philosophy
Corporate Media Services Business Directory Listings

Business Directory Listings

September 2, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Corporate Media Services in Business Directory Listings

Corporate Media Services Business Directory Listings

Corporate Media Services has been featured in Business Directory Listings. Here we provide a list of some of the links where we have been featured online.

Google – International Search Engine
https://corporatemediaservices.business.site/

Hot Frog – Australian Business Directory
Corporate Media Services https://www.hotfrog.com.au/company/1072172297166848
Doug Weller https://www.hotfrog.com.au/company/1072276321185792

RocketReach – Online Directory
https://rocketreach.co/doug-weller-email_38386014
https://rocketreach.co/corporate-media-services-australia-profile_b5e85333f42e874d

Sue Ellson – Our social media adviser
https://sueellson.com/clients

True Local – Australian Business Directory
https://www.truelocal.com.au/business/corporate-media-services/south-yarra

Whereis – Australian Business Directory
https://www.whereis.com/vic/south-yarra-3141/yellowId-15777746

White Pages – Australian Business Directory
https://www.whitepages.com.au/corporate-media-services-pty-ltd-11483310/south-yarra-vic-11483312B

Yalwa – Free Business Directory
https://melbourne.yalwa.com.au/ID_102059955/Corporate-Media-Services.html

Yellow Pages – Well known and used Australian Printed and Online Directory
https://www.yellowpages.com.au/vic/south-yarra/corporate-media-services-15777746-listing.html

ZoomInfo
https://www.zoominfo.com/c/corporate-media-services-pty-ltd/61262207

Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/man-with-laptop-in-front-of-elevator.jpg 150 200 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-09-02 16:43:092021-11-22 19:58:39Business Directory Listings
Corporate Media Services Reciprocal Links for Articles Events and Conferences

Articles Courses Events and Conferences

September 2, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Corporate Media Services in Articles, Courses, Events and Conferences

Corporate Media Services Reciprocal Links for Articles Events and ConferencesCorporate Media Services has been involved in many different courses, events, workshops, seminars and conferences. Here we provide a list of some of the links where Corporate Media Services and Doug Weller we have been featured online.

AMA Tasmania – TasTalk Magazine Leadership and Media Training (2.6MB Download)
https://www.amatas.com.au/index.php?item=file&target=tastalk200610

The 2nd Annual National Higher Education Communication Officers’ Conference 2012
https://www.iru.edu.au/media/30629/062012heco0612_q.pdf

Australian Human Rights Commission Living Spirit Muslim Women and Human Rights Project
https://www.hreoc.gov.au/racial_discrimination/livingspirit/3.html

Courses Directory – lists courses available
https://www.coursesdirectory.com.au/courses-organisation%7C2882%7Ccorporate-media-services.php

Economic Development Australia Conference 2010
https://www.maynereport.com/images/2010/04/22-150HNKHSM00.pdf

First Post – News Blog
https://www.firstpost.com/topic/event/first-gulf-war-media-training-introduction-doug-weller-from-corporate-med-video-AFAKe46f4UI-75261-5.html

GMA – Handling the Media
https://gmaa.asn.au/files/VIC%20BRB%20June%202006.htm

Institute of Public Administration Australia 2011 Critical Stakeholder Management Series
https://www.vic.ipaa.org.au/document/item/464

RMIT University – PR Media Training Course for the School of Applied Communication
https://www.shortcourses.rmit.edu.au/brochure/200/s200047.pdf

Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/doug-weller-training.jpg 150 200 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-09-02 16:39:482021-11-25 18:20:21Articles Courses Events and Conferences

Contact Us

September 2, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Corporate Media Services Contact Us

Doug WellerTo find out more information about our professional and confidential media training, services and resources, please contact us.

Corporate Media Services Pty Ltd
ACN 084 024 313
ABN 16 084 024 313

Email:
info@corporatemediaservices.com.au

Website:
https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au

Phone
1300 737 913 (local call free from anywhere in Australia)

Mobile/Cell Phone in Australia:
0412 298 905

Mobile/Cell Phone from overseas:
+61 412 298 905

Facebook Page – like:
https://www.facebook.com/corporatemediaservices

Instagram – follow:
https://www.instagram.com/corporatemediaservices

LinkedIn – connect/follow:
Person https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglasweller
Company https://www.linkedin.com/company/corporate-media-services-australia

YouTube – subscribe:
https://www.youtube.com/user/corporatemedias

Melbourne – Head Office – visit by appointment:
877 Punt Road South Yarra Victoria 3141
Telephone: +61 3 9804 5648 or 1300 737 913 (local call free from anywhere in Australia)

Brisbane – visit by appointment:
Telephone 1300 737 913 (local call free from anywhere in Australia)

Sydney – visit by appointment:
Telephone 1300 737 913 (local call free from anywhere in Australia)

Telephone in Australia:
1300 737 913 (local call fee from anywhere in Australia)

Telephone in Australia from overseas:
+61 3 9804 5648

Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-09-02 14:57:052024-11-23 09:29:18Contact Us

Brett Jenkin

August 28, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Brett Jenkin

Brett Jenkin

General Manager Training

Brett Jenkin has a passion for training, management and customer service.

