Media Training

Since they are roughly half the population, women should be quoted about half the time in the media. A recent analysis shows women are cited in content only about one-third of the time, however. With Women’s Day approaching, PR pros can help rectify this issue in a variety of ways, from mentoring to formal industry efforts.

Last week, Uber reported $1 billion in losses, despite its third-quarter results beating estimates. This week, an angry social media mob reacted to Khosrowshahi’s comments by keeping the #BoycottUber hashtag trending all of Monday, dragging out many of the company’s skeletons in the process. For PR pros, the latest round of calls to #BoycottUber also contains many lessons around what constitutes good, and bad, investor relations. Here’s what we learned.

Formal media training is important. But its value is lessened when the same formula is used regardless of the client. That’s why PR veteran Arthur Solomon always believed that the account team should play a crucial role in the process and insist that the media trainers not use the “one size fits all” formula.

Interviews on television and social media videos are a fact of life for corporate executives. Yet many executives are fearful when reporters and cameras appear. Fear not. Maura FitzGerald of Vision 2.0 Communications provides a comprehensive review of what to say, how to say it and what to wear while you do.

Despite what you might have heard, most journalists are not out to get you or your brand’s executives. On the other hand, just because content creators are nice people, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared for an interview. Veteran PR pro and former journalist Arthur Solomon offers tips PR pros can use to ensure that interviews go smoothly.

With another presidential debate tonight, Democrats should should embrace lessons from American pop culture and PR, a former celebrity magazine editor and current PR pro argues. With a reality star in the White House, it’s the campaign strategy that will give the Democrats a fighting chance.

Whether you’re jumping into podcasting as a producer or a guest, two things should have already happened: you decided on a great story to tell and how to tell it. But if the “how” is via a podcast, how can you be sure that’s the right choice?

They’re the ones accustomed to calling all the shots, but your C-suite is often less than ideally prepared for media opportunities, some of which can arise suddenly and unexpectedly. We’ve all seen, heard and cringed at executive missteps that have sent valuable stock plummeting and created a firestorm of outraged tweets. Getting your senior executives ready for press interviews takes time and careful planning, no matter how reluctant some may be.

Communicators often understand journalists more than they care to admit, and many are even recovering journalists themselves. Nonetheless, when it comes to being interview-ready, PR pros sometimes shy away from being confident spokespeople. Moreover, when it comes to prepping their clients for that big primetime on-camera interview, many communicators must outsource their media training to an expert. We caught up with one of the best.

PR pros are always ready with a statement for the press. Well…maybe not always. What happens when a situation occurs that blindsides you, like when someone uses gasoline to dry a wet ball field? We asked a group of communicators. Their top response: Never say ‘No Comment.’ Use the opportunity to offer your version of the story or promise to get back to the reporter when you have substantive information.