CAUT Council delegates improved their media skills in workshops April 27, working in small groups to prepare for a press conference in response to a mock news release about a fictional report critical of Canada’s universities and colleges.

Each workshop chose spokespeople to present to the media and take questions from journalists who conducted a simulated news conference for each group.

On hand to ask questions were Bob Rupert, a former reporter and editor for the Ottawa Citizen, Toronto Star and CBC radio and television and former journalism professor at Carleton University, CanWest Global education reporter Sarah Schmidt, and Mike Gasher, an associate professor of journalism at Concordia University and former newspaper reporter.

At the conclusion of the session, the journalists offered a critique of each group’s approach to their presentation and their way of dealing with questions.

“Delegates reported that the media workshop opened their eyes about how academic staff associations can handle the press to their advantage and get their message across effectively,” said CAUT president Greg Allain.