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If you’ve ever seen an awkward interview with the media, where someone was thrown off by a reporter’s question or fumbles with their speech, you can imagine the amount of embarrassment and damage it can cause a business. Unfortunately, good public relations and public speaking skills don’t come easy for many people, which is why some professionals turn to media training courses to teach them the necessary skills.
What Makes a Media Training Course Great?
Media training courses are an important asset to people who find themselves in the public eye. Even if you have excellent knowledge in your subject area, media training can teach you how to convey the information in a clear and succinct way. With sufficient training, preparation and practice, anyone can gain the skills and confidence to complete a successful interview. Here are a few things to consider when seeking the right media training course for you.
Knowledgeable Instructor
As you begin your search for a media training course, you’ll quickly realize that some courses aren’t as effective as others. So, read the reviews carefully. After all, you want techniques and strategies to help you deal better with the media, not just words of encouragement. Check to see what experience the trainer has and what past students have said about the course, to ensure that you are getting the best possible learning experience.
Curriculum
Do you need help with confidence in interviews? Or do you struggle with creating messages for media interviews? A great media training course teaches its students how to engage persuasively and coherently with members of the media in a wide variety of situations. Check the curriculum before signing up to ensure that it is covering material that you need assistance with mastering.
Recent Strategies
The different forms of media are changing, with new tactics being used every day. As new platforms of media emerge every year, having a course that is recently updated can help you better prepare for dealing with the media.
Best Media Training Courses for Beginners
Do you lack the confidence to deal with the media? These beginner courses may be right for you. They introduce the basic tips and strategies you need to speak with the media strategically. While you won’t get customized advice on how to improve, you will have more confidence by the end.
Media Training by Udemy
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: $199.99
Careers can be made or destroyed by a media performance; why risk it if you know you will have to face the media one day? During the Media Training course, you’ll learn how to look your best on camera, master the art of messaging, answering questions and how to deliver sound bites. During the 4-hour course, it also covers how to get the sound bites or quotes you want in every interview.
To take this course, you’ll have to have a webcam or smartphone that can capture video. Reviews of this course mentioned the concise information that was clear and easy to understand. Another review cited the quick responses to questions asked throughout the course.
Media Training for Authors: Promote Your Book in the News by Udemy
- Who it's for: Authors who have no previous media training experience
- Price: $199.99
Media Training for Authors is designed specifically for helping authors sell their books more naturally on TV. Some of the topics covered include creating positive media messages, speaking in sound bites, answering a reporter’s questions more effectively and becoming a valuable source of information for the media.
The 4-hour course also includes 30 minutes of on-demand audio, articles, resources and quizzes to help you master the material. Reviews of the course highlighted the clear style the instructor uses to explain the concepts. To succeed in this course, you’ll have to have a webcam or cell phone to be able to record yourself.
Confidence On Camera: Make Amazing Videos, Easily by Udemy
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: $199.99
This best-selling course from Udemy has an average of 4.7 stars after nearly 5,000 reviews. The course is full of practical advice and concrete actions you can take to help increase your confidence and connect with your audience better.
Throughout the 5-hour course, you’ll learn how to overcome your fears of being in front of a camera, eliminating the awkwardness of interviews, and structure your talking points to become a more engaging speaker.
In addition, you’ll also learn how to set up a studio using equipment you already have, helping you to create effective videos anywhere.
Best Intermediate Media Training Courses
Do you have some experience doing interviews in front of a camera but still missing that extra piece? These intermediate media training courses can help you elevate your interviews to be more successful.
Media and Communication Training by Udemy
- Who it's for: Intermediate learners looking to start a business
- Price: $79.99
In the Media and Communication Training course, you’ll become a confident expert in media interviews. The course teaches you key strategies to use the media to your advantage by showing you what to do — and what not to do — when you’re in front of a member of the press.
During the 2.5-hour course, you get access to tips that show you how to get free publicity, manage crises and implement an effective media policy that works for your business.
- Quick Courses
Public Relations Foundations: Media Training by LinkedIn Learning
- Who it's for: Intermediate learners
- Price: $24.99
As a business owner or someone who needs to be in front of the camera, this course from LinkedIn Learning can serve as a great source of knowledge. Throughout the short 1-hour course, you’ll learn how to select a spokesperson, tips for preparing for interviews, and how to go off-the-record effectively.
This course is perfect for those who specifically will be doing Skype or social media interviews. At the end of the module, you can watch a mock interview to see the instructor’s strategies and techniques in action.
Media Training and Interview Fundamentals by Udemy
- Who it's for: Intermediate learners
- Price: $49.99
Media Training and Interview Fundamentals is a guide on how to succeed in an interview with a member of the media. You’ll learn strategies that will help improve your interactions with reporters and deliver a more confident, concise and strategic interview. Regardless of your previous skill level, this course can help you be more effective in your delivery style.
You’ll also learn how to avoid common interview mistakes, give journalists what they want, and develop better relationships with reporters that will lead to more interviews.
Advanced Media Training Course
Advanced media training courses are perfect for people who have done interviews in the past but need help with a few complex strategies or media plans to make the most of their media appearances.
Media Training: The Media Interview Protection Plan
- Who it's for: Advanced learners who need information fast
- Price: $199.99
Do you have an interview this week and don’t have time to take an extended course? The Media Training: The Media Interview Protection Plan course from Udemy delivers useful information in less than 1 hour to get you prepared for your next interview.
Even if you just have a bit of time to prepare, the course teaches you how to hone your message points, speak in sound bites, and gain enough confidence to excel at any media interview. Also included in the course are 4 articles and 3 downloadable resources.
Personal Media Training by Udemy
- Who it's for: Advanced learners
- Price: $199.99
Personal Media Training, another great course from Udemy, is a great way to get feedback on your interviews from a professional. You’ll need to be able to record yourself either with a webcam or cell phone because you’ll get up to 10 personalized video critiques of your practice interviews. This is a great opportunity to get feedback on what you may be doing wrong and figure out how to improve.
During the 1.5-hour course, you’ll also learn how to handle a crisis, improve your reputation and speak in sound bites. If you don’t have time for an in-person media training course, this is the next best thing.
It’s a Wrap
When you have to give a media interview, it is natural to be nervous and unsure of what you are supposed to say. Taking an online media training course is one of the quickest ways to gain confidence, formulate media messages and speak in effective sound bites. Research the course before committing to one to ensure that it can teach you strategies to use in your next media interview.
Southern New Hampshire University Online
SNHU Online Offers:
- Flexible schedules
- Affordable tuition
- Online tutoring
- Access to electronic research materials
- Specialized academic advising
- Supportive online community