Our Seminars

Basic media training seminars follow a proven and largely predefined structure.

They prepare experts to meet the specific demands of print and online media, radio, and television. Workshops cover news factors (“What are reporters interested in?”), communicating to be understood, the media landscape, and media law. The focus of our basic media training is on written exercises, interviews, and statements in front of a microphone and camera.

Duration: 1.5 - 2 days

We offer training for appearances in front of the camera as a basic seminar version using an HD camcorder.

For those who appear in front of the camera frequently or have to be prepared for crisis communication, we recommend working with a professional ENG (electronic news-gathering) team. This allows us to closely replicate real-life scenarios in the training context.

In both cases, we practice interview situations and statement preparation with participants. Instructors give structured feedback on argumentation, understandability, as well as voice and body language.

Duration: 0.5 - 1 day

The risks of dioxin in eggs, unvaccinated children, or radiation from mobile devices are difficult for non-scientists to estimate or to compare with other dangers.

Experts can help—when they know how to communicate risks correctly. We explain why it’s difficult for people to understand statistics, how researchers can use examples to explain statistical figures, and what media formats are appropriate for risk communication.

Duration: 0.5 – 1 day

Researchers and communicators frequently find themselves having to withstand emotional attacks and confront fake news in difficult discussions.
How can they respond to critical, confrontational, and provocative questions?
How can they deal with their own feelings and those of their counterparts?
And what can they do to prevent discussions from being derailed?
Participants learn reliable communication techniques and practice them in role-playing scenarios.

Duration: 0.5 - 1 day

Whether you’re defending a doctoral thesis, introducing your research institute at an event like the Long Night of Sciences, or giving a keynote address at an international conference: When you’re presenting your research to an audience, you need to think about more than just the golden rules of PowerPoint presentations.

It’s equally important to talk about your work as if you are telling an exciting story, and to use your voice and physical presence to win over your audience.

We teach this workshop in cooperation with professional state-certified breathing, elocution, and voice instructors if needed.

Duration 1 – 2 days

Which social media platforms can I use to reach my target audience?

How should I address my audience so they get my message? How much effort is required, and is that effort worthwhile for my purposes?
The social media workshop offers a mix of strategy and practical recommendations.

The workshop outcome is an individual six-month social media plan that specifies how to reach each target group best using which social media platform.
By the end of the workshop, all participants will also have created a tweet for Twitter, a YouTube video with a teaser, and an Instagram series of five photos.

Duration: 1 – 1.5 days

To communicate successfully, you need a clear course of action.

What overall objectives do participants want to achieve? What concrete communication goals result from those objectives? Who do participants need to address to meet their goals? What are the messages they need to convey? And what are the right channels of communication?

In exploring these questions, participants develop feasible, practical communication concepts. In doing so, they draw on methods of design thinking and other innovative approaches.

Duration: 0.5 – 1.5 days

Writing is a craft, and in this seminar, participants learn the tools of the trade.

What topics are interesting? How can I write about complex subject matter so that my target group understands and enjoys reading about it? Which rules apply when writing for scientific publications, and which ones apply to Facebook?

Findings from the research on reading comprehension and writing to be understood form the foundation for this workshop, where participants will write about their own research and receive structured feedback.

Duration: 0.5 – 1.5 days