A group of journalists and media trainers worked with students to strengthen their communication skills and confidence in engaging with the media.
The hands-on sessions offered a focused and practical introduction to strategies to clearly and effectively convey complex health information to diverse audiences
Throughout the day, students participated in practical exercises such as simulated interviews for television and print, with each student receiving individual, real-time feedback, allowing them to immediately put new techniques into practice.
The topics covered included: understanding the media landscape; identifying what makes a compelling news story; the importance of crafting clear key messages; and using bridging techniques to steer interviews back to their core messages, even when faced with unexpected or challenging questions.
By the end of the session, participants reported greater confidence in handling interviews, controlling their narrative, and communicating complex topics.
Reflecting on the experience, IHTM student Onesmus Onyango shared,
“The training is beyond essential. For global health specialists, being proficient in delivering our message to different target audiences is crucial. This training helped me handle spontaneity while maintaining ownership of my expertise in the topic area.”