Working with the media is a chance for you to offer expert opinion, inform public debate and raise your profile as well as that of the University. A lot of our academics find it rewarding, and it can lead to opportunities like new collaborations or even funding, but starting out can be a daunting prospect.

If you’re an academic member of staff at the University who is interested in engaging with the media about your area of expertise, free tailored media training sessions are available from the University’s Media & PR Managers to help you get your bearings.

For groups of two to around a dozen, the press office offers short sessions of around two hours covering the basics of what news media are looking for, how you can benefit from working with journalists and how to engage productively - as well as some all-important interview practise.

This has been a great session. I learned a lot of practical skills today about media interviews and engagement. The mock interviews were very helpful as I got a chance to play the role of a journalist and an interviewee. The podcast drill was great fun. I do not often get a chance to answer these big-picture questions in an academic setting. I would strongly recommend this training to other colleagues.

If you’d like to find out more and arrange a training session, contact the Media & PR Manager(s) for your Faculty or School: