"By the time you hear the thunder, it's too late to build the ark.”

Extreme Crisis Communications - a mass casualty incident or an "extreme" situation involving significant injuries or threats of bodily harm. This is a very specific training session for individuals who are expected to manage and provide leadership during the "extreme" crisis, for first responders and all key action personnel and any individuals who will be inundated by the media (any general reference to media implies all media - from mainstream TV, Radio, Print, Web News Outlets -- to alternative media - blogs, niche topic websites and social media).

Crisis Communications - an unexpected event that threatens or will severely impact an individual or entity's reputation.

Media Training - learning how to have an effective and objective relationship with the media, so you can get your story covered, run, published and/or posted. It includes how to take control of an interview, to transform aggressive reporters and contentious questions into positive "on message" answers. Finally, how to be comfortable with the media, understand the job they have to do, and how best to give them what they need.

TLG's Crisis Communication & Media Training will prepare our clients to deal with the media and be prepared for the next inevitable crisis. Effective crisis communication requires regular maintenance and attention. It is important that Senior Management/Business Ownership embrace crisis communications planning and response as SOP and make sure it gets the proper regular attention it deserves.

The following list of topics is typical list. Individual topics are subject to change depending on the Client.

• The importance of crisis communications

o Why it is necessary

o How it differs from everyday communication and PR

o Problems it can help prevent

• Elements of a crisis communication system

o Structure, action needed, personnel involvement

o Determining your message

• Crises, issues and the media

o How the media can help...or hinder

• Extensive training on how to properly interact with the media

• The difference between publicity and news

• Different ways you can get your news stories out

• Attracting media to a story

• Understanding the demands of different media

• How to command an interview

o Techniques for different media

o Deciding what to say

o Appointing spokespeople

• Practice being interviewed face to face vs. phone interviews

• What information the media needs

• Guidelines for working with mainstream media

• Helpful do's and don'ts and things to never say

• Understanding how to get your message across confidently and effectively

• Structuring your response

• Doing more than just answering the questions

• Bridging, Blocking, Flagging, Enumerating and Knowing when to stop

• Dealing with difficult questions and hostile interviews

• Dealing with rudeness and hostility

• Putting together a media event

• How to plan for your media presentation

• How to write a press release

• How to get your press release published or posted

• Tailoring for different media

• Using social media to get your message out

• How best to use the web

In this era of accountability, for better or worse there is more media than ever before, much of it non-traditional and self-appointed. Just about everybody has the capability to take video with their cell phones. All organizations and entities need to prepare in advance to handle their next crisis. Therefore it is important that your crisis plan be properly communicated to more employees and that these same employees know how to deal with all media and the importance of properly representing their employer.

Having a crisis communication plan in place is both necessary and dangerous. It is necessary because without one a company is frozen in indecision when a crisis arises But a crisis communications plan is also dangerous because it creates the illusion that the company is fully prepared to handle a crisis. Even a terrific crisis communication plan is no substitute for trained and experienced people. All attendees to this training workshop will gain the knowledge and more significantly, understand the importance and what is at stake dealing properly with the media.

Want to know more? The first step is as simple as calling 562-537-6936 or for additional information fill out the form on our contact us page. The consultation is FREE. TLG is also available to assist immediately in the management of a Crisis.