South West Public Health Tutorial Programmes
Screening - principles and insights

Wednesday 22 October 2008, Peninsula Medical School, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, EXETER EX1 2LU
Directions and Maps

Aims of the Course

• To learn the rules of successfully dealing with journalists

• To gain experience in radio and TV broadcasting

• To gain positive publicity and to avoid pitfalls

• To assist delegates in future media scenarios

• To highlight and give guidance to staff on conveying positive

We would, through practical examples, show delegates:

• How to get good publicity

• The importance of plain English

• The importance of conveying information, as well as meeting corporate governance requirements. 

Training would be for up to 18 delegates.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course participants will effectively & competently: 

• Know how to handle difficult news stories

• Know how to promote good news stories

• Know how to handle a press conference

• Know how to project a positive and confident NHS image to TV and radio

RITA competencies that would be addressed by the tutorial

• Prepare press releases and deal with the media with respect to an incident.

•  Understand threats to health; communicate these to as wide an audience as possible and exploit opportunities to address them.

• Act as an advocate for the public health and articulate the needs of those with poor health in society, including those who are dispossessed, vulnerable and discriminated against. 

• Be able to work effectively with media in a pro-active and reactive manner including undertaking interviews with radio and television.

• Produce press releases and undertake pro-active engagement with media.

•  Demonstrate perseverance, resilience and diplomacy in dealing with opposition or antagonism to sound public health advice.

• Understand principles of good communication and are able to use visual aid tools appropriately in different contexts for different audiences.

Trainers

Vicky O’Loughlin and Julie Hendry, highly experienced in NHS communications, with backgrounds in journalism, radio and public relations.

Timetable for the day

9:15	Coffee on arrival
10:00	Handling the media – the rules of engagement
10:45	Coffee
11:00	Practical training in radio or TV interviews based on a public health scenario with feedback
12:30	Training video - the TV interview
13:00	Lunch
13:40	Feeding the beast - gaining positive publicity; including how to write a press release
14:10	Second practical training interview on a positive subject on TV
15:20	Conclusion
4Depart

 

Joining instructions

• There are no limits to the number of people attending, but there will only be time for 18 people to actually undergo a mock interview.  If there are more than 14 people attending, those people with little experience of either media training or giving interviews will be given priority for the interviews. Others can still watch.

• Please bring something you have worked on which has potential interest to the media.

• Please bring something you have worked on, for which you could produce a press release / be prepared for media interview during the tutorial.