Where have the reindeer taken Media Mentor over the last couple of months?Manchester – plenty of parking space down below BBC Manchester for Rodulf and the sleigh while we took some transport chiefs through their paces. “On an Icycle Built For Two….”
Birmingham – no chimneys into the Mailbox complex which houses the new BBC studios but we got in, and took our Midlands council clients through winter’s challenges: Tell them about next year’s council tax – it’ll sleigh them!
London – ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. And all through the house, nothing was stirring, not even a mouse. Lo! They were all transfixed by the Super Robot Monkeys Hyperforce Go Christmas Special, on Jetix!! And all the kids made sure they knew their Elf-abet.
Scotland – soaring over the rolling hills of Dumfries and Galloway, see below the twinkling lights of the hospitals and the welcoming glow of doctor’s surgeries. And inside what do we find? Merry NHS officials making sure Santa’s had his Flue vaccination!
Have a very Merry Christmas, and a great New Year from everyone at Media Mentor
Increasing demand from clients in Northern Ireland who would rather have us fly to them, not to mention an overwhelming fondness for what is known in the Province as ‘a wee Black Bush’ has encouraged Media Mentor to offer the excellent facilities of BBC Northern Ireland for media training coursesBased in the Green Room area of the TV studio complex on Ormeau Avenue , Belfast , courses include a lively fast-paced radio discussion (Seamus McKee watch out!) in Studio B3, lunch in the canteen where clients can fight their favourite presenters for the last chips, a chance to watch the lunchtime news broadcast live from the studio control gallery, and an afternoon’s TV programme training with a BBC camera crew.
Northern Ireland is experiencing dynamic growth as the ‘peace dividend’ kicks in, and many of our existing clients with branches in the Province are keen to put their Ulster colleagues through the unique Media Mentor experience. But we have promised not to start interviews with the traditional Northern Ireland greeting “ ‘Bout Ye!
2005 has undoubtedly been the year of exclusive pictures from mobile phones and digital camerasOur understanding of the Asian Tsunami, the Toronto air crash, and nearer to home the London bombings was defined by on-the-spot photographs taken by people actually involved. ‘SCOOPT’, the first agency set up to protect the rights and payments of members of the public who have pictures the press want to publish, has weathered a storm of media interest thanks to training by Media Mentor.
Realising that their fledgling agency was about to be propelled to the front of the national news agenda, Scoopt called Media Mentor to arrange 1-1 training with their managing director – at two hours’ notice! Happily, he was able to come to us, and by the time he arrived at our centre an intensive half-day’s course was ready to roll, and we had carried out accurate research into the stories and issues surrounding this extraordinary media phenomenon.
Says Media Mentor trainer Paul Murricane: “It’s a fascinating subject – this has occurred purely because of a technical breakthrough in digital photography, but it raises massive moral and ethical questions of how the media treat people. It is clear the press have not found an answer, given that the BBC says all such pictures are in the public domain and therefore free, and Sky News says in some cases they’ll pay for their use.
We were able to help SCOOPT clarify their message and hopefully generate public support and understanding as a result.”
The signs are unmissable – as a nation, we love a gamble. When celebrity poker takes up a goodish chunk of ITV’s late night schedules the public’s fascination with taking a punt has clearly reached new heights.Step forward, then, WBX – the World Bet Exchange – which launches in the next few weeks. Betting exchanges use the uniquely open worldwide nature of the Internet to give punters the chance to bet against each other on anything they choose. The benefits? 20% greater odds than on normal betting, thanks to much lower overhead costs, and greater technical efficiencies than shop-based betting establishments. WBX have a big job to inform the public about using betting exchanges, and explain their cast-iron financial safeguards which ensure that all the money involved in bets is totally secure.
But half a day’s media training at UCL Images studio has put them in good shape to launch themselves into a hectic media schedule. Will it be a world-beater? You bet!
