MEDIA INTERVIEW TRAINING FOR SCHOOL LEADERS
Be prepared, confident and in control when the media callS
Be ready before that media call comes
Media attention can come without warning, often when a school is already dealing with a difficult or stressful situation. What you say — and how you say it — can have a significant impact on how your school and its leadership are perceived.
This workshop prepares school leaders to handle media attention confidently, answer difficult questions, protect their school's reputation and ensure their key messages are heard.
Workshops are facilitated by former reporter and government press secretary, Pete Burdon. This experience on both sides of the media interview allows him to offer training with the needs of both interviewer and interviewee in mind.
The small group training focuses heavily on learning by doing. Each important aspect of the interview process is covered. Good and bad examples of the contemporary newsmakers are shown to highlight points, before participants or the participant are asked to put the new skill into practice.
Participants are on camera four times throughout the session. That’s because the practical element is the only way to master the skills. We use scenarios of your choice throughout the training to make it as practical as possible.
Following the training, you will know how to
- Get your points across and remembered
- Answer the tough questions
- Avoid being quoted out of context or misquoted
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Look and feel confident in all verbal communication
- Communicate better with other stakeholders (Consistent feedback)
Details
These workshops are held across New Zealand and include all technical requirements. They are for anyone who may need to speak for the school including principals, board chairs, DPs and APs. The groups need to be small so that everyone gets the attention they deserve. The total cost of a full-day (9am-3pm) workshop, best with 4-6 people, at your location, is $4495+GST or $3100+GST for 1-3 people for a half-day. Alternatively, if you are an individual and can find 6 people to attend, they are each charged at $795+GST. These have been facilitated at individual schools, groups of schools coming together, Kahui and with association leaderships.
ABOUT PETE
Pete Burdon has specialised in training school leaders in New Zealand for the past 18 years, delivering media interview training and crisis communication workshops to school leaders, leadership teams, principal associations and other school groups.
He brings experience from both sides of the media interview. Pete is a former education reporter and government press secretary and is the author of Media Training for Modern Leaders.
More recently, Pete has expanded his work with school leaders to include difficult conversations with parents and staff, helping leaders communicate clearly and confidently when the pressure is on.
WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP...
Hey Pete, honestly if it wasn’t for your workshop I would have been lost. It’s been a day to forget but what is difficult only makes us stronger. Your course outline book never left my side today.
KARL VASSAU, PRINCIPAL, ROWANDALE SCHOOL, AUCKLAND
Today was the best PD I have ever had – not just in media advice but in communication advice too. There are things I will take from today and apply to all communication not just if the media call. I really enjoyed it and it was refreshing to do this.
CATHERINE LAW, PRINCIPAL, AVONSIDE GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL
The quality of the training delivered by Pete was excellent. Our entire Senior Leadership Team now feels prepared to either front the media or support other members of the team as they deal with the demands of the situation. As well as being prepared in the event of media demands, the day also brought the team together by breaking down barriers and overcoming personal doubts so that we now feel more cohesive as a group. I would thoroughly recommend the training provided by Pete, it will lead to growth and the confidence to deal with what could be a very difficult situation.
MIKE WALLER, EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL, PINEHURST SCHOOL, AUCKLAND
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