APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2014/2015

ELE 3720 Media Training

Responsible for the course
Morten William Knudsen

Department
Department of Marketing

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
7,5

Language of instruction
Norwegian

Introduction
For many enterprises the media coverage is the most important factor affecting reputation. In a world where the agenda is set by the media, where speed, scope and intensity have increased quickly, and where journalism has become more aggressive and revealing, enterprises, organizations, politicians and others are surprised by other enterprises that dare risk their reputation through unstructured and unprepared media handling. The result, frequently, is that one is not understood or regarded as relevant, reliable, truthful and interesting. Without any knowledge of the rules and routines of the press – written as well as unwritten ones – enterprises and organizations are often helpless in their contact with journalists.

Learning outcome
Through the course, the students are to learn how to define and develop media strategies through knowledge about the work methods and news assessment of the media. This requires knowledge and skills within the following main areas:

Acquired knowledge

• Basic knowledge and understanding of communication as a leadership responsibility
• Knowledge of the possibilities and limitations, as well as the complexity of the ”new” media landscape, including knowledge of the way editors assess news, as well as the premises on which they base their considerations, and rules of the game
• Knowledge of methods and tools to develop communication concepts with a sales triggering and profiling focus
• Ability to apply methods and techniques to deal with difficult interview situations in a better way and avoid the most common errors
• Knowledge of the rights of sources and the editors’ ethical responsibility

• An awareness of the requirements and expectations the role as the enterprise’s spokesperson towards the media imply
• An ability to identify and develop communication concepts that gives extra credibility and reliability to the brand
• Contribution to the production of tailor-made communication material adapted to the needs of the media
• Ability to apply methods and tools in the battle for credibility
• Ability to use the rules on the editors’ ethical responsibility in relation to own rights

Prerequisites
There is no specially required prerequisite knowledge.

Compulsory reading
Books:
Cappelen, Anders W. 2012. Bruk pressen 3.0 : komplett guide i presserelatert PR. 3. utg.. PRforlaget. 613 sider

Recommended reading
Books:
Apeland, Nils M. 2010. Det gode selskap : omdømmebygging i praksis. 2. utg. Hippocampus. 226

Course outline

• Communication, identity and reputation building
• Media structure and media channels
• The methods of news journalism, the struggle for specific angles and the struggle against time
• Media strategy, target group thinking and message development
• The media in emergency situations
• How to handle the interview - proactive and reactive media handling
• The toolbox of rhetoric
• How to gain sympathy in the battle for credibility
• The rights of sources, replies and countering at the same time
• Practical camera training

• The teaching will be case-/exercised-based in the sense that much of the theory is incorporated in the actual training
• Collective assessment in the sense that we review and assess the training/interviews jointly.