Media training

Who would benefit from media training?

Academics interested in promoting their research and/or expertise to the wider public through the media or social media.
Senior members of academic departments who could be called upon to represent the University in relation to a specific story about our community.
Senior members of University management who might need to represent the University in response to national higher education debates or in times of crisis.

Skills you'll gain

Media training will teach you how to:

effectively explain your research and its significance to the wider public, making it relevant to their everyday lives.
tell the University’s story, stick to your key messages and give you the confidence to take on difficult interviews.

It will also give you transferable communication skills useful for grant applications, public lectures, stakeholder briefings and other areas of your academic life.

Training opportunities

Our interview skills training

If you want to know why journalists would want to interview you, how the media works, and how to maximise the opportunity by giving the perfect interview, our 90-minute, introductory sessions will give you everything you need.

We also offer a practical interview masterclass for researchers who want to develop their skills and practise what they know in front of the camera in our Colchester Campus-based television studio.

Using social media to promote your research

Many researchers are excited about the potential social media offers for making an impact with their work but how can you ensure you are heard above the din?

We offer advice and occasional training which will help you set up social media accounts, understand how to build your networks, and write the perfect post.

Tailored media training events for small groups

Occasionally we design and host a specific media training event tailored around the needs of a particular group of staff members. These are typically full-day events with carefully chosen external trainers.

Training guides

You might also find what you need in these short how to guides:

External media training

If you have been awarded a research grant by a national research council, you might be entitled to free media training events organised by that council’s press office. Speak to your research council contact to find out what you are entitled to.

Help and support

If you want to discuss your media training needs, or find out more about any of these events please email our Communications Team at comms@essex.ac.uk.