Media Interview Training/Media Relations Training

"You provided our members with media training at our Leadership Conference. Our docs are still talking about the great experience!"

Becky Wimmer, Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians 

Media interview training is something former public radio broadcaster Steve Busalacchi (booz-uh-LOCK-ee) has focused on for the past 12 years. His services are important because the last place you want to be is in the glare of a TV camera with nothing important to say! Steve's Badger Speaker School will make sure you are ready and able to effectively communicate.

Check out our Brochure 

Steve's been interviewing people for a long time, so he knows the territory. His many clients include the University of Wisconsin Foundation, Healthy Wisconsin Leadership Institute, the American Cancer Society-St. Louis, as well as an invited speaker for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more detail, see Steve's Bio.

• "Steve Busalacchi brings together experience, passion for his work, and superb skills in communications. He's lived it and he can teach it."
  
  
• "Love the visual/audio clips."
  

• "Great to see and learn from the voice I listened to for years on NPR."
  
  
• "The session was very professional, yet there was a relaxed, informal atmosphere that made it easy to participate. I thought it was great!"
  

Those who participate in his media relations training programs learn how to draw reporters' interest, get their key points across no matter what the questions and feel comfortable in front of a microphone.

Steve uses actual media examples from television, radio, print and Internet to show exactly what works and what doesn't. Then, he takes it a step further, gets out his microphone and digital recorder and does some practice interviews with volunteers.

Media interview training programs are held for either small groups or for individuals who wish to hone their skills. Media relations training presentations include one of the easiest to read, least expensive and most useful media training books available, Media Savvy, Media Success! 

"Steve--I wanted to share an example of the results of your hard work with me, and thank you again.  I have been in print stories in Indiana every week or two over the past several months and have been able to weasel our issue into stories. I brainstorm for a minute or two on a well-messaged quip of the day. I then walk the statehouse press offices and toss the quote at whoever has their door open."

Aaron Doeppers, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids

Mini Case Study: Tobacco

Just to give you an idea of how critical smart media strategy can be, consider the example from the U.S. Congress. A brilliant tactical move to bring all of the tobacco company CEOs before a Congressional Committeee and watch them perjure themselves in the glare of TV lights, turned out to be the beginning of the end of the tobacco industry's reign of terror in America.

Somebody orchestrated this political theatre and it was enormously effective. Documents later proved that these leaders knew full well the impact of nicotine, despite their protestations.

This video has since run over and over again, demonstrating the deception of the industry, and its leaders.

                      Meet the Press--Don't Fear Them

Communicating effectively in the news media hinges on confidence, the whole basis for media interview training. The reason a news reporter will come to you is because you have something he or she doesn't have: credible information.

But you have to relay that information effectively and with a strategy in mind. Steve has led media relations training sessions for hundreds of professionals over the years, including doctors from the Brown County Medical Society. After their media interview training, they performed at a high level before the press at a public forum that drew excellent media coverage.

Even highly educated, knowlegeable professionals often fear gotcha questions, not knowing enough about the subject matter or possibly freezing before the camera. But the truth is reporters tend to be generalists and don't know a whole lot about any particular subject. They seek excellent sources because they add credibility to their reporting. Therefore, you can walk in with confidence, expressing yourself without fear.

Steve specializes in media relations training of clients so they know what to expect and have a chance to try out the strategies discussed. Doing an interview is nothing more than having a conversation--but one which you prepare for carefully.

His concise, bulleted handbook, Media Savvy, Media Success!, provides the basic information necessary to get prepared for an interview and do well enough to attract more of them.

Why trust Steve Busalacchi?

Hear directly from the Associate Dean of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public, Patrick Remington, MD, MPH, about why Steve has what it takes to help you communicate effectively with the news media.
See other testimonals, as well.

And, for a little fun...

Contact Steve Busalacchi to schedule a media interview training session.

   and learn more about the Badger Speaker School.