media training testimonials

"Thanks to attending Jane Bird's media training courses Microsoft spokespeople have gained an in-depth understanding of the media and learned a great deal about how to make the most of interview opportunities. Jane is a highly effective trainer, combining her broad-ranging experience as a journalist with the ability to communicate her knowledge in a lively and stimulating way."
Hugh Davies, Group PR Manager, Microsoft Ltd

"...Jane's telecoms experience and technical understanding always makes for a testing and fruitful session for my spokespeople. Pushing the experienced, giving sounds foundations to beginners and ensuring all stop talking the Vodafone language and start talking our customers'. Jane's approach ensures they avoid jargon, provide examples and explain the key challenges our customers face. They also come away with a deeper insight into how the media operates and how to make the most of their interview opportunities...."
Bryony Clow, Group Media Relations Manager, Vodafone Group Services

"I have worked with Jane on press training for two years and throughout this time have found her to be consistent, informative, and thorough. Most importantly we have seen results in the coverage produce. Jane focuses on the outcome and helps clients do the same."
Cathy Toft, PR & AR Manager Sun UK

"…Thank you very much for the great experience. It truly is priceless and I would love to do it again. Please demand a refresher course for Intel employees."
Ntokozo Ncongwane, Project Manager, Intel South & Sub Saharan Africa

"Jane approached our needs for media training in a flexible and tailored way and we were very happy with the results. She brings a wealth of experience to bear in a thorough and professional manner, sharing very valuable insights into the media and she has taught us a great deal."
Hugo Kidston, Global Head of Communications, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty

"Our managers found the session really useful and I felt it was a very good learning and preparation exercise for them."
Sarah Chambers, PR Manager, HomeAway Holiday Rentals

"Thanks to Jane for all her expertise and excellent tutoring. I have listened to the news with very different ears today!"
Annabel Downs CMLI MSGD, Chair, Society of Garden Designers

"Jane customised her media training skills very helpfully to the individual requirements of GXS spokespeople. Our delegates have benefited very much from the insight and practical skills gained during Jane's sessions, which are delivered with a high level of professionalism and expertise."
Denise Oakley, International Marketing Director, GXS

"These courses are very comprehensive and delivered by someone with a clear passion for the job, providing the kind of insight that only a seasoned journalist can offer. Her experience of trade press, consumer magazines, national newspapers and broadcast media singles her out as an all-rounder and means we only need one trainer. This in turn makes Jane great value for money compared to other suppliers. Delegates come away with a clear idea of the mindset and agenda of journalists, plus all the tips and tricks required to be more effective in media interviews."
Andy Turner, Consultant, Biss Lancaster

"I have worked extensively with Jane Bird for ten years and always look forward to doing a training course together. She invariably gets top ratings from the client for the quality of her teaching, her subject knowledge and her searching interviews. She has a fine sense of what is needed to make the training succeed and greatly enhances the professionalism of the course. I would not hesitate to recommend her."
Michael Bland, consultant, trainer, author and lecturer in corporate communications, crisis management, media and presentation skills

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"Despite a limited time frame and a room full over 20 eager recipients, the course that Jane ran was excellent. All participants were kept involved and stimulated throughout and all left with a much heightened knowledge of how the media works. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending Jane."
Richard Dorman, PR Manager, Sony Ericsson UK & Ireland

"I thought that the training was fantastic and has given our team a valuable insight into the potential pitfalls of dealing with the press and more importantly how to deal with these situations."
James Keleher, Senior Account Manager, Sony Ericsson

"Jane Bird's training course was a valuable investment that proved enlightening, thought-provoking and extremely enjoyable. We now understand how to conduct both planned and ambush interviews and so are much more confident speaking to the media."
Tony Bray, Director, Version One Limited.

"I found attending the media training session delivered by Jane Bird invaluable. This is a must for anyone interested in understanding the importance of delivering the right message through the media."
Riaz Khan, Director European Sales, WildPackets

"The press training provided by Jane Bird was extremely beneficial. It gave us an opportunity to identify where we could have improved in previous interviews and gave us a good base upon which to build for the future. I am confident as a business we will increase our success in the media as a result of this training."
Kate Prothero, Marketing Communications Manager, Totem Communications

"We would like you to know how impressed we were with the media training event. It was certainly time well spent and we are sure everyone present will have gained much through attending."
Glenn Manoff, Director of Communications, Esprit Telecom, Claire Thompson, European PR Manager, Esprit Telecom

"Thank you so much for the media training session. It was even better than I expected and the mix of theoretical to practical was perfect. It has given me a good feel for what we should work on, which is really difficult to assess as we’re so close to things, and I know has given our spokespeople a lot more confidence which will be invaluable when they meet the press. The difference in their ‘before’ and ‘after’ interviews was amazing! Thanks again for such a valuable course."
Therese Penny, PR and Marcoms Manager, Packet Vision Limited

"The media training with Jane worked really well. We'll be doing this again."
Nick Bell, Media and PR Executive, DLA Piper

"We were very pleased with the media training. Jane did an excellent job and made us think a lot about our messaging and responses to questions. My appreciation to Jane for a job very well done!"
Niamh Ni Mhir, Chief Marketing Officer, Web Reservations International

"The training really helped when I did a live interview on BBC Breakfast TV. I tried to remember everything Jane had told me including getting onto the 'islands'. The training proved extremely useful."
Paul Hilton, Sales Manager, MoveMachine

"…I'm always keen to get the right skill and expertise to suit each of our clients' needs – and, with Jane, I certainly did that. I particularly liked the way Jane adapted her interview style and questions for each delegate in the media training session. This meant individuals were challenged in different ways and given the opportunity to improve where they most needed it. I would definitely recommend her..."
Paula Averley, Director, Hothouse Communications

comments from delegates

on the sessions:

- Helped me understand what to expect from a press call, and how best to navigate my way through and ensure a great result for Microsoft.

- I thought the session was excellent.

- It's just useful to 'practice' with a professional

- Great session, the practical was excellent and felt very real.

- This was one of the best training sessions I've ever attended (and I've been to a few!).

- Excellent session allowing you to practice in a "safe" environment. Lots of good info and feedback.

on the trainer:

- Great subject expert - knowledgeable on the industry, company and our field. Very professional but comfortably informal - spot on.

- Overall: good. She knows her subject, talked well on the topic and had about the right balance between being friendly and downright unpleasant (just like the average journalist!)

- Jane was excellent, she knew the role, was very efficient, the interviews were challenging and the feedback was thorough.