Hostage Crisis Media Communications Training


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Hostage Crisis Media Training

According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, during 2002, the level of violent crime in the United States reached the lowest level ever recorded. During that year, the property crime rate also reached the lowest level in twenty years. While these statistics are encouraging, they mask the reality that violent crime and hostage situations still continue to this day. One would be hard-pressed to find a major city going for longer than a few days without a hostage crisis. Some hostage situations are the result of domestic violence or mental instability while others are the result of criminal activity such as bank robberies or narcotics activity. Regardless of the situation, those organizations that are affected by a hostage crisis must have action plans ready that enable them to effectively deal with the media. These plans must be designed to reassure the public and convey accurate information to members of the media. Our Hostage Crisis Media Training program is designed to help financial institution professionals, law enforcement officials, correctional institution personnel, government spokesmen and other individuals deal with the difficult situations created by a hostage crisis.

The one-day Hostage Crisis Media Training workshop focuses on providing those tasked with communicating to the media with the tools and training skills required to properly handle media relations during a hostage crisis situation without alarming the public or causing damage to any negotiations that might be taking place. Given the particularly tenuous situation found during a hostage crisis, discussions during this interactive and highly participatory workshop are centered on the life and death issues that must be confronted by all parties and often the focus of media inquiries. These skills can also be used by officials who must answer to hostile and impatient crowds concerned with the possible effects of a drawn-out hostage crisis negotiation. Multiple presentations are utilized to provide participants with crisis media skill practice. One-on-one coaching sessions provide personalized feedback from a crisis media training instructor. Particular hostage crisis issues and the 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.

Hostage Crisis Media Training program participants will learn to:

	Understand the issues faced during a hostage crisis
	Deal with the emotions of the concerned public and members of the media
	Properly interact with the media during a hostage crisis
	Build a public statement detailing the hostage crisis situation
	Ensure that communications do not jeopardize current negotiations
	Enhance image and credibility when conveying hostage crisis information
	Determine media attitudes and needs
	Overcome nervousness
	Use visual aids and other media to reinforce their message
	Conduct face-to-face media interviews during a hostage 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