301.771.11 CASE STUDIES IN COMMUNICATING WITH THE MEDIA

Provides techniques and guidelines to understand and handle the media during a crisis. Topics include: and overview of the media needs in a crisis, the essential elements of crisis communication plans, tips and techniques for spokespersons, common pitfalls to avoid, audience psychology, non verbal communication and techniques for communicating complex information to the lay audience. Students review videotapes of news coverage and participate as spokespersons in videotaped simulation exercises.

1. To equip participants with an understanding of the challenges involved in communicating health information to the media and the techniques to improve their communications effectiveness. 2. To provide an understanding of the media perspective in the health communication process to improve the likelihood of success in communicating to the public via the media 3. To improve the individual communication performance skills of each participant. 4. To provide functional guidelines for the preparation of a useful emergency communications plan