Everyone in the Public Eye Needs Media Training, Including Entertainers

Everyone in the Public Eye Needs Media Training, Including Entertainers

By Jennifer R. Farmer

All people in the public eye should have an understanding of public relations. Public relations is the management of how various stakeholders – the media, fans, followers, customers, board members, employees etc. – view a person. It is managing one’s relationship to various publics.

Not only should persons in the public eye understand public relations, but they should have consistent media training. Media training helps a person to be intentional about what they communicate and how they communicate it. It boosts a person’s confidence knowing that they have spent time thinking about their message and message delivery.

I raise this in the context of singer and model Tyla although this is a reminder for us all.

Recently, when receiving a VMA, Tyla attempted to hand her award to rapper Lil Nas X and Halle Bailey. She ostensibly asked him to hold it while she gave her acceptance speech, saying, “You guys know me and holding awards, I’m not strong enough. Please, Please.” Halle Bailey and the Lil Nas X presented the award and were still onstage with her.

There are some who say she did nothing wrong. Others felt handing off her award because it was too heavy was a sign of entitlement. One person went as far as to call her uppity – she then changed her title on Twitter to the derisive characterization. The optics of handing someone your award can be questionable at best. If the award was too heavy for you, might it be too heavy for the people standing next to you? Now I get wanting to focus on one’s speech and maybe that was her intention.

Public Perception

Whether she was wrong or not comes down to public perception. And that’s where public relations comes in. Regardless of who you are, we all need to be somewhat concerned with what our actions communicate about us. And if you’re an artist, you want to generate media coverage based on your artistry, not based on perceptions that may or may not support your brand.

Tyla is new to international stardom, and with the newfound exposure, consistent media training might be warranted. Media training helps artists and leaders think more carefully about their brand, and what their verbal and nonverbal communication conveys. Media training is not just to help you solicit media attention but it’s also to help you manage that attention once you finally get it. It’s to help a person be intentional about their brand, and how they show up in the world.

Here’s to hoping those with platforms see the value in and invest in media training. And if that’s you, book a paid consultation today.