Training for people to speak on TV and radio

The Scottish Spokesperson Training is now open. We’re looking for people based in Scotland who are working on issues that push for big progressive change in society and who would like to use the media to talk about the things they are working on.
The programme works by training, coaching and providing TV and radio booking support for spokespeople. The aim is to substantially boost the number of progressive, diverse voices in this space, to challenge pervasive narratives and boost coverage of underrepresented issues.
So far we’ve had over 9000 high-profile media bookings, including Good Morning Scotland, Question Time, Newsnight, LBC, Channel 4 News, BBC 5 Live, Today, Sky News and ITV News.

The training will run from 21-23rd January, applications are now open.
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> Two half-days of online (21&22/01) and one full day in person training in Edinburgh (23/01) where we will cover everything from messaging and storytelling to interview preparation and non-verbal communication. Participants will practice a series of different interview formats with framing experts, producers and journalists.
> Following training, members of the network will then be promoted to media outlets on a regular basis by our media team who offer expert support in securing and executing TV and radio bookings.
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We are particularly excited to hear from people with identities who have been traditionally under-represented in broadcast media.
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Deadline for applications is 8am Wednesday 4th December  
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We will make a shortlist of 20 from applicants, carry out informal 15 minute zoom interviews with those 20 people and then select the final 10 people to come on the programme. If you are shortlisted we will be conducting interviews on Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th December Applications can be made in a variety of formats including:Our standard Google FormAudio or voice noteVideo in spoken English or BSLWord or PDF version of our standard application form. For more information on accessibility read our Accessibility Pack here.
Any questions about the training or  accessibility please email molly@neweconomyorganisers.org
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I’m worried I’m not qualified enough or that my subject area isn’t right?
Drop Molly an email on molly@neweconomyorganisers.org. We’d love to chat about your situation – we’ve found that those most nervous of applying have been some of the best participants!
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Does my subject area match your interest?
We’re looking for people who can speak about social, economic or political justice (e.g. migration, inequality, banking, health care, education, just transition) and with direct experience of issues at hand i.e. teachers, nurses or experts on subjects i.e. economists, activists campaigning on issues etc. So, in other words: fairly broad areas. The issues that NEON is mainly focussing on at the moment are the economy, climate justice, housing, the hostile environment and civil liberties. So we’d love to hear from folks who are engaged with those issues, but don’t let it put you off if you fall outside of those categories. We can only train up and pitch people on the basis of the issues and themes they are working on and the groups they are working with. We can’t do it on the basis of affiliation to political parties.  And if in doubt drop us an email.

How much does it cost to take part?
We ask participants to pay a proportion of that cost depending on the ability of you and/​or your organisation to pay. Full scholarships are also available for those who otherwise would not be able to attend.  These fees contribute towards the costs of delivering 24/7 booking support for the year, regular follow up trainings and the initial high intensity two day intro session. They do not cover our full costs of providing the programme.  Below are the suggested contributions, related to organisational income:
Grassroots/Unpaid Organiser: Free (scholarship place)
Small Org (annual budget circa £100k): £400 + 20% VAT
Medium Org (annual budget circa £500k): £900 + 20 % VAT
Large Org (annual budget circa £2m+): £2000 +  20% VAT
We have a limited number of places on the programme that are free for grantees of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.

I already do a lot of media work – should I do this?
Yes. Three reasons:
1) Even established performers will get a lot from the training process (as witnessed by the improvement of seasoned media performers after the training)
2) You’ll be booked through the service, boosting your profile
3) Most importantly the network will put you at the heart of a community helping to hone your messaging, breadth of issues and connections to others.

How will you book members of the network?
We keep our eyes on the news agenda, then like most large organisations we’ll offer up members of the network for comment (based on your availability). We also book you based on upcoming events or opportunities that your work or activism offers.

Can you support my travel and accommodation needs?
Let us know your requirements alongside the application form and we will do all that we can to help. We appreciate the travel commitment that might be needed, especially from Islands or Highlands and we are committed to supporting if you are accepted on the training.

What are the adjustments you provide for disabled applications?
We offer a guaranteed interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for participation in the network. This criteria is outlined, along with other information about the adjustments we can provide, in our Accessibility Pack here. We can also offer support and guidance from the NEON team throughout the process and are happy to discuss other adjustments as required.  If you need any of these adjustments or others, please indicate them in the Google Application Form or contact molly@neweconomyorganisers.org

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