It is critical that many more nurses develop media skills to help facilitate media interviews. Here are some ideas for how to get media savvy and training:

• Develop media skills through the American Nurses Association mini training manual on media relations for nurses.
   
• Get media training through the Center for Health Media and Policy at Hunter College with Diana Mason.
   
• Also see another media training manual put together by housing advocates that also may be useful, if you apply the theory to nursing instead of housing.
   
• Read an article on 12 media myths.
   
• Read an excellent and succinct earned media outreach kit on the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.
   
• Learn how to write powerful letters.
   
• Get media savvy through media training--so you'll feel more confident presenting your ideas to the media.
   
• How to Promote Yourself as a TV Guest by the Author of "You're On The Air" explains how to be a TV guest.
   
• Consider reading From Silence to Voice, which helps nurses learn how to speak to the media.
    

Also see below for information given to us by Donna Cardillo, RN, MA:

For informational purposes, I offer seminars and workshops for nurses and other healthcare providers on public speaking skills. My public seminars are offered through Nursing Spectrum. However, I also present them at hospitals and professional association conferences. Public speaking is a skill all nurses should develop for a variety of reasons - not the least of which is the fact that nursing needs more articulate spokespeople whether in the media, in the community, in the workplace, or in the boardroom. Toastmasters International is a great group to get involved with to develop your speaking skills.

I also offer workshops in media training and other ways for nurses to promote themselves and their profession. I wrote an article for Nursing Management in 2001 entitled "Nurse, Promote Thyself."

I can personally recommend Karen Friedman for media training, too. She has very good info on her web site at www.karenfriedman.com

It is also helpful to get involved in media and public relations committees through your professional associations. It's a good way to learn, gain experience, and develop good relationships with the media.

Donna Cardillo, RN, MA
"Dear Donna" columnist for Nursing Spectrum
"Your First Year as a Nurse" from Crown Publishing
"Career Alternatives for Nurses"TM multimedia
"The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses"
www.dcardillo.com

Please let us know if you have more information on media training that might be a good fit for this page, or post it below. Thanks very much.