The chances are that there’s a Media Mentor training course taking place near you. In Sharp-eyed clients will have spotted that our administrative nerve-centre is in the leafy (not) surroundings of Paisley near Glasgow. But a look at the schedule for July and August shows that we actually delivered only one course in Scotland. Most were in London, with Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff close seconds.In London, we offer courses at UCL Images TV studios – a very professional fully equipped 3-camera studio with the friendliest staff around and terrific croissants. But new this year for radio interview training we’ve opened up in Music4 studios in Berner Street. In spite of their name they are an ideal talk radio facility. Take a look at www.music4.com and see if you agree with us.
Elsewhere the Real Radio network welcomes our clients to their broadcasting centres in Glasgow, Cardiff and York – and yes, you’ll find TV facilities as well as radio studios there, where Media Mentor courses provide the combination of training that might seem scary at first, but always ends up stimulating, informative, and enjoyable.
Media Mentor can now welcome clients into the studios of Real Radio for that highly authentic broadcasting experience.Real Radio, the Guardian Media Group-owned commercial radio network with studios in Yorkshire , Wales and Central Scotland , recently hosted a media mentor training day for Seafish – The Sea Fish Authority.
Says Paul Murricane: “The commercial radio studio environment is subtly different from that of the BBC studios we also use. It made for a very quick-fire, lively session, and our clients were really buzzing with the experience” The professionalism and enthusiasm of the Real Radio team was second to none – and with superb catering and a goody bag at the end of the day everyone was happy!
Media Mentor trainer Fiona Ross was delighted – although she says ‘stunned’ is the more accurate description – to be honoured with an OBE for Services To Broadcasting in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, announced last weekend. Fiona – her full title is The Rt. Hon. Fiona Ross OBE was one of only two people awarded the OBE for services to broadcasting – the other, her namesake Jonathan Ross, received slightly more publicity in the national press.Media Mentor is thrilled that Fiona, one of our panel of journalist trainers, has been recognised in this way for her distinguished career as a news and political journalist, which gives her an unbeatable reputation as an incisive and supportive trainer of media mentor clients. Says Fiona: “I am actually stunned. I don’t know why I have got this I don’t know who put me forward for it. I just can’t explain it at all. I can only assume that this is what they do. They give you an award when you have spent the best part of 25 years hurling abuse at the country’s politicians.”
Fiona Ross OBE has an unparalleled knowledge and experience of political journalism, having interviewed every leading UK political figure and Prime Minister since 1976, including Margaret Thatcher, and the current Prime Minister, Tony Blair. She now presents TV and radio programmes and also works as a media skills trainer and consultant to media mentor’s political and business clients throughout the UK .
Some have described her interviewing technique as “like being hit by a bus”. If you want to make sure that your most senior spokespeople are ready for any possible future media enquiry, Fiona will ensure that they are completely prepared, skilled and confident. It’s good to have friends in high places!
But it nearly turned into one when Media Mentor were booked to train clients at BBC Manchester on Tuesday May 31 st . Until the last minute, it looked likely that the corporation would be hit by another massive walk-out, leaving tumbleweed blowing around the corridors of New Broadcasting House, and picketers lined up to greet our dear clients as they approached the hallowed portals of the Beeb .We cannot reveal what went on at the overnight talks which averted day two of the broadcasting union’s strike action, but it is significant that all parties looked mightily relieved as they emerged bleary eyed from the ACAS headquarters at seven o’clock in the morning. It is a plain as day to us, that they couldn’t bring themselves to let down Media Mentor. Well done BBC!
Until then, BBC London, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, even Inverness had all hosted and witnessed the ‘scary but fun’ experience of a Media Mentor training course as we mercilessly grill our dear clients. (On any day, interviews can range from a pleasant chat to the equivalent of being hit by a bus). Now we add Manchester to our list – and clients voted the facilities at the BBC’s Courtyard Room excellent.
Your children watch it, play with the toys that go with the programmes, download the computer games, and even eat the ice-cream. Jetix, formerly Fox Kids Europe and now part of the Disney Corporation is a global phenomenon, and a regular client of Media MentorAt Disney UK ’s Chiswick Headquarters Media Mentor are continuing their work ensuring that Jetix executives get the message to the media internationally. This is where tough one-to-one interviews are practiced again and again under the glare of the TV lights, and where lively debates need the firm hand of presenter/trainer Paul Murricane to keep passionate participants absolutely on track.
