No matter the type of organization, C-suite and executives are often the most sought-after news sources. These leaders are the de facto spokespeople for your brand, so it is critical they are perceived as credible, empathetic, and likable. Additionally, they must be able to deliver powerful talking points while being concise and in control of the media interview. 

This workshop is structured for executives looking to improve their media skills as well as communications leaders who are charged with training their organization’s spokespeople. This workshop will help answer:

• How do you respond to a hostile question from a reporter? 

• How do you address an issue with which you’re unfamiliar? 

• How do you translate your message into a memorable sound bite? 

Over the course of 90 minutes, the program will cover the core principles of mediaspeak, replete with real-life case studies; brainstorming to essentialize your key messages; a discussion on how to answer uncomfortable questions, and more.

About the instructor:

Jonathan Rick helps people make sense of — and money from — business communication. Whether through a workshop, ghostwriting, or social media, he helps clients engender buzz, shape public opinion, and become thought leaders. 

As an educator, Jonathan has addressed a wide variety of audiences on topics including writing, communication, and social media. He’s delivered workshops and keynotes, in person and online, before clients such as Nascar, Visa, Booz Allen Hamilton, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as well as federal agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. Since 2014, he’s also taught at the University of Maryland at College Park. 

As a writer, Jonathan has collaborated with cabinet secretaries, celebrities, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and scholars. His work has appeared in publications such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Time, along with business-oriented outlets like Fast Company, Forbes, and the Wall Street Journal. He’s penned everything from op-eds and website copy, to slide decks and speeches, to Wikipedia articles and LinkedIn profiles. Of particular note: Among his book credits, he ghostwrote a popular primer on brand licensing and edited an academic monograph that urges professors to collaborate with businessmen.