Some of the most powerful people in the UK fall to pieces when confronted by journalists. They can make money, but they can’t make sense when speaking to the media.Yet some of our clients have suffered the most extreme crises of confidence, and have flourished in newspaper, radio and television interviews after Media Mentor training courses.
Most recently, the Choose Life campaign has sent the message out to the public that suicide can be prevented if we will just talk about it. They’re doing it by using the only real experts in their field – people who have attempted suicide many times. Those who have reached such a low point that the only solution, as they see it, is to remove themselves from the world. Having gone through such trauma, they talk with honesty, directness and even humour about their experiences.
They are given the right skills to prevent being exploited by a prurient media. They are in control. And it works – for the first time, suicide rates are on the decrease.
The hospital superbug MRSA has put the NHS into crisis. Some of the most strenuous efforts ever seen in the world have helped bring it under control in many Health Trust areas, but public fears remain widespread.
Although actual levels of infection are rare (though devastating to those involved) the damage being done to the reputation of the NHS is immense.
This month Media Mentor spoke at a major conference by the Infection Control Nurses Association on the public’s perception of Hospital Acquired Infection, and how to give the public the true story of the great strides being made to control infection.
Several hundred doctors, nurses and medical staff heard Media Mentor senior trainer Paul Murricane describe the media’s perception of NHS activity on the hospital superbug and show them how to get their story across more effectively, to generate greater public understanding and support for the work of the NHS.
The motor industry has watched with envy Toyota’s progress, while more traditional parts of the industry in Britain have suffered a real downturnThe good news is that Toyota is very much a UK success story, with the Burnaston plant in Derbyshire producing the world-beating Corolla and Avensis and Toyota’s clean and efficient engines built at its plant in Deeside, North Wales.
To cap their success, they’ve turned to Media Mentor to guide them through their media relations.
Media Mentor begins work for Toyota UK in April, with a series of media awareness and interview skills courses for senior management.
What has the largest area of arctic mountain landscape in the UK, 25% of Britain’s threatened species, and a King and Queen? It is of course The Cairngorm National Park which includes the town of Kingussie in its area, and also Braemar where the world famous Highland Games are treated Royally each year. National Parks are some of Britain’s most cherished assets, but also some of the least understood.
Everybody is in favour of them, but most people don’t really know what they do. So Cairngorm National Park Authority called on Media Mentor to help it get its message out to the world – the Cairngorms are for everybody to enjoy, to take pride in, and to support. We encouraged them to talk more about the life-affirming effect of the Cairngorm’s awe-inspiring scenery, and less about National Envelopes For Arable Sectors.
We showed them how to help the public understand the need to protect wildlife while supporting like and work in the area, and how to get their voice heard in the most important places – the corridors of power in Holyrood, Westminster and Brussels.