Says Paul Murricane: “Jetix is part of what defines childhood for lots of youngsters everywhere from Isreal to Iceland . Some, like the children of Bosnia , have grown up in difficult times. Some, like many of the children of western Europe, are so sophisticated it seems their childhood is over almost before it has begun. Jetix understands the needs and the hopes of all these different children, and we are privileged to be able to help them communicate the high energy and sheer zest for life that their programmes reflect.”
And our headline? It’s inspired by Jetix’s latest worldwide hit, the hilarious Super Robot Monkey Team Hypeforce Go ! But then you knew that already, didn’t you?
Media Mentor had a great weekend at the newstartscotland exhibition, held at the SECC in March. Over the two day event, we got chatting to a whole variety of different people, all looking for media training to help them handle the media more confidentlyThe exhibition brought together over 8,000 entrepreneurs and exhibitors who were keen to talk about how Media Mentor could benefit them and their company.
Media Mentor’s sister organisation, axis media group, was involved in the exhibition from the start, handling the huge amount of public relations that an exhibition that size demands, as well as running the press office over the two days.
Ceri Rogers of Insight Events, organisors of newstartscotland , says, “ The service we have received from Axis Media Group has been exceptional; we have been delighted with both the level and standard of coverage obtained. Axis can be relied upon to quickly identify opportunities and produce the necessary copy and content to maximise the impact these have. I have found all the staff at Axis to be helpful, efficient and reliable, with a high level of understanding of the Scottish business community. The contacts that Axis have within all areas of the media have proved invaluable in promoting the event.”
“I would be happy to recommended Paul and his team, as I have been very please with every aspect of the service that I have received.”
Five of Britain ’s most familiar TV names have joined Media Mentor’s journalists’ panel. Bill Turnbull (BBC Breakfast and 6 o’clock News), Harry Smith, Hazel Irvine (BBC Sport), Fiona Ross (former political editor, STV) and Kaye Adams (ITV) join senior trainer Paul Murricane to offer media mentor clients a unique insight into the way journalists operate.Says Paul: “Our journalists make Media Mentor courses special. They all started their careers in Scotland – and all are now amongst the best-known television names in Britain.
We can say to clients that our journalist trainers will have stepped straight out of the studio, or direct from front-line reporting, to spend time with them explaining and guiding them through the unfamiliar, turning them into polished performers.”
The four journalist trainers are available throughout the UK to give authentic and up-to-the-minute training in how to handle today’s media.
The presenter of ITV’s top-rating discussion show Loose Women has introduced a new range of presentation courses for media mentor clients.In television journalism, Kaye Adams has done everything from an hour-long interview with then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to presenting ITV Weekend Live, her own BBC2 network show Kaye, filling in for Esther Rantzen on BBC 2’s ‘Esther’ show, and guest appearances on BBC1’s Question Time, and Have I Got News For You. She now offers intensive training in presentation techniques and public speaking.
Says Kaye: ” Highly successful business people, or those who have reached the top in public organisations often need help with their presentation skills. In one day, it is surprising what a dramatic and lasting change can be achieved.”
New York goes Caledonia crazy once a year when Tartan Week hits the streets of Manhattan . And this year, the Scottish Executive hired media mentor to train the entire team of bright young Scots who are bringing the message of Scotland to New Yorkers at a special exhibition in Grand Central Station.Expert coaching in how to present a truly Scottish welcome to busy New Yorkers, and practice sessions in New-York style radio and TV discussion programmes brought Scotlands new ambassadors up to speed before they jetted out to the Big Apple.
Says Paul Murricane: “The image they are presenting to New York is of a modern, vigorous, energising country whose young people have brought the Scottish traditions of tartan, Braveheart and sheer zest for life right into the twenty first century. In just eight hours, we turned our twenty-something trainees into confident ambassadors who were not afraid to go up to New York commuters and get them excited about what modern Scotland has to offer.” Tartan Week is only one of several media training courses commissioned by the Scottish Executive from Media Mentor.
We have also recently trained Executive representatives to handle media interviews about the Scottish Government’s ‘Fresh Talent’ initiative in South East Asia, America, and Poland.
