David MacIntyre has been with us since this summer when he helped us shoot the Beau’s documentary. He’s been an integral part of the team, helping out immensely with all of our client work since we brought him on as a full time co-op student from the University of Ottawa in September.

Starting in January, David joins us as our part-time associate producer. Our massive thanks to David for keeping us sane these last few months, and a warm welcome to our newest team member!

Be sure to follow David on Twitter at Dave_Mac.

We have a few positions open at MediaStyle, scroll down on the blog for more information.

- phone, email and in-person outreach to a diverse group of communities across the country
- working with a team to create an digital hub of activity and vibrant online community
- writing, editing and formatting text for blogs, communications reports, and a variety of other materials
- implementing and monitoring social media campaigns
- drafting and presenting community engagement reports

Our ideal communicator will have:

- post-secondary education in a communications related field
- related communications and community work experience

- strong writing and editing skills
- an ability to shoot and edit video OR visual design experience

- confident communications and presenting skills
- experience working to tight deadlines

- ability to work in French (considered an asset)

We’re located in downtown Ottawa, where we work a standard 37.5 work week with flexible hours. This is a six-month contract with the possibility of extension.
Please email travis [@] mediastyle.ca with your portfolio and cover letter.

One of the most important communications fundamentals is that media attention begets more media attention.

The bigger the media outlet interested in your story the more interest you will receive in the weeks that follow. Size matters– well, distribution size, specifically. If the New York Times picks up your story you’re set for a few weeks of media attention. Print media (newspapers and blog) tends to provoke radio stories and TV needs images to make news, so the better the images and colour, the more likely others will want to capture your story on video.

Media events, when executed correctly, can help shortcut the standard “pitch and place” of public relations and help make the story fresh again for reporters.

Keep a few important questions in mind when planning your media event:

What is it going to look like on TV? What visuals am I showing to the media?

How many people can reasonably speak at the press conference/event?

Does it really deserve a full media event? Is this really new news?

Makeup, lighting, technology that works, and convenient for reporters to use are essential elements

Crowd briefing, placement, blocking and scripts should all be rehearsed ahead of time, and several times if possible

And finally, always keep in mind “media makes more media.” So how are you going to keep the story alive through several news cycles? How do you add fuel to a story once a few outlets have covered it?

Photo courtesy Jennuine Captures

1) Sound board with outlets for recorders: a simple order from most technical rental companies, these handy devices allow journalists to plug in their recorders straight to the sound source

2) Lighting: outside or inside, please light your own press conference. Test it on camera and then inform the camera people what the light temperature is on arrival. For bonus points, hold up a blank white card on occasion for white balances.

3) Podium: no matter what bright light tries to convince you that “a music stand will work fine” or “a mic stand is more approachable,” don’t believe them and rent a podium. Lug it up the hill if need be. Just make sure your spokesperson has a solid object to stand behind. It’s a press conference, not an episode of Donahue.

4) Staff: communications people run press conferences, not spokespeople. This is an important lesson, always have a few extra pair of hands to help find plugs, hand out releases and trouble shoot. Skills needed: whip-smart intelligence, common sense, sense of humor and ability to stay out of the camera shots.

5) Control: You can’t touch journalists. Ever. But, you can kindly ask them to take seats if they are provided, stand back a bit in a scrum format (where all the reporters huddle around) and ask their questions one at a time. You can’t control what they ask. But, you can politely set some boundaries.

(A note here about live TV cameras: there are more and more attending press conferences and broadcasting live, you can nicely ask other shooters to stay out of live shots. But, really… it’s best if you just inform the the live-camera operators where you fear their might be a problem and let them work it out. Almost never fails.)

Banner image courtesy NASA Goddard

One of the first people I ever “@ replied” on Twitter was Susan Murphy.

I think a lot of early Twitter adopters in Ottawa would say the same thing. She is a rock star in the Ottawa digital scene. And, one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.

On her personal blog she has been sharing her recent experience teaching cross generational groups. I’m strongly suggesting following along with her “Flipping My Classroom” series if you are interested in adult learning and training. We’ve been incorporating video into our workshops at MediaStyle, but Susan’s post has me thinking we could reduce the overall time we spend in each session learning “the basics” by providing pre-workshop lessons. Experiment time!

