How to turn a visit from a film crew into a WIN
Your PR team has struck gold
A TV news crew are on their way…..what do you do?
Here are my tips to stop a TV filming opportunity turning into a disaster
How to turn a visit from a film crew into a WIN
What do we really offer?
What do we actually offer?
That’s a big question that we explore often: what makes us and the business, Mangold Consultancy, different to any other crisis comms and media training consultancy?
We have many USPs but the two main ones are that we’re journalist-led and insight-driven.
Let me explain.
Journalist-led:
– With over 25 years of experience in journalism (BBC, national newspapers and regional media), social media, politics and communications, we provide unique insights into how the media works.
– We can identify and anticipate solutions to potential issues before they arise and bring a cynical journalist’s perspective to our work, always questioning communications to ensure credibility.
Insight-driven:
– Over the last decade, we’ve honed our approach based on client needs and the ever-evolving social and media landscape.
– Senior leaders find peace of mind knowing that we have faced challenging situations as both journalists and communications specialists.
– Our experience and resilience allow us to ask the tough questions necessary for complete crisis preparedness and management.
Why does this matter?
It’s a fact that no organisation is too big to get it wrong. Many of the largest ones miss the most obvious issues. Near misses and tragedies often stem from a weak culture or lack of prep.
That is why we put our all into preparation, covering every scenario to ensure our clients feel fully equipped and ready for any situation.
At Mangold Consultancy, we’re passionate about helping organisations communicate effectively and manage their reputations. Our insight-driven, journalist-led approach ensures our clients are always prepared, credible and resilient.
The art of an apology
Some thoughts from Abby Mangold on what makes an apology work…
Living through crises
How do you live through crises?
You know, the ones in real-time, vivid colour, surround sound, no let up.
When I talk about living through crises, plural, I mean it. The horse meat scandal was one.
Back in 2013, relatively new to crisis communications, my brief was to support a client facing the force of media scrutiny, after processed beef products sold by UK supermarkets were found to contain horse meat.
Rooted to one room, the phone an extension of my ear, time dictated by challenging media calls, social media chatter and client needs – it was the most exceptional 10 days of my life.
I discovered:
- why asking ‘stupid questions’ always pays
- how to manage aggressive, demanding and well informed journalists
- the crisis peak is soon followed by reputational build back requiring equal if not greater resilience.
If you want to talk lived crisis experience, please give me a shout.
How to make someone really stop and listen
How do you make people stop and listen?
After years spent preparing for interviews, both asking and answering questions. And even more following the big news interviews, I wanted to summarise what makes me really listen:
1. Paint me a picture – literally. Use language with colour, imagery and stories to help me make an emotional connection with what you are talking about.
2. Vocal power. Use your tone of voice, pauses and stress on critical words, to make it feel like you’re talking directly to me.
3. Hold my hand. Lead me through what you’re saying by keeping it simple, impactful and ultimately memorable.
Image credit: Magda Ehlers
I hate doing video…
- I hate listening to my own voice.
- I hate having to watch it back.
And I know lots of people feel exactly the same way.
Given that I train others how to speak on camera I’ve forced myself to take my own medicine and now – I’m actually starting to enjoy it, a little!
Here’s what I’ve learnt and what you need to know…
Get comfortable with your sound bites
When it comes to media training, we often see our clients fighting to convert wordy corporate messages into convincing sound bites.
So how do you get comfortable with what you’re saying?
Practice with the corporate message, a bit, and then abandon it and practice saying it like you’re talking to a friend.
Remember why you’re doing the interview – to promote, rebut or disrupt – keep a laser focus on your why, through every twist and turn of the interview.
Finally don’t be afraid to repeat yourself. Not like a parrot, but by using examples to explain your points in different ways.
Media training tips
Check out our shrink-wrapped media training tips.
Get in touch with us for the full-fat version of our media training tips or to discuss your requirements via our contact form.
Communicate well in a crisis
Watch this for a simple and effective way to communicate in a crisis.
We train award winners!
🤗 Huge congratulations to our 4 fabulous clients recognised as inspiring industry leaders. Well-earned, richly deserved.
👀 Discretion prevents a public shout-out, but you know who you are!
For clients on the journey to awards, our media training is still a win – why?
💭 Reconciling opposing views in the office
👊 Confidence to answer difficult questions in front of an audience
⚖ Diplomacy to find centre ground in a professional stand-off
🏋♂️ Clarity to sell strengths in a VIP meeting
👉 Media training is a recipe for success in these situations and more.
🐶 Thanks to Betsy for wearing her award with such good grace.
Space Shuttle Learnings
Tell your boss to watch this Space Shuttle documentary…
📢 Are you the lone voice nudging senior colleagues about crisis planning?
🤔 Are there known issues too trifling to confront amongst all the “business as usual”?
