Being media-savvy is an important skill to have in your organisation, and for those who want to look and sound good in front of the camera or the mic, Flow Communications offers specialist training in this area. Flow CEO Tara Turkington, media veteran Kate Turkington, and Flow staffers Zintle Mtyeku and Stuart Buchanan got to step behind the red door of Elizabeth Arden’s offices (no really, they have an actual red door) in Cape Town recently for a media training session for a select group of staff.
After a crash course on the current media landscape, and a handy guide and how to deal with members of the media, the team from Flow then sat each of the Elizabeth Arden staff down in front of a camera for a mock “live interview” with Kate Turkington, who asked tough questions and threw the odd curveball at her interviewees. The team then gathered around the TV to play back the footage and assess each other’s performances.
“What a steep learning curve! I learnt that I definitely judge myself too harshly,” said Helen McCallum, marketing director of Elizabeth Arden Africa. “The mock TV interview video is the perfect tool to identify opportunity areas and areas where I can improve. Overall it was a great experience.”
Janine Fernandes, brand manager for Elizabeth Arden Skincare & Color said: “I was pushed out of my comfort zone, learnt so many new tricks and tips and really enjoyed the practical element. I definitely feel more equipped to tackle media interviews now.”
Flow has conducted media training courses for many businesses, and Tara says that every time they are in a different company’s office, she comes across talented individuals who are passionate about their line of work – and that she has learned a lot from each of them, too.
“The team at Elizabeth Arden are wonderful. Having met them and seen their passion for their work and brand first-hand, it isn’t hard to see why they are making good inroads into African markets, and why their business is still strong more than 100 years after it was founded.”
Here’s some more feedback from their team who participated on the day:
“Learning from experts while having fun: a much better option than the traditional way!” – Corné Nel, managing director
“The training was incredibly interesting and I definitely feel more prepared for interviews going forward.” – Melanie Bromehead, brand manager: celebrity, designer & lifestyle fragrances
“The training was very beneficial and we all learnt a lot. It definitely highlighted areas for improvement and has set a great basis for us to work and build on.” – Alice Cardarelli, public relations manager