Brett’s skills and experience have been gathered from specialist roles around Australia at Qantas Airways, the Victorian Department of Education, the Catholic Education Office, the Northern Territory Police and the Chamber of Manufactures Insurance.

His commitment, focus and attention to detail ensure that every training program he designs and delivers meets the precise needs of all stakeholders.

Brett is passionately committed to developing innovative strategies, systems and processes, to ensure that his clients receive the most up-to-date products and services on the market. Possessing outstanding interpersonal and leadership skills, Brett empowers and rewards his staff for their contributions to overall organisational success.

Brett’s strong customer service work ethic allows him to confidently cope with any challenge to the benefit of his clients. He always sources practical and efficient solutions, ensuring that work is completed on time with a minimum of fuss.

A confident and knowledgeable communicator, Brett speaks authoritatively on the topics of communication, media and management.

Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-08-28 12:20:512020-12-01 16:10:15Brett Jenkin

Milton Amezquita

August 28, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Milton Amezquita

Milton Amezquita

Senior Cameraperson

Filmmaker, Producer, Editor, Media Trainer

Milton Amezquita knows how to make you look professional and credible on camera.

Milton’s extensive cameraperson experience comes from working in the television news field for National Nine News, Channel Seven News and various current affairs programs in Australia.

He has provided exceptional media training services for senior managers and chief executive officers. Milton ensures they have a real world experience before being interviewed by the media.  He has filmed, produced and edited succinct and purposeful corporate videos and media training productions.

Milton uses the latest media industry standard equipment and provides a wealth of informed, strategic and consultative advice to ensure that the right visual message is delivered.

Milton was awarded the Australian Video Producers Association (AVPA) accreditation in video production in 1997. This ensures that Milton exemplifies professional conduct and standards when creating his innovative presentations. Since then, he has received a National Golden Award in Video Production and Silver Awards in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

* All our camera crews come equipped with professional broadcast camera equipment. All camera crews use full Electronic News Gathering (ENG) cameras and units. These are the latest state-of-the-art broadcast cameras ranging from SD Sony DV-cam PMW 450’s to HD Sony PMW 350 XD CAM and PMW 500 XDCAM. These cameras are accompanied by Miller tripod system 40’s and heavy duty legs.

Audio kits are the latest Sennheiser E-series ENG Kits and Sony radio microphones. Camera lighting equipment ranges from redheads to the latest LED setups. All recorded interviews are accessible on hard-drives/DV Cam tapes and/or DVDs.

In plain language, this is the equipment used by TV News and Current Affairs camera crews working for Australian and international networks. We will only use the same or similar equipment that is used by the TV broadcast networks during our media training courses so participants undergo a real interview broadcast experience.

 Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-08-28 12:05:592020-12-01 16:10:01Milton Amezquita

Rosalie de Ridder

August 28, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Rosalie de Ridder

Rosalie de Ridder

Senior Cameraperson

Filmmaker, Producer, Editor, Media Trainer

Rosalie has extensive experience in news gathering for both the Nine and Seven Networks and media training.

For more than five years she has been in charge of Corporate Media Services’ video production during media training and presentation skills training programs across Australia.

Rosalie has also worked in the field of video production for more than 15 Years as a camera person and editor. During that time she has worked on many multi camera productions as well as single productions for a range of major organisations.

Rosalie was part of the production team that won the AVPA Golden awards in 2000 and 2007.

* All our camera crews come equipped with professional broadcast camera equipment. All camera crews use full Electronic News Gathering (ENG) cameras and units. These are the latest state-of-the-art broadcast cameras ranging from SD Sony DV-cam PMW 450’s to HD Sony PMW 350 XD CAM and PMW 500 XDCAM. These cameras are accompanied by Miller tripod system 40’s and heavy duty legs.

Audio kits are the latest Sennheiser E-series ENG Kits and Sony radio microphones. Camera lighting equipment ranges from redheads to the latest LED setups. All recorded interviews are accessible on hard-drives/DV Cam tapes and/or DVDs.

In plain language, this is the equipment used by TV News and Current Affairs camera crews working for Australian and international networks. We will only use the same or similar equipment that is used by the TV broadcast networks during our media training courses so participants undergo a real interview broadcast experience.

 Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-08-28 12:02:072020-12-01 16:10:09Rosalie de Ridder
Corporate Media Services Meet Our Team

Meet Our Team

August 28, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

 Meet Our Team

Corporate Media Services Team

Doug Weller

Doug Weller established Corporate Media Services in 1998. He has been a consultant media trainer since 1996. Doug brings to his training programs more than 35 years experience in journalism.

Doug Weller Profile Page

Rob Curtain is an experienced media trainer, senior journalist, academic and communications specialist.

Rob Curtain Profile Page

Will Keston

Will Kestin is the National General Manager of Organisational Development for Corporate Media Services and a highly experienced executive with experience in leadership training, industry alignment, digital transformation, inclusion, disability and strategic marketing.