Watch ‘The Space Shuttle that Fell To Earth’ on BBC iPlayer and tell your bosses to do the same, if you want to get crisis communications at the top of the agenda.
👍 Congratulations to Mindhouse Productions, this brilliant 3-parter, sensitively told a difficult story, which among many things shows why a culture of open communication matters. And is as important as crisis preparation.
🚀 Even if you are not in the business of space flight, speaking out, seeking answers and encouraging conversations, will help avoid issues becoming devastating crises.
And give me a shout if your crisis comms nudge could do with a shoulder.
Golden Rules for Interviews
There have been some high-profile car crash interviews recently.
Make sure you’re not next.
Here are my 3 Golden Rules for Interviews that every spokesperson needs.
Good Ship Mangold ahoy!
The good ship Mangold Consultancy continues on a strong course, thanks to the team covering my watch during a recent stay ashore!
Here are some treasures discovered on my return…
Problem: Keeping the spokesperson’s muscle flexed.
Solution: Meet our clients with a fitness mindset to media training – regular sessions to grow the muscles needed by providing current, timely and relevant insight and examples of press performance done well.
Problem: Organisations are facing increasing scrutiny from unannounced visitors demanding a big ask of frontline teams who meet them.
Solution: Provide practical ways to keep pace with changing methods of scrutiny, which reinforce reputation management and protect staff wellbeing.
PS. Time out is an excellent way to take a bird’s-eye view of your surroundings and future course. Many thanks to Jess Mangold, Estelle Kinzett, Justin Clark, Amanda Coleman and Emma Davies for your “all hands on deck” approach!
Thank you to DALL-E Open Ai for this image.
New clients within our grasp and new projects to get our teeth into.
It is weeks like this which keep us chomping at the bit.
*No puppies were harmed in the making of this film. In fact, they inspired this film, just by doing what puppies do best, when presented with a bone.
The press doorstep – can you handle it?
Only watch this if you KNOW how to handle a doorstep*
The infamous doorstep only ends when the journalist leaves with something.
A no comment, a closed door, or in this case a response.
Managing a doorstep takes some well thought through choreography.
*Full disclosure, this one features my Dad, Tom Mangold, in action on BBC Panorama in 1997 so I may be biased.
Some favourite things that clients have told us recently
Good Vibes only.
I’ve started the year with a short stay in hospital and am determined to stay positive and come out the other side smiling.
So as my starter for 10, I unapologetically share some of my favourite things clients have told us recently.
“Fantastic training experience from industry experts…delivered in a safe environment…”
Head of Retail, Leading UK Retailer
“Making it in real situations with feedback, watching our performance after the media interview was a great experience…Highly recommend this training.”
Head of Sales, Global FMCG
“…well tailored to my practice and area of focus which made a big difference from training where we deal with generic issues.”
Partner, International Law Firm
The Post Office, Boohoo and the moments I miss investigative journalism
It’s times like these that I miss making TV.
Watching Mr Bates vs the Post Office and the long overdue response from the Government I’m reminded about the power of TV and its reach – 9.2 million people watched the first episode, and that was before people started really talking about it.
Yes, there are lots of means to get publicity for your cause these days but there is nothing more convincing than real human stories, told well, through public service broadcasting.
Meanwhile, a BBC investigation has found that Boohoo put ‘Made in UK’ labels on clothes made overseas.
Ooooh to have been part of the team uncovering that little nugget.
These dramas and investigations take big teams of highly talented individuals, they take money (so lacking in journalism these days) and they take a collective will to ‘out the truth’ even when it can be months and years to gather the evidence you need.
My advice to any business on the receiving end of one of these investigations is take it seriously, if they’re coming for your response, they’ve already got the evidence they need and the truth, well the truth will always out, even if it takes 25 years.
Constructive feedback AKA delivering the sh*t sandwich
Sh*t sandwich anyone?
Three pointers on giving constructive feedback to senior leaders and their teams.
- Use humour to cut through the nerves of a practical exercise
- Call out everyone on the stuff they get right and the stuff they don’t
- Listening is as, if not more important, than what you say
Accepting and solving a communications training challenge from a global client
Challenge accepted…
Loyal global client presents a new challenge.
“How do we grow our crisis comms resilience as a new team in multiple continents, time zones & cultures”
We got to deliver our solution at their European HQ. The energy, positivity & comments in the room suggest we exceeded expectations.
Job done.
This was followed by a welcome moment to reflect on where the training goes next while enjoying the beautiful surroundings.
‘I really don’t want to speak to you again this year’.
No offence intended. None taken.
When clients chose us as their 24/7 crisis comms support, we get that a good Christmas for them means not speaking to us.
But if they do, we’re here. Poised with slightly wonky paper hats.
And to anyone else in need of 24/7 crisis comms support on speed dial…You know where to find us!
Happy Christmas to our wonderful team, clients and wider network – may 2024 be everything you wish for.