Michael PR & Public Affairs

Michael Communications is a professional PR company with a proven track record in PR & media relations.

In Media Relations

With continually increasing numbers of publications hitting the shelves in Ireland, it is crucial that media receives timely, well-written and most importantly newsworthy information about your business. We have the skills and media contacts to ensure your message receives the media coverage it deserves.

In Public Affairs

Knowing what to do, say and how to react is at the epicentre of public affairs and we have some experience in this arena. It can be a rollercoaster at times with big decisions made about your campaign or as a result of changes in legislation or a campaign to change the legislation of to get people to hear your cause….We have a war chest of advice and practical experience…so do contact us if you think we can help!

Training in PR Skills is also available from the consultants at Michael Communications & Training so if you want to do your own PR or if PR agencies want to up skill their people or you are an in-house PR team we have courses / training based on that invaluable commodity – experience!

Why not “learn” from the experienced professionals at Michael Communications and take one of the following courses that are wholly based on the experience and what works!!!!!

Choose from the following...

Media Masterworks

The Media Master class is the ideal vehicle for spokespersons, who want to hone and polish their skills mix.

Confident performances, with insights to secrets of successful media presentations are what Master Class is all about.

Course Content

What makes a good media spokesperson/personality?
Recorded Interviews – what will make the final cut – e.g. Primetime
Messages to communicate in media landscape
Talking in Sound bytes - News
Panel Discussions TV & Radio - Local Radio, Vincent Browne
Making your case in radio phone-ins – the steps to remain clear among voices of many
Crisis Media Communications – E.g. Legislation
Issuing news statements in response to critical news – Cutbacks or Strike
Expert Opinion – The role of your expert opinion in the media
Press Conferences
Live interviews
Body language on camera
How contagious is your message?

See for yourself and with feedback from other participants during this practical skills based course.

Training Methods

The Michael Media Masterworks offers essential practical experience in order to improve the “media minutes”.
Workshop Approach
We record mock-interviews.
We then implement structured approaches to improve your effectiveness, looking at specific areas such as the current affairs environment you and your business finds itself in.

Delegates come away with notes, reference materials and workbooks

Media & PR Communications Training

Programme Schedule

Our 1 & ½ day or evening seminar is highly informative and interactive, delivered by Michelle Thomas, formally of the Sunday Tribune, who works as a media advisor and consultant to various Government Departments, organisations and companies.

The seminar takes 3 parts with interactive Q& A session.

Part 1
The Role of PR & Media

Have the skills to be pro-active in media relations
Have practical knowledge on how to draft a press release

Part 2
Media Relations & Commentary – Email responses & telephone interviews

Part 3
Preparing for Interviews – Radio & TV

Interview preparation and delivery for radio and TV.
Defining your communications goal.
Deliveries of articulate media messages.
Issue Based Media Commentary
- What to do when asked for “Your Opinion”
Sound bytes. (Speaking in media seconds).

PR ……… But Afraid to Ask?

PR / Communications people often get seriously frustrated and “stressed out” doing their job…why because things just sometimes “don’t work” or don’t go according to plan.

Be it in media relations when you just can’t get coverage or a piece goes in a “different direction” than planned OR a crisis emerges and your “in the cross fire”.

Clients / management / boards can be demanding or have a different ideas of what “they should be in the public domain for”?

So, addressing many questions, this NEW Course is all about learning form experience and from others……because we at Michael Communications know that “it can be lonely working in this arena and sometimes having no sounding boards or advisory service…..So think of this course as having a “special advisor” in a highly interactive course where we ask participants to jot down or present “their cases” from past or present and let’s “brain storm” with advice and some “game-plans” to address problems.

Text book PR doesn’t always work, this is all about experience and getting input from other PR’s and Comms people attending.

Over 2 days over 2 weeks – We work to help you get the very best working practices set up so you can work smarter…..as they say now “ it’s all about the Knowledge economy”.

With Q&A sessions in a relaxed atmosphere this is ideal for all levels of PR’s and Communications people, from interns to Comms Managers, because the PR landscape constantly changes, everyone can add value with their “input” and take-away some “solid approaches”, learn when to stop ‘flogging the horse’ or soak up some key tips and ideas.

Delegates can take sample press releases, event notices, reports, file footage, interviews; invites; whatever they want top discuss……

Training Course includes:-

Role of PR in all things Politics – everything is political, so let’s examine how actions cause reactions and how to best approach & manage PR
Personalities in Media – Slant’s Biases and History – best know who you are dealing with on the media landscape!
What are the expectations of radio, TV and print media?
Role of sponsorship vs. advertising – The PR debate!

Training of this calibre is all part of our commitment to providing ‘Continuing Professional Development.’