Will Kestin Profile Page

Neil Spark

Neil Spark is an experienced media trainer, senior media manager, marketing manager, and communications specialist. Based in Hobart, Neil heads up our Tasmanian division.

Neil Spark Profile Page

Milton Amezquita

Milton Amezquita will show you how to look professional on camera. He has extensive experience as a TV cameraperson, filmmaker, producer, editor and trainer.

Milton Amezquita Profile Page

Rosalie de Ridder

Rosalie de Ridder has extensive experience in the fields of media training and news gathering for both the Nine and Seven Networks.

Rosalie de Ridder Profile Page

Brett Jenkin

Brett Jenkin is our General Manager and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of Corporate Media Services and coordinates our team of trainers. He is the primary support for the Director and media trainers.

Brett Jenkin Profile Page

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services-team.jpg 223 200 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-08-28 10:54:412025-04-22 16:14:14Meet Our Team
Corporate Media Services Why Choose Us

Why choose us?

August 28, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Corporate Media Services Why choose us?

Corporate Media Services Why Choose UsCorporate Media Services, founded by Doug Weller, caters for beginners and those with more advanced media skills. Media training courses can be customised to meet your specific requirements.

Media training includes practical interview exercises. A professional TV-news cameraperson films all presentations, which are then reviewed for immediate feedback by the training team.

Corporate Media Services’ trainers cover all mediums; print, radio, television and online.

Participants are given the only copy of their training DVD at the end of the training to ensure their privacy; this allows trainees to review their performances at a later date (no other copies of the interview are made unless requested).

Corporate Media Services works closely with clients to develop a full range of customised media training that enhances the skills of staff members.

Confidence building and empowerment of the participants are at the core of our training philosophy.

Corporate Media Services Can Conduct Training At:

Corporate Media Services Media Consulting

  • Your premises
  • State-of-the-art radio and television studios
  • Corporate training facilities
  • Interstate or overseas in person or via Skype
  • Through social media

During Training We Can Offer The Following Interview Environments:

Corporate Media Services - Media Pack

  • Print/online style (face to face or over the phone)
  • Radio style – pre-record (face to face or over the phone)
  • Radio style – live (face to face, infield or studio style)
  • Television – pre-record (face to face or over the phone)
  • Television – live (face to face, studio style)
  • Television – live cross (exact simulation) – earpiece for participants and reporter in a different location

*All non-studio interviews can be conducted inside or outside.

Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/doug-weller-media-training.jpg 150 200 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-08-28 10:04:452021-11-22 19:44:33Why choose us?

Our History

August 28, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Corporate Media Services History

Corporate Media Services Our HistoryJournalist, Doug Weller, founded Corporate Media Services in 1998 after a distinguished career in journalism spanning more than 35 years.

Doug’s journalistic expertise and extensive insight into the operations of the media and presentation style are of great advantage to clients.

Experienced and knowledgeable Corporate Media Services’ trainers keep abreast of the changing media landscape and impart their skills and wisdom to clients through discussions about the media, media trends, practical exercises and personal experience.

Corporate Media Services clients include a number of leading commercial, educational and service organisations, both in the public and private sectors. You can read some of their testimonials, feedback and reviews here.

Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-08-28 09:28:462024-08-23 16:10:57Our History

About Us

August 28, 2012/by corporatemediaservices

Corporate Media Services About Us

Corporate Media Services Our TeamOur History

Why choose us?

Meet our team

Testimonials, feedback and reviews

Reciprocal Links

Our Training Philosophy

Site Map

Make an enquiry now or call us on 1300 737 913 or +61 412 298 905

https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png 0 0 corporatemediaservices https://www.corporatemediaservices.com.au/uploads/corporate-media-services1.png corporatemediaservices2012-08-28 09:15:212016-03-01 13:30:53About Us

Recent Blog Posts

  • Online Media Interviews & Presentations with Doug WellerOctober 28, 2024 - 4:11 pm
  • Nailing Your Crisis Media Conference with Doug Weller Corporate Media ServicesNailing Your Crisis Media Conference with Doug WellerNovember 19, 2021 - 12:35 pm
  • The Great Face Off – The Day Social Media Became AntisocialMarch 10, 2021 - 2:31 pm
  • Media Interviews COVID-19 StyleJuly 20, 2020 - 1:12 pm
  • COVID-19 A Plague of Mixed MessagesApril 8, 2020 - 9:53 am
  • In Case You’re Wondering – Nothing’s Off-The-RecordSeptember 5, 2019 - 8:13 pm
  • I Really Do Care About Melania Trump’s Jacket FiascoJune 25, 2018 - 4:20 pm
  • When a Crisis Hits – What to say and how to say itMarch 29, 2018 - 7:01 pm
© Copyright - Corporate Media Services - Professional and Confidential Media Training, Crisis Communication Services and Resources – Call 1300 737 913 or Contact Us

Melbourne * Sydney * Brisbane * Canberra * Perth * Adelaide * Hobart * Darwin * Australia
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Mail
Scroll to top