You need media training. Right now. Before making another move in your personal or professional life. Don’t take another step without making the decision.
I have been at the front of many a media training session, everyone from powerful CEO’s to high school athletes. I’ve taught thousands of people in board rooms and spaces so small they could have passed for bathrooms. If I had the proverbial nickel for those who sauntered up to me with a smirk or smile and said, “Why do I need media training?”, I’d be writing this from a small island off the coast of Fiji.
I stepped away from media “training” for a number of years because I grew tired of watching innumerable charlatans ply their wares and destroy what should have been straightforward and meaningful education. Instead of calling it “training”, I termed it media “intelligence”, because in the end, I was making people smarter about the role of media in their lives.
The time has never been more perfect to make a return to these media wars, and stop this precipitous drop-off in smarts and common sense about the media.
Call it what you will. Intelligence of training. You, your colleagues, your staff, your company, your group of grade school educators in Middle America, all need it right now.
In today’s world, media is everywhere. It’s in our pockets, on our walls, and even occasionally drifts into our dreams (especially if you fell asleep to the dulcet tones of a late-night infomercial). You may not think you’re "in the media," and maybe you’ve never had to face a room full of cameras, but trust me, media is involved in your life whether you like it or not.
That’s why everyone, yes everyone, can benefit from media training—even if you’re not a politician, a business tycoon, or a YouTube influencer.
Why? Because we live in a hyper-connected, media-saturated world where social media, digital platforms, and even your grandma’s Facebook posts have become mini press conferences. And if you’re not careful, you might just get caught up in the trap of misinformation, lies, or worse. The possibility is here every day that your own words are being taken out of context and twisted into something you never meant.
Media Training: It's Not Just for the Celebrities.
You don’t have to be a celebrity to need media training. In fact, the average person can easily fall into the same traps of misinformation, poor messaging, and internet faux pas as a Hollywood starlet with a Twitter/X problem.
Remember that viral video of someone melting down in a fast food restaurant? That person didn’t wake up thinking, “I’d love to trend on social media today for the worst possible reason”. But there they were, plastered all over the internet for eternity.
Eternity. Remember that word. What happens on social media, the internet, any form of communication in our screenshot world, never goes away.
Media training helps you understand how your words, actions, and even facial expressions can be interpreted (and misinterpreted) in the digital world. It teaches you to communicate clearly, thoughtfully, and in a way that minimizes misunderstandings.
This skill isn't just useful for those few moments you might find yourself in front of a camera. It's crucial for everyday interactions, whether you’re posting a quick tweet, making a LinkedIn update, or even responding to that angry email from a client or colleague.
The Social Media Trap: Why Media Training Matters.
Social media is an absolute minefield. It’s where facts and fiction mix freely, and where someone can turn a minor misstep into a full-blown scandal in the time it takes to hit “share.”
Media training helps you spot these traps. Think of it as digital self-defense for the modern world.
Consider the art of avoiding misinformation. We’ve all seen a shocking headline shared by an old friend or coworker, the kind that makes you say, “Wait, is that true?” before you even realize you’re questioning the laws of physics. Media training can arm you with the critical thinking skills necessary to separate fact from fiction and avoid spreading false information. It teaches you to fact-check, recognize sources, and verify before you share. This isn’t just about saving face; it’s about being a responsible participant in the digital world and keeping your credibility intact.
Credibility is everything. Remember that.
But misinformation isn’t just about sharing false facts. It’s also about how you share information. Do you overshare on Facebook, posting detailed accounts of your private life for everyone to see? Do you engage in heated online arguments that leave you looking like you just hosted a meltdown webinar? Media training helps you understand the fine line between appropriate and inappropriate sharing, and how to manage your online presence like a seasoned pro.
Media Is Everywhere: It’s Time to Get on Guard.
You may think you can avoid media traps by just “staying off social media”.
Sure. Right. OK. You keep believing that,
The media is inescapable. Every interaction with technology has become an interaction with media. Whether you’re recording a work meeting, posting a comment in a Zoom chat, or writing an email that might get forwarded 10 times, media is present in almost every aspect of our personal and professional lives. It’s invasive, and it’s unavoidable.
Think about the time you were tagged in a less-than-flattering photo on Facebook by a distant cousin. Or the moment someone tweeted about your company’s service (or lack thereof). Without media training, you might think the best course of action is to ignore it, delete the post, or worse—post an ill-advised response in the heat of the moment.
Media training teaches you how to handle these situations with grace, poise, and strategic thinking. It helps you understand that everything you do or say can be screenshotted, shared, and misrepresented in seconds. You learn how to respond calmly, correct misinformation when necessary, and most importantly, how to avoid making things worse.
Media Training for the Everyday Professional (And the Rest of Us).
Let’s bring this down to the level of the everyday worker. You might not be giving interviews to CNN or FOX, but you do present to clients, send professional emails, engage with colleagues on platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams, interact with people at the Dunkin’ counter and even after work for a cocktail.
Guess what? That’s all media or has the possibility of being shared on media. How you present yourself in these environments can impact your career. Media training gives you the tools to communicate effectively, to manage crises (like that time someone misunderstood your joke in a meeting), and to convey messages that resonate and stick.
In customer-facing roles, this becomes even more important. You want to know how to handle complaints, interact with clients on social media, and address reviews—whether they’re glowing or scathing.
Media training equips you to handle these situations with confidence, ensuring you maintain a positive reputation while keeping your audience happy.
Conclusion: Stay Sharp, Stay Informed
Media training isn’t just for politicians or people who end up on the evening news. It’s for anyone who interacts with the world through a screen, which, last time I checked, is pretty much everyone. In this world of instant communication, viral moments, and constant exposure, knowing how to navigate media—even the most benign-seeming forms of it—has become a critical life skill.
Whether you’re managing a company’s Instagram page, responding to a customer's complaint, or simply trying to avoid becoming the next viral sensation for all the wrong reasons, media training will help you stay on guard. It will keep you informed, prepared, and ready for whatever the digital world throws at you.
Be smarter, and stay ahead of the alligators.
Ed Berliner has been navigating the media minefield his entire adult life, stopping along the way to defuse the dangers for professionals and everyday people alike. He has relaunched his time in front of audiences, either in person or via the Virtual Master Control on-line, to recognize and avoid the pitfalls. Contact him at fuzzydogsproductions@gmail.com for a chat and then scheduling him to be part of your next event.
Comments