Frequently Asked Questions

Media training prepares executives, spokespeople and senior leaders to communicate effectively in media interviews — whether television, radio, print, digital, podcast or panel appearance.

It covers message development, interview technique, handling difficult questions, body language and on-camera confidence. The goal is to ensure leaders can communicate clearly and credibly under pressure, without being caught off guard or losing control of their message.

Any leader or spokesperson who may face media scrutiny, public questioning or high-profile interviews benefits from training. This includes:

• CEOs and founders
• Government ministers and officials
• Finance leaders and investor-facing executives
• Communications directors and senior spokespeople
• Executives preparing for earnings commentary or panel appearances
• Leaders managing sensitive announcements or reputational risk

Media training is also valuable for executives who are not currently in the media spotlight but want to be better prepared if that changes.

No. Some of our most valuable work is with experienced communicators who want to sharpen their message, handle difficult questions more effectively or prepare for a specific high-stakes interview.

Camera confidence is one part of media training. Message discipline, interview structure and the ability to handle unexpected questions matter just as much — regardless of how comfortable someone already is on camera.

Every session is tailored to the individual, their sector and the likely interview environment. Most sessions cover:

• Message development — identifying key messages, where vulnerabilities may lie and how to communicate clearly without sounding scripted
• Filmed interview simulation — a realistic simulation reflecting the pressure and unpredictability of a live media environment
• Playback and feedback — detailed review of body language, tone, clarity, structure and message discipline
• Practical techniques — how to handle difficult questions, bridge to key messages and deliver strong, concise answers under pressure

We do not use abstract communication theory. We put clients into realistic situations and coach them through those moments in detail.

Sessions typically run from half a day to a full day, depending on the client's experience level and objectives. Intensive one-to-one crash courses of two to three hours are also available for executives preparing at short notice.

We can advise on the right format once we understand your situation and what you are preparing for.

Yes. We regularly work with executives preparing for interviews, announcements or events at short notice. Get in touch and we will do our best to accommodate your timeline.

Yes. We work with individual executives, small groups and larger communications teams. Group sessions are particularly effective for organisations that want to build consistent messaging across multiple spokespeople, or prepare a communications team for a coordinated campaign or crisis scenario.

Mayfair Media is led by former senior broadcast journalists — not presentation coaches or ex-PR professionals. Greg Tanner and Sarah Forster have more than 40 years of combined experience across Bloomberg, the BBC, Sky News, ITV News and The National.

That means clients are trained by people who have actually conducted the kinds of interviews they are preparing for. We understand how journalists think, how editorial decisions are made and how to prepare someone in a way that reflects how interviews actually unfold.

We deliver training in person in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Muscat, the broader GCC and beyond. Virtual sessions are available for clients anywhere. Although many clients find us when searching for media training in Dubai, we work with organisations and leaders across the wider region.

We have experience across a wide range of sectors, including:

• Financial services — banking, asset management, exchanges and fintech
• Energy and natural resources
• Real estate
• Government and public sector
• Professional services
• Multinational corporations
• Technology

We also work with PR and communications agencies preparing their clients for media appearances.

Yes. We provide specialist crisis communications training for leaders and communications teams preparing for hostile or high-pressure media scenarios. This includes reputational issues, regulatory scrutiny, operational incidents, market-sensitive announcements and intense questioning from journalists or stakeholders.

The focus is on helping leaders stay composed, avoid damaging missteps and communicate in a way that protects trust — even under significant pressure.

Yes. Alongside our training work, Mayfair Media produces broadcast-quality video content for corporate and executive clients — including executive profile videos, thought leadership content, social media video and editorial-style branded content.

Find out more on our Content Creation page.

Yes. Our On-Camera Reporter Training is designed for communications professionals, in-house journalists, presenters and content creators who need to improve their on-camera delivery, storytelling and broadcast confidence. It is particularly suited to PR and communications teams building in-house video capability.