Where Media Meets Communication
Below are some news items and blog posts relating to the Media Training services provided by Mangold Consultancy.
We provide media training for people at all levels – from executives through to customer service call handlers – so they are well equipped to deal with the press. Our media training combines learning how to talk to the press when there are positive issues to highlight, alongside managing journalists during a crisis.
For details on the full range of services we provide, please visit the main Mangold Consultancy Services page.
Tom Mangold shares advice for spokespeople: be prepared, avoid jargon, rehearse key points and take responsibility in tough interviews.
“There was no dead rat in the yogurt.”
Thank you to everyone who suggested questions for veteran journalist, Tom Mangold.
How do we protect the truth?
“The people who don’t believe in fact-checking are wrong.”
Thanks to all those who suggested questions for Tom Mangold. I tried to ask as many as I could.
Tom Mangold discusses what makes a bad political interview and whether media trainers are to blame
“95% of all political interviews are garbage.”
Thank you to everyone who suggested questions for the interview with my Dad, Tom Mangold.
I did my best to ask them all.
If you’re briefing a spokesperson before an interview in a crisis situation, there is a high chance that you’ve got a lot to juggle.
You’re probably managing multiple communications to people inside and outside the organisation while responding to a fast-changing situation in a swirl of facts and rumours.
So, to get the most out of your time and support your spokesperson in this really challenging environment, these are my top tips:
These are the things your spokesperson needs from you to help them give their best performance
2 sisters working together?
Crisis superpowers, journalistic expertise, snacks 🥜
This is how Jess Mangold and I make it work…
Jess on Abby – “She puts people at ease within seconds, finding common ground and camaraderie, even in high-pressure crisis situations”
“Seamless makeup application for being on camera. What she doesn’t know about this topic is not worth worrying about.”
“Bringing and holding people together in a crisis, uniting individuals and the group. It’s her crisis communications superpower.”
Abby on Jess – “Her prep is second to none. Training notes, research, making time to practice – you name it, she’s prepped!”
“Snacks! Jess is not one to go hungry, so she avoids team energy dips by always having a healthy snack squirrelled away in her backpack.”
“She’s great at remembering reports she’s read, or experiences as a journalist; neatly sliding them into conversations with clients to add colour and demonstrate our expertise.”
My son made me…
🫣 when he recently convinced me to ride the UK’s tallest, fastest, most weightless rollercoaster.
🎢 Hyperia at Thorpe Park stands 236 feet tall, with two inversions and a 995-meter track, all at speeds of 80 mph +.
⏳ And in the 90 seconds it took to complete the ride, I realised the experience was not unlike putting myself out here on LinkedIn – nerves of steel and taut enthusiasm, all the while secretly fearing falling flat.
😰 And I am not alone. Speaking to women in business, both senior leaders and entrepreneurs at new business meetings and networking, it appears many of us feel the stomach drop, pre-post on LinkedIn.
🤲🏻 So for anyone feeling the LinkedIn ick – be assured we are all in it together. And for 90 seconds of fear, you may just get all the thrills of a completely new experience!
Being the face of the organisation in a crisis is a BIG ask.
So a spokesperson must ask a few things in return before doing an interview.
Here are 5 things great spokespeople do in a crisis:
Comment here if you have any more tips…
Featured Image by Fardad sepandar on Unsplash
Our Dad, Tom Mangold, gives a unique explainer on why today’s media and journalism needs to adjust.
The journalist does their homework. For a great interview, the interviewee must do theirs.
This is why every spokesperson should do their prep.
Abby Mangold speaking with Journalist Tom Mangold about truth in the media and where to find it.
Can we trust anyone in the media in 2025?
Being interviewed isn’t as easy as it sounds. And media training always helps.
Here’s a candid explainer on one approach to media training with Tom Mangold.
Tom Mangold is an award-winning journalist and author.
Reporter on circa 120 episodes of BBC Panorama.
He’s 90 and STILL working
He cycles every day
At his heart, this man is a journalist. And he’s also our Dad.
Earlier this year I asked people what they’d like to ask him. It felt like the right time to put HIM in the hot seat for a change.
So, we sat down and discussed – media, truth, interviews, social platforms, crisis.
To kick things off, here’s his take on his craft.
So you’re new to speaking to the media…this one’s for you!
Lessons from Media Training and all the newbies out there.
Thank you to all those speaking out about AI in the creative industries with the hashtag #MakeItFair campaign.
Your diverse views are transforming technical stuff into human speak, clearly explaining what this technology is and why it matters to artists and fans alike.
When we first started working with music industry leaders a few years ago, the position on AI was still evolving and the language to make it understandable to everyone was something we discussed at length in media training.
Since then IFPI has joined with others, including PPL, to speak about the threat to creative livelihoods and Warner Music Group is among the world’s largest music companies backing a campaign that opposes the UK government’s AI copyright exception proposal.
Musician Paul McCartney and Gina Neff, Professor of Responsible AI at Queen Mary University – just some of the names recently making their case across multiple front pages and broadcast bulletins.
As a music fan I care deeply about this issue.
As a media trainer, I am hugely impressed by those taking the time and thought to tell this story.
A couple of bloopers…
This one is for all the wonderful people we train who worry about making mistakes when presenting or being interviewed.
It happens to all of us!
We decided to make the most of the splendid reception at the office of our client, Central Co-op.
We had a great day working with the team, putting them through their paces and supporting them to talk about the incredible work of this 180-year-old community-based co-operative business.
We’ve been working with this retail client for 5 years.
We’ve gone through the good times and the tougher ones.
We’ve supported each other to grow as organisations.
So we were chuffed when they told us:
“Abby and Jess consistently provide clear thinking and boil down complex matters, into concise guidance.
As media trainers they are industry experts, give honest and fair feedback in a safe environment.
They are the critical friends you want on speed dial.”
They say never work with animals, kids and family.
Well I broke all those rules when I interviewed my Dad, Tom Mangold, with a cameo by Zak!
Thanks to everyone who suggested questions to ask this ‘veteran broadcaster’!
Jess Mangold and I are busy editing together the highlights, more to come very soon…
My thoughts after it was suggested to me recently that running media training is easy.
This is my Dad, Tom Mangold.
If you asked him, he’d tell you I stole everything I know from him. I will neither confirm nor deny this.
I’m going to film interview content with Dad and share it online.
We tend to talk about:
Watch this space for unique insight from someone who has worked in the media industry for more than 70 years!