Media Training NZ has helped hundreds of school leaders master the art of communicating their messages when the stakes are high. The training falls into three categories and is offered as workshops and presentations to individual schools, groups of schools and associations. The three categories include mastering difficult conversations with parents and staff, handling media interviews when the stakes are high and communicating confidently in a school crisis. See below for more details on each.
While these have always be part of a school leader's role, discussions with multiple principal's across New Zealand suggest they have become more regular over recent years. This highly practical training shows school leaders a clear, step-by-step framework that helps them prepare quickly, stay in control, and guide challenging conversations toward constructive outcomes. School leaders (and teachers) leave with practical tools they can use immediately, greater confidence in high-pressure situations, and a repeatable approach to handling even the most challenging discussions.
Crises and negative events can hit a school at any time without notice. These are hugely distressing for all involved. Most schools have some form of Emergency Management Plan, but few are ready to communicate quickly to their communities and media when it comes to emergencies or reputation issues. The success of the response these days is largely determined by its speed, particularly in the age of 24 hour news and social media. That's why preparation is vital. That 5 step preparation and how a crisis usually unfolds is the focus of this seminar.
This workshop trains school leaders how to survive and master media interviews when the stakes are high. It is unique because it has been adapted to take into account recent changes in the news media landscape that affect media interview requirements and preparation. Specifically for school leaders and using school-focused scenarios, participants learn how to get their points into subsequent stories, avoid being misquoted and come across as confident in any interview. These workshops are run as small groups to make sure that everyone gets the attention they need to master the skills.