Handling the media

Biffa Waste Services

Brief:

Waste management and recycling sites are targets for the media, usually from a negative aspect and mostly driven by emotional local opposition, often based on inaccurate information. Site managers need to understand the issues and be able to respond positively.

Activity:

We developed a one day course for site managers that dealt with three key aspects. First the whole process of local press, radio and TV was explained to provide an understanding of how the media worked, what they were looking for and how they got their information.

Secondly this was applied to the client's specific landfill activities and managers were advised on how to work in conjunction with their in-house press office, how to handle journalists and what and what NOT to say. Finally the managers were taken through radio and TV interview techniques.

Result:

The course was welcomed by all as it provided an understanding of how the press operated. Managers were able to better appreciate the functions of their press office and handle media involvement more beneficially. “The press had always worried me but this took the mystery out of whole thing."