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Lights, Camera, Action! Young Adults in Connecticut Learn Media Savvy
What if Oprah calls? Will you be ready? About a dozen young adults from the Hartford and Bridgeport sites feel more confident about handling media interviews. They gathered in New Haven on Saturday, April 22 to learn how to talk to reporters, including conquering their nervousness.
The young people were trained on how to successfully communicate to the media about issues related to youth transitioning from foster care. Youth advocates Jessica Lindsey and Mona Perdue from Detroit offered lessons about sharing personal stories without sharing too much. Angie Cannon, veteran journalist and partner at the Hatcher Group, explained what reporters are looking for in stories and why talking to the press can help lead to improvements in the foster care system. Kathleen Holt Whyte, owner of Success Strategies, gave tips for interviewing on TV and then conducted a fun part of the day: interviewing the young people, taping their answers, then critiquing their on-camera performances. Part of effective public communication goes beyond talking to reporters, and Lee Mullane and Roye Anastasio-Burke of Casey Family Services also shared what worked when Connecticut young people spoke before state legislators.
Many of the young adults who attended said they learned a lot. "It was very valuable to me, especially when they told us not to share too much," said Nadege Breeden, 22, of Bridgeport. "I'm so willing to tell my story, but I don't think about the consequences." Breeden said she also learned about reporters as well. "The reporter can be your enemy and your friend," she said. "I learned they aren't all bad people." The on-camera taping was a highlight for Breeden. "The TV taping was one of the best experiences I've ever had. We were able to try out how we would act. And during the critique, we learned the camera picks up on everything!"
Shanda McClendon, 22, of Hartford previously had done a few radio, television, and newspaper interviews without any formal training. "This training was so valuable – it helped me set limits about how much to let out," she said. "If you don't take this training, you might exploit yourself."
The communications training in Connecticut is the first of other planned sessions. "We hope to take this training on the road and better prepare young people in other sites to handle the press," says Carla Owens, communications director of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative.
