Media Training in Washington DC

I spent the day in downtown Washington in the offices of Edelman, a public relations and marketing firm.  Along with several staff members from the DC and KC offices, we were exposed to the nuances of dealing with the media.  In our jobs, we do encounter journalists from all areas, including print, radio, and television.  This training was focused on how to get your message across and in general what to watch for when confronted by the media.

A fun part of the training was actually being interviewed by an Edelman professional, while being videotaped.  The after-critiques were eye opening and you certainly realized how quickly a good interview can go bad by not being prepared.  We also had some fun in our critiques, such as "you might want to slow down....you're talking faster than I can listen!".  Yes, it was all in good fun doing those exercises.

The bottom line:  Be careful when you accept an interview even from your local paper.  Prepare for everything, have some stock answers, and be ready to tell the world about the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the great things we do.  One last tip?  Nothing is EVER off the record!  Watch what you say because it will come back.