Media, crisis, presentation and webinar training

person standing in front of media pack

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

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 Headshot

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

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

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.