Public education handbook

The College press office receives a huge number of enquiries from the media every week. These can range from a women’s magazine wanting to speak to ‘an expert’ about postnatal depression, to a radio station looking for an immediate response to a new study or report.

To help us respond to these queries, we've built up a database of over 100 psychiatrists who are willing to speak to the press. But we are always looking for more.

Being a good media psychiatrist isn’t something you’re born with – anyone can do it if they learn the right skills. Speaking to journalists can seem daunting, but there are many techniques you can use to try to ensure the interview goes the way you want it to.

The Public Education Handbook provides lots of useful advice, but there really is no substitute for practice. The more interviews you do, the more confident you will become.

People wanting to practise their interview skills in a non-threatening environment can take advantage of the free media training sessions which run each year during the RCPsych International Congress.

Here, you will have the opportunity to be interviewed by real journalists or psychiatrists with years of experience of working with the media, and perfect the art of defusing the 'killer' question.

For more information about media training or for general advice on handling the media, contact the external relations team:

Georgia Berry
Media and Communications Manager
0208 618 422