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In our media training and presentation training, we counsel spokespeople to take care with their language. I imagine that there have been some challenging conversations at KPMG following the Financial Times headline yesterday that: “KPMG UK chairman told staff to ‘stop moaning’ about work conditions”. Today, every newspaper rehashes the story and reports how Bill …

When your CEO makes you want to cry Read More »

Let’s talk about language – which we always do in our media training. There was a really interesting conclusion for PROs to note about the use of language and concepts in communications from a research report published this week by the Office of National Statistics’ (ONS) think tank. The report found that Britons understand little …

Why 12 Year Olds Should Understand Your Comms Read More »

As I ate a rather delicious passion fruit and mango parfait recently, my reading of the dessert’s packaging got me thinking about the flawed nature of corporate ‘key messages’. These little nuggets of carefully crafted joy are brought by executives to our media training. They usually come in threes (it seems to be a rule …

Messaging Lesson for Pros from a Mango Parfait Box Read More »

During our media training, we tell participants that a free media should be respected as a cornerstone of democracy - speaking truth to power and asking awkward questions of governments and the powerful. For all the changes wrought by social media, this week we have had two reminders of why traditional media still has its …

How Old Media Is Still A Challenge For PROs Read More »

The answer is probably not what you think but whose reputation is most negatively affected by their contrasting response to the same problem? A new media training reputation case study perhaps? British Airways – I receive an email stating that my flight is cancelled due to Covid. I ring that day to claim a refund. …

A Tale Of Two Airlines Read More »

Way back in the timeline of this pandemic – you know, just a few weeks ago – it was Sir Philip Green, Mike Ashley and JD Wetherspoon’s Tim Martin who were the Covid villains in the business community. Who would have thought that everyone’s favourite billionaire, Richard Branson, would be the focus of such criticism …

Why Has Richard Branson Had Such A Torrid Covid Time? Read More »

For weeks, the top ten most-read stories on the BBC News website have been almost exclusively related to Coronavirus. As we enter phase 2 of the crisis, with the government making plans to ease lockdown restrictions and businesses making cautious plans to re-open, on what is the media focused? Talking to our media training journalists …

How You Can Get Cut-Through For Your Stories During The Coronavirus Crisis Read More »

This is a tale of two companies with very compelling and emotionally engaging corporate stories that sustain their reputation. And that we at Electric Airwaves have previously used as case studies in our media training – Waitrose and Hiscox Insurance. Both have blundered this past week. One acted swiftly to reset itself behind its story; …

HOW COMMS PEOPLE CAN HELP BUSINESS LEADERS FROM MAKING CORONAVIRUS MISTAKES ​ Read More »

Sometimes it is only the Communications team that sees things clearly. Used to putting ourselves in the shoes of our audiences, rather than only the operational or financial detail of the business, here are three aspects of the current crisis where Comms people can make a difference: 1.            Reminding executives that Covid 19 is first …

3 WAYS TO HOLD YOUR EXECUTIVES FEET TO THE FIRE DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS Read More »

With travel and social distancing restrictions, face-to-face media interviews are a thing of the past. Instead, broadcasters want you to undertake them over Skype and FaceTime. Most participants during our media training sessions find this form of interview the most difficult – it does not feel natural to stare at a camera lens and you …

Delivering Great Down-The-Line Media Interviews Over Skype During The Coronavirus Lockdown. Read More »

Let’s talk about language - which we always do in our media training. Not just getting rid of jargon – the weed in the garden of language – but using meaningful analogies, examples and phrases that resonate with the audience and facilitate effective and persuasive communication. And avoiding words and approving of behaviours that may …

Let’s talk about language Read More »

If only billionaire entrepreneur, Mike Ashley, would agree to some media training from Electric Airwaves. Then maybe he would avoid making unnecessary gaffes, tell a better story about himself and see his reputation improve. He once told a Parliamentary Committee that he considered himself “untrainable”. But that’s a state of mind not of being - …

Mike Ashley defends his strategy Read More »