Online Workshops with BBC News’ John Young
Learn how to have tighter staff meetings, slicker staff training and snappier sales pitches with John Young’s highly effective and interactive online workshops. Guaranteed to make your remote meetings as energetic, professional, effective and fun as a TV broadcast.
Biography
“Nine Months after your visit, John, I still regularly use those techniques you shared about gathering big information and boiling it down under pressure. It was a lot of fun – and it really stuck.”
David Morgan, director of Flight Operations, Easyjet
John Young presented and reported the BBC’s TV news for more than 30 years. Now, with his jaw-dropping stories and “Productivity under Pressure” teachings, he has distilled his incredible experience into short, sharp, fun, effective online workshops to help you sell, train and perform bet
With zero jargon or technical language, John teaches actionable advice that can be applied to any business and any team.
John’s workshops involve:
• Activities, challenges, videos and surprises.
• Writing in clear English and delivering to tight deadlines
• Debate and reflection, agile decision-making, new ways of thinking.
John’s workshops don’t involve:
• Flow diagrams
• Jargon
• Waffle
John offers a range of news-themed workshops focusing on productivity in the face of stressful deadlines and practical tips to make online meetings as polished and professional as a news bulletin. He also teaches how to use powerful communication techniques by using impactful storytelling devices that all reporters use.
With plenty of interactive fun, like having a go reading the news off of John’s rolling teleprompter, these workshops will have your whole team rapt with attention and learning valuable skills they will use every day.
Learn how to react to breaking news, write headlines under pressure, sum complex ideas up in 30 seconds and meet your deadlines before it’s your turn to Go Live!
John Young’s online workshop include:
GET MORE DONE BY LUNCHTIME
This workshop uses breaking news to explore the tension between perfection and agility. Participants are handed a breaking news scenario and have to work out which key parts of it to report before the deadline, only minutes away. This will teach them that in the face of making very fast decisions, it’s more important to get something out, than get something out that is perfect.
HOLD THE ZOOM ROOM
This provides practical tips on making online meetings, training and sales more engaging and efficient while we work remotely. John plays video examples from news bulletins that demonstrate the importance of opening headlines, framing on camera, communicating via a microphone to people you can’t see, using interactivity, and ending bang on time to gain and maintain audience engagement.
HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR CLIENTS & STAFF UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE SAYING
Here, John uses a high-speed news writing exercise to focus on clarity of language and messaging in communications. Participants are given a page of densely written, jargon-riddled ‘news copy’ and they have to turn it into three news stories, of three sentences each, that a member of the public would understand. The key takeaway is: ditch the jargon.
GROUPTHINK AND HOW TO AVOID IT
The focus is on using story selection dilemmas to explore leadership and courage. Participants are given a list of five news stories and they must choose the ‘running order’. As they do so, breaking news disrupts their conversations as the deadline approaches. Participants will learn that taking an unconventional and/or bold decision can be a risk but can demonstrate sound leadership.
HOW TO MAKE BORING THINGS INTERESTING
This one uses ‘storytelling’ in news to explore internal communications. In pairs or small teams, participants are challenged to work out what to do next in a complex workplace scenario, with a 24-hour deadline. The approach John suggests may surprise them…
Whether you have 60 mins or half a day, John will inspire your team with fun workshops that will immerse you in the high-energy world of a TV newsroom.
All workshops are designed to be between 45 and 55 mins long. This includes a Breakout Room activity, polling, time for both interactivity and reflection, and time for participants to discuss how to apply what they’ve just experienced to their own workplace.
Online Workshops with BBC News’ John Young are perfect for: Online events, online workshops, online meetings, team-building events, online conferences, corporate events, industry events, media events, private functions
Read morePrevious Clients
EasyJet
Cunard
P&O
American Express
RFU.
Gatwick Airport
Cisco
Elekta
Brighton and Hove City Council
Kent County Council
RFU
West Sussex County Council
Paper Round
Testimonials
“At last – training made for the VIRTUAL world”
Mark Burns, Vistage Chair
“Nine Months after your visit, John, I still regularly use those techniques you shared about gathering big information and boiling it down under pressure. It was a lot of fun – and it really stuck.”
David Morgan, director of Flight Operations, Easyjet
“That was entertaining, precise and very useful. I particularly liked the way you involved everybody so all felt involved and challenged. I look forward to seeing the top tips in action in our team. Huge thanks, John.”
Caroline Underwood MBE, Chief Executive, Philanthropy Company, London
“I loved the way you brought the knowledge, insight and experience from years at the BBC and made it relevant to Zoom now. We are all intrigued by what goes on behind the scenes at the BBC, and it is clever how you bring the two together.”
Ann English, Speaker & Visual Communicator
“Thank you very much for an excellent training on Monday. I thought it hit the spot and I thought the parallels with the newsroom industry worked a treat!”
Alain Vix, Learning & Development Manager, Vygon UK
“You delved deep into what we wanted out of this, John – and hit the mark.”
Jen Anthony, Engagement Manager, Elekta UK & Europe
