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  7. Understanding and handling media: March 2025

Understanding and handling media: 28, March, 2025. Online, UK wide course

This is a course is for branch reps who are interested in learning more about handling both print and social media. The course will be taught by a member of the National Union of Journalists with support from UCU Press office.

Specialist courses

Course details

Nation/region:

UK - wide course

Course meeting dates: 28, March, 2025

Please ensure you can attend the entire course prior to submitting your application  form. Please further ensure you have secured time off from your employer to attend.
Course meeting times:

9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (with regular breaks)

Please note this is a 9:00 a.m. start.

Please also note: Applications for this course will close at 12 noon on Thursday 27 March 2025. Applications beyond this point will risk not being processed. The need for a cut off point is due to course logistics and planning. 

Course time commitment:7 hours approx.
Location:Online via zoom or teams.

Course content

This course will look at: 

  • How the media world has changed
  • Using the media to your best advantage
  • What is news?
  • How to identify a good story
  • How to make links to local media for support in disputes
  • Understanding how to target your story? Which media - press, TV, online, radio?
  • How to write a good press release
  • Managing media
  • How to make the most of the media Interviewing techniques
  • Examples of effective union media campaigns/interventions
  • Don't panic! an introduction to crisis media management

The course will be taught by a member of the NUJ (National union of Journalists) with support from UCU's press team.

Places are limited and will be issued on a fist come first served basis. Should demand outstrip supply we will look at arranging further dates later in the academic year. Please be aware that registrations for this course will close promptly at 12 noon on 27, March, 2025

Non-attendance on UCU courses not only costs UCU money but also has a severe impact on the learning experience of fellow UCU members. This is the case for both in person and online courses. 

If you have not informed the course administrator in good time that you cannot attend and do not turn up to the course, this may hamper your attendance on future courses.

UCU courses are funded via members' contributions and public funding.

Information Facility time

Online courses are no different to in person courses in terms of time off for training. Time off for training is a right and one which should be exercised as part of normal industrial relations. For more info please see  Facilities and time off for UCU reps.

When you apply for a course we will assume that are making a commitment to attend the course as advertised, and have secured time off from your employer. Please contact your branch/devolved nation/regional office if you are having problems securing time off.

Please be aware this is an interactive online course, the more you participate the more you will get out of the course. There will be an assumption that, for the most part you will have your camera on and will participate in the same sprit as a classroom based course.