From her first post on “flipping classrooms”, this quote really has me thinking:

Classroom time is not spent on learning new concepts at all – new material is learned as homework. Students can work through the videos at their own pace, pausing, rewinding, and repeating until they get it. They show up to class armed with their new knowledge, and are ready to apply what they’ve learned. The classroom is now a working lab. Class time is entirely spent on applying the concepts students have learned. The teacher is there to serve as facilitator, coach, idea bouncer-offer, and support. Instead of professors pontificating from the front of a classroom for hours, the profs are in the trenches with the students, working on problems and helping them apply their knowledge. Suddenly, the classroom is an experience.

Read the rest of first part here, and the second part which came our today on the redesign process. I’m looking forward to the next posts Sue!

MediaStyle loves MoxyMaüs socks. Ottawa-designed hosiery to brighten up even the dullest of blue suits.

Happy Canada Day!

This wonderful fountain is in Confederation Park in Ottawa. A gift to Canada from a grateful United Kingdom after WW2. It was formerly installed in London’s Trafalgar Square from 1845 – 1939.

The twin fountain was also given to Canada and is now in Regina – dedicated to the founding of the North-West Mounted Police HQ in Regina – it’s known as “Trafalgar Fountain” locally. The twin fountains were designed by the architect of the current Palace of Westminster – the home of the UK Parliament.

With our visitors from the UK in town for Canada Day, I thought it a rather apropos picture to post.

And, I have a personal connection to the water feature. Some time ago when the Queen visited, I was part of a large chorus of young people who were selected to come to Ottawa on Canada Day for a series of concerts. Our entire choir all ended up drenched in this fountain after a large City Hall concert. The photos where featured on the front and back of the choirs inaugural CD – they’ve got 10+ under their belt now!

Photo by ViaMoi

In a city known for spin, weasel words and double-speak a simple release from the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council was a refreshing change this afternoon. In plain language press release, clearly written by a human, and with just 237 words (a mere seven paragraphs) the communicators at CBSC have set a standard for straight talk in Ottawa.

The release is reproduced, in full, it’s just that good.

Complaints re interview with Margie Gillis on Sun News Network

This note is directed to those persons who:

1. may be contemplating the filing of a complaint with the CBSC regarding the interview with Margie Gillis on an episode of Canada Live; or

2. have filed such a complaint since June 8.

While the CBSC wishes to thank everyone who has taken the time to send a complaint to the CBSC concerning the Krista Erickson interview with Margie Gillis on an episode of Canada Live, the volume of complaints already sent to us exceeds the Council’s resources.

In other words, the CBSC will be unable to respond individually to each and every complaint received on this topic, as it customarily does.  No problem, though.  The CBSC will deal with the substance of the broadcast via the Council’s normal process and a decision will be released publicly in due course.

May we also request that those of you who have not yet filed a complaint refrain from doing so?  It will not help the disposition of this file in any way since the CBSC never bases its decisions on the number of complaints it has received.  Decisions are always and only based on whether a broadcast has breached one of the CBSC’s codified standards.

So, many thanks for contacting the CBSC or contemplating doing so.  We have more than enough substance to go on to resolve the concerns regarding the interview with Margie Gillis on an episode of Canada Live.

MediaStyle is digitally connected and integrated. This means that our second Principal has blogged, taken photos and posted them Twitter and shared too much of their life on Facebook. Our ideal senior staff person here would be a mainstream journalist or active citizen journalist. We would need this person to be a strong communications/media trainer. A new Principal will understand media cycles, journalists and be comfortable on TV, radio and in print. They will also be partly responsible for business development.

So, now you see why I say likely. It’s a tall order to fill. But, the job comes with some unique perks no other firms can match. Like: setting your own agenda, a great studio downtown and a MacBook. Plus, as many know, MediaStyle is partly-owned by each person who works here. We believe in sustainable staff growth and after three-months with us new staff also become a part owners. Our new Principal will hold the second largest membership share in MediaStyle. We’d want the new staff person to kick off work by mid-September.

If you think you want a piece of MediaStyle, send me an email [ian (at) mediastyle.ca] and set up a time to talk.