Media communications trainingOverview

Thomson Reuters Foundation helps governments, businesses, Non-Governmental Organisations and international agencies to talk to the media clearly, professionally, and directly. Our global reach and presence means that we not only understand how media works, but we understand the international and domestic context in which your organization operates.

Transparency goes hand-in-hand with good governance, and the Foundation can help you communicate effectively to ensure your organization uses global best practice.

Because our media trainers are experienced, international journalists, they can provide your staff with the skills necessary to communicate your message, promote the value of your organization, and limit damage when the news is bad. From public presentations, to “ambush interviews”, our seasoned trainers will give you the inside story on how journalists think, and the traps they’ll set for the unwary.

Our programmes use real-life situations based on participants' own issues or realistic scenarios to gain experience in dealing with everything from a basic press release, to a full-scale media crisis involving sensitive issues. We hope you’ll never need it, but if you do, the group work and individual coaching your staff will receive, means they will be able to contain and manage the situation without lying or hiding (two common, and disastrous approaches from panicking organizations).

These are the main courses we run. See below for further options.

• Media training (including press releases and basic interview skills)

• Advanced media training

• Spokesperson media training

• Crisis communications

Social and multimedia training - Public diplomacy - Press office management -  Defining key messages - Basic news story writing - Presentation skills training - Press release writing - Interview techniques - How to raise the profile of your company - Sports media training 

The Foundation is a registered charity and operates on a not-for-profit basis, so the fees paid by our media clients achieve a double benefit. Not only is expert media training delivered, but the profit derived from the fees is invested in providing bursaries so that journalists from developing countries can be trained and mentored too. To discuss requirements or to receive more information, please contact: trustmedia@thomsonreuters.com