Be Prepared to “Meet the Press”

It’s Friday afternoon at 5:00pm, and you’re walking to the parking lot, headed home for a nice weekend … then you see it coming at you, out of nowhere…the Channel 10 Eyewitness News van, complete with reporter, videographer, camera, lights, microphone and  satellite dish … the eye contact has been made, they are coming to talk with you.

Are you prepared to “meet the press?”  Jeffrey Black, principal of Black Sheep Reputations will make sure that you are.  He believes “that moment” is about to become a defining moment of how you and your organization are going to be portrayed in the media and perceived by the public.  Your reputation is on the line.  Make sure you are ready to not only take care of it but seize the opportunity to position your organization.   

You have nothing to fear, but fear itself … as long as you are prepared.

We need the media!  It’s a powerful way to get out important messages to your employees, stakeholders, stockholders and the general public.  Why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of an opportunity to:

•       tell about an exciting new product or development at your organization

•       announce that a celebrity is coming to your town for a special event

•       explain why your organization is involved in a local charity

•       acknowledge an important milestone in the life of your company

•       set the record straight in times of controversy

•       admit you made a mistake and apologize for your actions during a crisis

•       share YOUR story for a large audience to see

Media Training Client Excerpts!

Choose the program that helps you stand out from the herd!

Basic Media Skills

•       think fresh, timely and different

•        develop an overall media strategy and media
  list to maximize media coverage

•       write a news release and prepare collateral
  materials to grab media attention

•       use simple strategies to build solid, long-term
  media relationships

•       plan a press conference: location, time of day
  and week, press kits, program agenda, etc.

•       know how to correct media errors and use
  them to your advantage

Media Spokesperson Training

• use the media … to tell YOUR story
• prepare key, visual messages and turn them into
• great “sound bites”
• bridge from their questions  toYOUR answers
• stay on message and take control of a media    
• interview, even when it becomes adversarial
• project caring strength – the single, most important element of an interview
• determine what the media likely wants, before they even arrive
• use the appropriate media outlet depending on issue at hand
• stand, sit and project properly to maximize the verbal message

• look and dress the part

Crisis Management

•   develop a crisis plan before a crisis occurs

•   make every second count – especially during the first 24 hours

•   bring closure quickly by answering those questions most on the public’s mind

•   utilize other avenues to communicate your message

•   shape public opinion to survive a crisis

•   not make the same mistakes other organizations did during their crises

But first this is TODAY on NBC…

Don’t wait until tomorrow, next week, next quarter or next year.  Be prepared TODAY to handle all media inquiries and challenges potentially facing your organization.  You only get one chance to make that first impression and your reputation is on the line.  Whether talking to the media, employees, shareholders or stakeholders, leaders must make reputation management a part of their daily agenda.   
Jeffrey has worked with executives around the world to prepare them for communication strategies with both external and internal audiences. 

We’re known by the companies we keep!
Organizations and people who have benefited from his training, include General Electric, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, NASCAR racing drivers, Kodak, The Home Depot, M&Mâ/Mars Candy, Masterfoods USA, Mattel Toys, UPS, Northern Arizona University, Progress Energy and BMW. He has worked with leaders in America, India, Ireland, England and Mexico. 

From NBC to the Food Network, Jeffrey’s clients have appeared on all the major television networks, several cable channels, large newspapers and radio networks.