Media Trust Sessions

January 2012

We regularly hold activities and events in the performance space at BBC Radio Merseyside.  These can be anything from photography lessons to Christmas card making.

As part of January's themed month which was 'volunteeer month' we asked a representative from The Media Trust to host two sessions teaching local voluntary arts and crafts groups how to prepare press releases, and maximise the potential of social networking.

I contacted local arts and crafts groups and invited them along to the event. Obviously it was necessary to promote the potential benefits of the course in order to gain people's interest.  This certainly developed my communication skills as the target audience was diverse, ranging from professional organisers to O.A.P.s running a local knitting club. This meant I had to alter my 'sales pitch' accordingly.

On the day of the first event, I was tasked with introducing the event and explaining health and safety issues.  Again, my communication and interpersonal skills were put to the test.  Also as the performance space at BBC Radio Merseyside is a public space, it was important to ensure that members of the public entering the building did not disturb the event.  It was necessary to advise members of the public entering the building that an event was in progress.  This seemed of no concern to one particular gentleman who had been visiting the BBC shop and attempted to disrupt the event.  It took all of my persuasive, interpersonal and communication skills to get him to leave the building, much to the admiration of my colleagues.