Training for IPC
11 June 2010
The Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) is the independent body set up by the Government to make the application process for nationally significant infrastructure projects such as railways, large wind farms, power stations, reservoirs, harbours, airports and sewage treatment works faster, fairer and easier for people to get involved in.
The IPC’s commissioners decide applications within the framework of National Policy Statements, also weighing the national benefit of proposals against the local impact.
The IPC opened for business on 1 October 2009, providing advice to all parties who are involved in the process, and it became able to receive applications on 1 March 2010.
The brief
The workshop was designed bespoke for IPC to cater for the most challenging questions its commissioners and senior staff are likely to be asked in media interviews. As all but one of the six IPC commissioners and senior staff taking part had undergone media training in the past, the interview scenarios and questioning was confrontational and controversial.
The execution
Each delegate had the chance to experience three realistic interview types - face-to-face radio studio, TV studio and TV ‘down the line’ - all of which were conducted live in front of their colleagues.
Prior to the interviewing delegates were given training on the best techniques to employ for handling media interviews including advice on how best to diffuse and manage difficult and aggressive interviewers. This involved instruction on ‘bridging’ questions that could not easily be answered and closing down persistent lines of questioning. Delegates were also trained how to use their voices to improve the clarity and understanding of what they said as well as being advised on how best to sit or stand for television interviews.
The workshop also tested the effectiveness of the IPC’s key messages under pressure and identified new soundbites that could be used by all interviewees in the future.
The Bray Leino media training workshop for Infrastructure Planning Commission was also designed to help delegates be able to:
- Prepare key messages and apply them to a range of questions
- Deliver important IPC messages under the pressure of strong questioning
- Know the different skills required to be a good interviewee on radio or television, including in-studio, down-the-line, live, pre-recorded interviews
The verdict
As a result of having to counter harsh and persistent questioning each delegate made grew in confidence throughout the workshop. Delegates also benefitted from the collective experience of seeing and hearing their colleagues being interviewed. This led to several new soundbites being identified as well as some existing key messages being adapted.
Through repeated practice each delegate gained a greater insight into the way media interviews are conducted and how journalists think. They also learned how to bridge awkward questions effectively and how to close down repeated questions to avoid embarrassment.