Unique PR Masterclass: Next Date September 2012 (date tbc), central London
Bianca Mercer, Parship
'Jo and Olivia were fantastic. They really helped me to hone down my pitches and understand exactly what journalists are looking for. Pitching has been a lot smoother since!'
Kim Atkins, Relate
'Olivia and Johanna’s PR Masterclass was fantastic. A day later I’m already using their tips. Their honesty on the day and expert knowledge means that I can feel confident pitching to a range of media and titles.'
Emma Wrafter, British Safety Council
'After 22 years in PR I still don't have all the answers (who does?) and your course was helpful in confirming some of my best practice and showing me where I can improve. Having newsworthy clients and case studies is only half the equation in PR. Pitching them is the other half! I now feel armed with essential tactics to make sure my clients' news/views are read and given a chance. Thank you for a terrific course. I learned so much and really appreciated your candid views!'
Katherine Selby, PR Workshop
'It was really insightful and I have come away with a new energy
and enthusiasm for my work, and can now identify where I have been wasting my time and where I can vastly improve things! Your teaching style was brilliant – really laid back, which helped the whole class to join in with suggestions. Learnt heaps!'
Hannah Torjussen, Little Brown Publishing
'I would certainly recommend the course. It was like gold dust to me!'
Pat Wilson, Director, Weight Loss Resources
'It was a well thought out day and brilliant to get advice and information straight from the experts.'
Clio Turton, The Soil Association
'Everything that I have learnt on the course will be extremely useful in my work, particularly the tips about approaching journalists and pitching in stories. Fantastic course, very impressed with expertise. Very useful advice.'
Natalie Eales, Adhoc PR
'It was fascinating and incredibly useful to have an insight into how journalists operate and what they want from us as PRs. Especially useful to find out why emails don’t get opened/why pitches fail and of course the dos and don’ts (especially the don’ts)! It seems so obvious now...but having the reasons behind this explained has helped to engrain it in my mind.'
Jessica Crockett, Hay House Publishers
'Picking both your brains on approach, style, relationship-building etc is just invaluable. If only all journalists were as lovely as you both!'
Sarah Wolf, Diablo PR
In response to demand, Olivia Gordon and Johanna Payton run a one-day masterclass for PR professionals and companies wanting to get journalists and editors' attention.
The focus of this unique workshop is how to communicate more effectively with the women's consumer press - in particular, winning the interest of journalists and getting clients, case studies, experts and products into national magazine and newspaper features.
Olivia and Johanna are two successful freelance journalists working across the national print media, with over 12 years of experience between them, who run hugely popular media training workshops. They know exactly what journalists and editors want - and exactly what they don't - up to the minute.
The masterclass covers:
- the stories journalists and editors take notice of;
- coming up with fantastic feature ideas and preparing perfect pitches to wow journalists;
- responding to journalist/editor case study requests to get results;
- using services such as Response Source/Askcharity wisely;
- fine-tuning approaches and emails to journalists;
- pre-interviewing case studies, spokespeople and experts and preparing them for the media.
Next course date: September 2012, 10:15am-4:30pm (date tbc - please contact us for further info)
Location: Friends House, Central London (opposite Euston station)
Class size: Maximum of 10
Pricing structure: £150 per delegate (for charity PRs), £200.00 per delegate (self-employed PRs) £250 per delegate (standard PR/company rate)
Please contact Jo for more details or to book a place on our next masterclass.
More about the course leaders:
Many media trainers are ex-journalists, ex-staffers or PRs. Well-known journalists Olivia Gordon and Johanna Payton work on a freelance basis for a huge range of high-profile, national publications - the same consumer publications you are trying to target.
Ever wondered why some of your emails to journalists get ignored? Olivia and Johanna will explain the incredibly common mistakes most PRs make - and how to rise above the rest.
Delegates are invited to ask questions throughout the day to address the issues that are most pressing for them, filling the gaps in their professional knowledge. Olivia and Johanna will share super-practical 'insider' knowledge and workshop unsuccessful pitches within the group, providing specific, targeted and often priceless advice. We go the extra mile - our training really is like no other training out there.
Our workshops are always tailored to the needs and varied experiences of the group, with an emphasis on making sure every participant gets value from the day. Whether you have a few months' PR experience and want to up your game or you have many years of experience and want some journalistic fine-tuning, you'll find our courses will bring your skills up to a high level that will mark you out from your competitors. In fact, if your competitors are taking this course and you're not, you should be worried.
In addition to impressive journalistic portfolios, Olivia and Johanna are experienced - and extremely friendly - tutors, having hosted a series of hugely successful media training workshops for PRs and journalists.
The testimonials of past delegates at the PR master class speak for themselves:
'I learnt so much about the practicalities of pitching which academic courses don't tend to cover. It was also a great chance to network and meet other PR practitioners. I've already recommended the course to others as I was able to put what I learnt into practice immediately.'
Angelina Lambourn, Shelterbox
'Thanks so much for yesterday and the invaluable insight into what interests a journalist – it was incredibly useful and has made me reassess the way I work with each title.'
Katie Read, Katie Read Public Relations
'Everything discussed was very useful...nothing was a waste of time.'
Jenny Moir, Head of PR, Canine Partners
'A fantastic day. For me it was a real reminder of the importance of getting certain key things right. I think the 'dos and don'ts' will come back into my mind time and time again - some of them I already knew, but it's good to be reminded of those too. With others, I felt myself swallow hard because I know I've made those same mistakes!'
Sophie Lacey, PR manager, Splat Cooking
'The relaxed approach to the course was great. There was genuine two-way flow of information and by taking on real situations and opening up the room for everyone to speak made it absolutely relevant to everyone there. I really enjoyed the camaraderie of the other PRs – some of whom had great ideas and input from which we could all learn. All the elements we discussed are valid and relevant to my day-to-day work. I've already put key aspects into practice.'
Katherine Selby, PR Workshop
'[The course was] very useful as I pitch features on a weekly, if not a daily, basis for clients. I loved being able to go through poor pitches and pick out which bits of the good ones worked and why. Obviously there are times when even the best pitch won't make it and when the finished feature won't end up in the press. Reminds me to manage client expectations just that little bit better.'
Sarah Wolf, Diablo PR
'Being able to go through actual pitches and see what works and what doesn’t
was particularly useful. Found it especially helpful to bounce ideas off them both and see what would have potential to be picked up. I’ve reinvigorated my Twitter account based on their recommendations!'
Emma Wrafter, British Safety Council
'Having yourselves make the points drives the message home. I found the notes on pitching to journalists very useful. Points on attracting attention and giving relevant info perfect for me in moving on to a more proactive role in my job, rather than reacting to requests.'
Pat Wilson, Weight Loss Resources
'Incredibly useful; understanding the journalist / freelancer view has definitely given me focus on how to pitch ideas and respond to requests in future. [The most useful part of the course was] the simple dos and don'ts, the sharing of the good (and bad!) pitches and meeting other PRs who had experienced the same hurdles.'
Helen Stott, Marketing Doris
'Hearing the journalists' perspectives and discussing sample pitches was a great recalibration exercise in empathic thinking, reinforcing the importance of how to marry one's business/PR objectives with relevant, newsworthy and ideally human angles that potential readers will be engaged by.'
Kathy Heslop, Knowledge MGI
Olivia and Johanna also run private, bespoke media training sessions for companies in-house and are available to media train spokespeople and experts in any company or organisation on working with the consumer press.
For more information on any of our PR training options, an informal chat or to book a place on the next masterclass please email Jo.
