Environmental Crisis Media Communications Training

Environmental Crisis Media Training

Dealing with a crisis is never easy, particularly when a crisis situation or catastrophe is the direct result of an environmental disaster. In some cases, an environmental crisis is the result of a natural occurrence. An example is the 1980s eruption of Mt. St. Helen’s, a natural disaster that led to many lost lives and the destruction of lush forestland and untamed wilderness. In other cases, an environmental crisis is the result of a man-made occurrence. The Chernobyl incident in Russia caused massive amounts of lethal radiation to wreak havoc on the people and fauna of the region. Regardless of the cause of a crisis, organizations must utilize key crisis media relations skills to overcome the tension and emotional distress prevalent during such situations. Given that the environment has become such a hot topic over the past few years, handling the media effectively during a crisis is particularly important. Our Environmental Crisis Media Training is a comprehensive, two-day workshop focused on effective communication skills and the ability to manage a successful interaction with the media.

Environmental Crisis Media Training workshop focuses on empowering public relations professionals, executives, environmental compliance teams and designated corporate or organization spokesmen with the tools and skills required to successfully communicate with members of the media during an environmental crisis. These crucial skills can be utilized by multiple organizations, regardless of their role in dealing with the media during a crisis. Local and federal government agencies can utilize the skills in this training workshop to communicate with the media and discuss their role in helping to manage environmental disaster-related situations. The skills we teach can also be used by corporations who must answer to hostile crowds, inquisitive media members and other parties when an environmental crisis may have been the result of human error or an industrial malfunction. Multiple presentations are utilized to provide participants with crisis media skill practice. One-on-one coaching sessions provide personalized feedback from a training instructor. Particular environmental issues and crisis media messages that must be conveyed during a crisis are also discussed. Time is spent working on training modules, application exercises, question and answer sessions and other activities to reinforce the learning process in this crisis media workshop.

Environmental Crisis Media Training program participants will learn to:

Understand the issues faced during an environmental crisis
Deal with the emotions of angry crowds, hostile print media and broadcast media
Properly interact with the media during a crisis
Enhance image and credibility when conveying environmental crisis information
Eliminate distracting mannerisms that make take away from a message
Determine media attitudes and needs
Overcome nervousness and anxiety
Use visual aids and other media to reinforce their message
Conduct face-to-face media interviews during a crisis
Satisfy the media’s needs during a crisis while focusing on a message
Present accurate information without appearing misinformed
Plan a crisis media presentation
Appear knowledgeable and calm under the pressure that results from a crisis
Maintain control under the most challenging situations
Build a statement for use when working with the media