Media Training Ottawa | Warren Weeks

In Ottawa, everyone has a story to tell. Not everyone tells it well.

Ottawa's media environment is unlike any other city in Canada. The Parliamentary Press Gallery. CBC's national desk. The Hill Times. iPolitics. A corps of experienced, well-sourced journalists whose job is to find the angle your spokespeople didn't prepare for.

But Ottawa's media training needs go well beyond the political world. National associations. Crown corporations. Technology companies. Public sector organizations. Non-profits operating on a national stage. Healthcare. Financial services. The range of organizations headquartered in or around Ottawa that need media-ready spokespeople is enormous and the stakes are high.

The good news: I come to you.

A Regular in the Capital

I've been delivering media training to Ottawa organizations for decades: national associations, technology companies, Crown corporations, public sector communicators and non-profits doing important work on a national stage. Ottawa clients are typically sophisticated, well-educated and highly accountable to their members, stakeholders and the public. They need training that matches that level.

Every session I deliver in Ottawa is built from the ground up around your organization…your issues, your industry and the real pressures your spokespeople face. No generic programs. No junior trainers. Just me, fully prepared, with your team.

Ottawa Organizations Face Unique Media Pressures

National associations often find themselves at the centre of policy debates, government announcements and industry controversies, all of which attract serious media attention. Crown corporations operate under intense public scrutiny and Access to Information requests that can put spokespeople on the defensive. Technology companies in the National Capital Region are growing rapidly and increasingly attracting media interest from national outlets.

Whatever your sector, the Ottawa media environment rewards preparation and punishes improvisation. The journalists here are experienced, persistent and well-connected. Your spokespeople need to be ready.

What a Session Looks Like

Every session begins with a thorough understanding of your organization (your issues, your industry and what your spokespeople are likely to face). From there, we develop and stress-test your key messages as a group, then put each participant through a series of simulated media interviews (in print, radio and television formats), conducted by a veteran journalist playing the role of reporter.

It's as close to the real thing as you can get. Participants leave knowing exactly how reporters think, what they're looking for and how to tell their organization's story clearly and effectively under pressure.

Sessions are available in half-day and full-day formats, for groups of any size, and for individual executives requiring focused one-on-one preparation.

Virtual Sessions Also Available

For Ottawa-based organizations that prefer remote delivery, virtual sessions are available and every bit as rigorous as the in-person experience. Ideal for organizations with staff spread across the National Capital Region or beyond.

Let's Talk

If your organization is based in Ottawa or the surrounding region, I'd be glad to have a conversation about your media training needs and put together a proposal. No obligation, no sales pressure.

Call: 416-238-6361 Email: warren@weeksmedia.ca