Communicate with confidence
We position clients to communicate effectively with media, staff and stakeholders, to deal successfully with interviews, press conferences and difficult questions.
Led by award-winning journalists and editors, with national and international experience in print, online and broadcast, our corporate media training provides hands-on learning in a dynamic, interactive environment.
ICON provides customised media, crisis and webinar presentation training in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and remotely.
Training services
Together, we build your knowledge, capability and skills to face the media and audiences with confidence.
We’ll share our media training tips and much more. Content is tailored to each individual and current issue, ensuring an experience that is relevant and empowering.
We understand what makes news and shapes reputations across the modern media landscape, and advise on developing key messages and delivering them effectively in a news conference, broadcast interview, keynote address or webinar.
Although our media training course provides a thorough background on how the media operates - including journalists’ aims and interview techniques - the primary focus is hands-on, realistic interview scenarios. A full analysis of all interviews and presentations is provided.
Multi-award-winning media trainers
Individually customised training
‘Real world’ scenarios and crisis media training to prepare for opportunities and challenges
Training in TV, print radio and online interview techniques
Professional camera crew
Video analysis
Handover training guide for ongoing skill development
How much does media training cost? Contact us for a quote.
Your media trainers
Mark Forbes
Director of Reputation
Mark is a Walkley-award winning journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of The Age in Melbourne. He has also worked at Four Corners and Channel Seven, in the Federal and State parliament press galleries and as an overseas correspondent.
Mark brings almost 30 years of success at the highest levels of Australian media and communications practice to media training, crisis management and strategic communications advice
Ben Haslem
Director - Media and Public Affairs
Ben boasts more than 30 years as a journalist – print and radio – and corporate communications specialist. For 10 years he was the mainstay of The Australian’s political coverage, and the newspaper’s High Court Correspondent, covering high-profile cases involving some of Australia’s largest corporations.
Ben has conducted media and presentation training at the highest levels, preparing C-Suite executives for appearances before Royal Commissions and parliamentary inquiries.
Joanne Painter
Group Managing Director
Joanne brings more than 25 years' experience in journalism, public relations and digital communications.
Prior to founding Icon Agency with partner Chris Dodds, Joanne spent eight years with Fairfax's The Age, first as Education Reporter then as National Industrial Correspondent and Senior Business Writer. She is a sought after speaker and presenter.
Justin Armsden
Consultant
Justin has travelled the international media landscape for nearly 30 years.
From an award-winning print reporter for News Corp, to anchor for CNN International in London and the Victorian State Bureau Chief at A Current Affair, Justin has been at the forefront of media his entire career
“Really informative and useful. I’ve done media training a few times, and I definitely felt I got the most out of this session.”
– Pete Soros, Deputy CEO AUSTRAC
Media and Crisis Management Training:
Media Training
Ideal for spokespeople with varied media experience and understanding. A mix of theory and practice provides insights and skills to successfully engage with media.
Media Training
Training format:
How the media operates
Preparing messaging
How to interact with the media
Covers radio, TV, online and print
Scenario-based live interviews
1:1 and Small Group, Half-day and full-day options
Advanced Coaching
Executive media training. An intensive, interactive workshop for executives and highly experienced spokespeople.
Advanced Coaching
Training format:
Refine media skills
Tackling negative issues
Enhancing reputation
Confrontational interviews
Message development and delivery
1:1 or Small Group, 2hr, half-day and full-day
Issues Management
Training focussed on an urgent or important upcoming event or media engagement. Includes specific message development and talking points, and detailed interviews.
Issues Management
Training format:
Presenting confidently to any audience
Overcoming nerves
Structuring your presentation
Presentation techniques
Live run-throughs
Pre-event coaching
Typically 1:1 coaching format, half-day
Presentation and Public Speaking
Build skills for corporate presentations and public speaking. Speak and present confidently no matter how tough the audience is.
Presentation and Public Speaking
Training format:
Presenting confidently to any audience
Overcoming nerves
Structuring your presentation
Presentation techniques
Live run-throughs
Pre-event coaching
Typically 1:1 coaching format, half-day
Crisis Communications
Learn how to handle the media and stakeholders during a crisis, including messaging and crisis interview scenarios.
Crisis Communications
Training format:
The need for speed - crisis timeframes
Crisis and media theory and preparation
Key rules of crisis messaging
Media conferences and releases
Interviewing under pressure
Scenario interviews
1:1 or small group, half-day or full day
Crisis Simulation
Stress-test your organisation’s crisis and communications preparedness, learning how to handle media and stakeholders in crisis. Features an intense, interactive crisis scenario for your team and media interviews.
Crisis Simulation
Training format:
Crisis and media theory and preparation
Develop and test key messages
Risks and responses
Real-time crisis communications simulation
Operational and communication considerations covered
Small or large group format (up to 15)
Half-day or full-day
NOTE: Most modules are offered in half-day sessions. We recommend a full day for crisis simulation, including elements of media training. Contact us for a quote.
Beyond Media Training
Looking for additional support? Our integrated, in-house model can scale to meet your unique requirements.
Jump to one of our other business units: