Media Training

People who know how to communicate effectively know that “winging it” never works

When Johnny Carson was doing The Tonight Show, he was universally regarded as the best impromptu communicator on television. Whether delivering his monologue or ad-libbing with a guest, Carson truly was “The king of late night.”

Here’s a secret: There was nothing impromptu or ad-libbed about Carson.

Not only did he rehearse the monologue extensively, but he spent an hour every afternoon with his staff reviewing what each guest would say and how he should respond. Then, his writers prepared a list of “ad-libs” for him to use. While Carson was quick enough to react to a live situation, he had the ad-libs on the desk if he needed them.

If the best performer in television history needed to prepare in-depth each night for 30 years, then executives need to prepare when they’re about to be interviewed.

We help senior management, practicing professionals, entrepreneurs and others learn how to work with the news media. Our training demystifies the media and allows you to make sure that your message is not only heard but understood.

First Principles’ media training includes:

• Explaining how reporters work and ways you can help them do their job to your advantage.
• How to answer questions without seeming evasive or “slick.”
• Using word pictures so reporters and their readers or viewers can “see” what you’re telling them.
• How to disarm an antagonistic journalist and win them over to your side.
• Becoming a reporter’s “go to” source in the future.

Media training is vital so you can shine when the spotlight is on you.

How our Media Training is Different

• We do not set out to scare our clients.
• We teach clients to answer THE question asked.
• We want audiences to believe you are honest, not evasive
• We want our clients to be so interesting that audiences DO NOT change the channel.