Media Training

Here's what New Jersey Governor Chris Christie did right during his news conference about those controversial lane closures:

If you show up on the local channel or cable news, be careful before ridiculing the other guest as Santa or a Peter Pan believer.

From a media training standpoint, he perfectly delivered his key message about the upcoming Star Wars movie.

Staying alert of microphones when working with the media is more important than ever before.

We can recall only one or two times during media training when someone used a prop to enhance their interview or media appearance.

You must walk in with a willingness to learn and listen and not because a marketing manager twisted your arm and re-arranged your schedule.

What about the problems reported about your service or products?

People we provide media training to often request the service in anticipation of an event likely to prompt questions from reporters.

Strategically, a time might present itself to let loose. But the brief joy you feel by telling someone off via the media might not help achieve a happy ending later on.

This time, I drove up to conduct media training for an organization the media seem to regularly quote regarding various controversies.