Media Training Podcast
Media Training Podcast. The essential guide for businesses, organisations and leaders looking to raise their profile and share their expertise on-air.
This show will demystify media appearances and build your confidence while sharing tips and advice the experts use when appearing on TV, radio, podcasts and print.
Media Training Podcast - Listen to episode 1
By Steve Blears
Director - Bit Famous Ltd
Steve is a former BBC national news journalist, TV Producer & Media Trainer.
Media Training Podcast - Latest episodes
Press release template download
Media TrainingBook a no-obligation discovery callPress release template download. In this guide, we will work through writing press releases. Listen to the podcast audio guide and download the FREE press release template. Maybe you’re new to the idea of sending a press release, or your business doesn’t have a PR firm or PR department, but you’ve got great news to share. You’re in exactly the right place. Download the press release template To get started, Download the FREE press release template which I’ll discuss in this episode. What is a press release? Before we start writing our press release, let’s…
How do you handle a media question you don’t want to answer?
How do you handle a media question you don’t want to answer? Today we’re going to discuss how to answer difficult questions from the media. This is probably the number one question that is Googled by people who’ve just put the phone down after speaking to a journalist and agreeing to appear on-air. “Oh no. I’m gonna be on TV. Quick, how do I avoid saying the wrong thing?” Why do you want to avoid a media question? Before we get into how to waste everyone’s time by just avoiding answering questions on air let’s look at your motivation for…
How to use #JournoRequest to get media attention for my business
How to use #JournoRequest to get media attention for my business. Today we’re gonna talk about how to contact journalists specifically when you’re replying to a reporter who’s put a shout-out for help online. What are #JournoRequest and #PrRequest? Now, if you aren’t familiar with online journalist requests, jump on X, formally Twitter and search for a couple of hashtags #JournoRequest and #PrRequest. Just to warn you there is all sorts of stuff on here. There are journalists from around the world from all different media, from online to TV to radio to print, asking all sorts of unusual and…
How do I prepare for a TV interview online using Zoom, Teams or Skype?
How do I prepare for a TV interview online using Zoom, Teams or Skype? You’ll have noticed that increasingly on news shows, live interviews are done online from people’s home offices. So, let’s get into how we might do these quite well. Prepare for a TV interview online – Set up the shot First things first, set up your laptop and the space around you. The space that’s going to be in the shot basically. Clear your junk Too often, people look terrible in these interviews. You’ll have seen them. The camera angle is low. It looks like it’s filming…
How to appear on a business podcast
How to appear on a business podcast. Today we’re talking about appearing on a business podcast. But why should you or your people consider doing this? Well, where do I start? The last time I checked, there were 2.5 million podcasts globally. And there are lots of established shows covering just about every business niche and interest. Why appear on a business podcast? But you might say, why a podcast? Well, for most of us, the idea is less onerous than appearing on live TV or radio. You can share your expertise, get known, liked and trusted, tick. That’s what…
How to handle a difficult media interview
How to handle a difficult media interview. Today we’re talking about handling difficult media interviews and straight off the bat, I’m not going to “drivel on” with generic advice. I’m not going to tell you to rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. I’m not going to tell you to practise your key messages. I’m not going to tell you to practise a mock interview. People are terrified of difficult media interviews and they needn’t be Yes, you can do all of those things, but let’s address the elephant in the room, people, that’s you, are terrified of media interviews and they needn’t be.…
How does the news work?
How does the news work? The news media is an industry, its product is news stories, current affairs journalism and factual articles. Its raw materials are news events, tip-offs, press releases and information supplied by public bodies, organisations, businesses, established contacts and the public. It’s the journalists’ job to identify news stories among this flow of facts, events and information. Their skills lie in deciding what is newsworthy and then telling those stories in the most compelling way. The expectation is they should check their stories are factually accurate, legally sound, and balanced (tell both sides) before being published.…
What’s the first step in preparing for a TV interview?
Don’t panic. A TV news appearance is an amazing opportunity to share your insight, knowledge and expertise. Determine the Schedule: Find out when the interview will take place to gauge your preparation time. Research the Show: Identify which show or news outlet has invited you. Watch a few episodes to understand its interview duration, question style, tone, and format.…
Why do reporters shout questions?
