Media Training Update w/c 23rd March

Edition 528

Good morning, it’s Monday 23rd March.

“It’s staggering that this 103-year-old organisation has had 17 director generals and they were all guess what? Ah yes. Men,” 
The words of the legendary Dame Jenni Murray, who died last week.


In other news…

Barring an eleventh hour twist, former Google exec (and man) Matt Brittin will be the next. More on this next week.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy’s speech to the Society of Editors is worth a quick read.

“I have a phobia of foam” was a new one on me last week, but hey – media training remains nothing if not surprising. The mic cover was removed ahead of the interview and disaster narrowly averted…

The war in the Middle East will continue to dominate the news agenda, however also in the diary for this week…

Monday: Keir Starmer questioned by Liaison Committee on Iran and economic security. 

WMO publishes State of the Climate report.

Tuesday: BAFTA television awards nominations.


Wednesday: UK inflation figures.


Thursday: Joint Expeditionary Force leaders, likely including Keir Starmer, meet in Finland.


Friday: England Men v Uruguay football friendly


Saturday: One month since the start of the Iran war.

“Um…was I ok?” 


I know that getting honest, constructive feedback after going on air isn’t easy. Here are five options to weigh up:


1) The producer

Possible but unlikely. Producers are busy and won’t prioritise feedback. Ask when the initial bid is made from the journalist. “I’m happy to do the interview but I’d really appreciate some feedback”.

2) Your press officer

Sometimes reluctant to feedback negatively, particularly if they are in a more junior role to you. One tip is to ask for 2 positive and 2 negative comments from the interview.

3) A critical friend

Someone completely unrelated to your topic – did the language work for them? Did the story have sufficient impact?

4) Listeners/Viewers

Social media is a very warped filter from which to glean feedback, so take comments with a large bucket of salt, but observations can occasionally be extremely perceptive and well-informed.

5) You

Always listen and watch back interviews you undertake. Virtually all programmes are online after broadcast. Critique yourself fairly but don’t forget to reflect on the positives. We tend to skate over the good stuff.

The government will increase funding of the BBC World Service over the next three years. The Foreign Office will boost funding by an additional £11m per year for the next three years – a total of £33m and an 8% increase on the previous year’s government contribution.

WS “offers clarity, accuracy and an independent voice where reliable information is increasingly difficult to access”. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper

Footnotes:


Seen The Economist front cover?

“GB News has essentially become Reform TV. The broadcasting regulator, Ofcom, has more or less given up the ghost. And Nigel Farage is laughing all the way to the bank.”

Alan Rusbridger’s investigation into GB News is well worth a read

On This Day: The government banned all animal transport to contain an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease on this day in 1981.

Our Week: Exeter (deliciously via a rail replacement bus) and Brighton for us.

The Mutt Photo: 

Stan has been pretty poorly this week – he’s nearly 14 after all – so here’s a photo of him in much younger days to cheer the spirits…

Be part of the MMB. Thoughts on this week’s content, or interviews you’ve seen, heard, or (best of all) done, please let us know.

Back next Monday. Have a super week.

All at Inside Edge