Media Training for the Public Health Workforce
The Yale CPHP in collaboration with the Connecticut Partnership for Public Health Workforce Development recently offered Media Training for the Public Health Workforce.
This three-session course builds skills that enable public health practitioners to interact effectively with the media to provide health information and risk messages to the community. The modules provide participants with practical tools and strategies for establishing media relationships, communicating effectively with the media, and interviewing skillfully.
Session 1: Getting to Know the Media, Course # 1013130
March 31, 1 - 4:30 pm
Instructor: Diane Alverio, former television reporter and award-winning journalist.
This session enabled participants to:
- Analyze the variety of media available for communicating with the public
- Describe the types of stories and events that create media interest
- Initiate and maintain working media relationships
Session 2: Communicating with the Media, Course # 1015928
April 9, 1 - 4:30 pm
Instructor: Melinda Tuhus, award-wining journalist and non-profit communications director
This session enabled participants to:
- Design and effectively communicate key messages
- Develop press kits, story pitches, media advisories, and press releases
Session 3: On-Camera Interview Training
April 16, 1 - 5 pm
Instructors: Lt. Paul Vance, Commanding Officer and PIO, CT State Police
This session enabled participants to:
- List steps to prepare for live interviews with the media
- Practice and use feedback on their on-camera interviewing skills
Continuing Education Credits
International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) Continuing Education Credits was offered. 0.3 IACET CEUS and 3 CHES CEUS was offered per session.
Course Materials
- Course Announcement
- Session 1 Handouts, Diane Alverio, Diane Alverio & Co.*
Media Relations and Risk Communication Resources:
- September 2008 newsletter on news releases and preparedness
- May 2008 newsletter on preparing for a media response
- APHA Media Advocacy Manual: Contains guidance on media relations as well as how-to's for several forms of media communications including press releases, letters to the editor, op-eds, and interviews.
- CDC Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication Online Training
CDC has released an updated online version of basic Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication. - Effective Media Communication during Public Health Emergencies: A WHO Handbook
This handbook discusses strategies to communicate effectively with journalists from a variety of media outlets during public health emergencies. It contains a variety of templates and tools to assist public health practitioners to develop messages and materials prior to a disaster taking place. - Effective Media Communication during Public Health Emergencies: A WHO Field Guide
The Field Guide is a shortened version of the Handbook. - Risk Communication in Action: The Tools of Message Mapping
The publication, developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), contains in-depth information to assist public health and other risk communication practitioners develop message maps to communicate effectively with the public during times of crisis.
Additional information:
Please contact Cindi Lemay with any question concerning the media training.
* Please do not distribute without attributing authorship to Diane Alverio & Co.