Why do reporters shout questions? In April 2002, I was a reporter for BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat in the UK. On assignment at Manchester airport, I shouted a question at Manchester United’s star goal scorer, David Beckham. I shouted, “David, does it hurt?”…
Media Training Podcast - Latest episodes
Press release template download
Media TrainingBook a no-obligation discovery callPress release template download. In this guide, we will work through writing press releases. Listen to the podcast audio guide and download the FREE press release template. Maybe you’re new to the idea of sending a press release, or your business doesn’t have a PR firm or PR department, but you’ve got great news to share. You’re in exactly the right place. Download the press release template To get started, Download the FREE press release template which I’ll discuss in this episode. What is a press release? Before we start writing our press release, let’s…
How do you handle a media question you don’t want to answer?
How do you handle a media question you don’t want to answer? Today we’re going to discuss how to answer difficult questions from the media. This is probably the number one question that is Googled by people who’ve just put the phone down after speaking to a journalist and agreeing to appear on-air. “Oh no. I’m gonna be on TV. Quick, how do I avoid saying the wrong thing?” Why do you want to avoid a media question? Before we get into how to waste everyone’s time by just avoiding answering questions on air let’s look at your motivation for…
How to use #JournoRequest to get media attention for my business
How to use #JournoRequest to get media attention for my business. Today we’re gonna talk about how to contact journalists specifically when you’re replying to a reporter who’s put a shout-out for help online. What are #JournoRequest and #PrRequest? Now, if you aren’t familiar with online journalist requests, jump on X, formally Twitter and search for a couple of hashtags #JournoRequest and #PrRequest. Just to warn you there is all sorts of stuff on here. There are journalists from around the world from all different media, from online to TV to radio to print, asking all sorts of unusual and…
How do I prepare for a TV interview online using Zoom, Teams or Skype?
How do I prepare for a TV interview online using Zoom, Teams or Skype? You’ll have noticed that increasingly on news shows, live interviews are done online from people’s home offices. So, let’s get into how we might do these quite well. Prepare for a TV interview online – Set up the shot First things first, set up your laptop and the space around you. The space that’s going to be in the shot basically. Clear your junk Too often, people look terrible in these interviews. You’ll have seen them. The camera angle is low. It looks like it’s filming…
How to appear on a business podcast
How to appear on a business podcast. Today we’re talking about appearing on a business podcast. But why should you or your people consider doing this? Well, where do I start? The last time I checked, there were 2.5 million podcasts globally. And there are lots of established shows covering just about every business niche and interest. Why appear on a business podcast? But you might say, why a podcast? Well, for most of us, the idea is less onerous than appearing on live TV or radio. You can share your expertise, get known, liked and trusted, tick. That’s what…
How to handle a difficult media interview
How to handle a difficult media interview. Today we’re talking about handling difficult media interviews and straight off the bat, I’m not going to “drivel on” with generic advice. I’m not going to tell you to rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. I’m not going to tell you to practise your key messages. I’m not going to tell you to practise a mock interview. People are terrified of difficult media interviews and they needn’t be Yes, you can do all of those things, but let’s address the elephant in the room, people, that’s you, are terrified of media interviews and they needn’t be.…
How does the news work?
How does the news work? The news media is an industry, its product is news stories, current affairs journalism and factual articles. Its raw materials are news events, tip-offs, press releases and information supplied by public bodies, organisations, businesses, established contacts and the public. It’s the journalists’ job to identify news stories among this flow of facts, events and information. Their skills lie in deciding what is newsworthy and then telling those stories in the most compelling way. The expectation is they should check their stories are factually accurate, legally sound, and balanced (tell both sides) before being published.…
What’s the first step in preparing for a TV interview?
Don’t panic. A TV news appearance is an amazing opportunity to share your insight, knowledge and expertise. Determine the Schedule: Find out when the interview will take place to gauge your preparation time. Research the Show: Identify which show or news outlet has invited you. Watch a few episodes to understand its interview duration, question style, tone, and format.…
Why do reporters shout questions?
Why do reporters shout questions? In April 2002, I was a reporter for BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat in the UK. On assignment at Manchester airport, I shouted a question at Manchester United’s star goal scorer, David Beckham. I shouted, “David, does it hurt?”…