1. MEDIA TRAINING

2. In this media training session we will look at how you can effectively and responsibly use the media to promote yourself, your club, the game of Rugby League and your country We will focus on two areas “CONVENTIONAL” AND ONLINE MEDIA & SOCIAL MEDIA

3. THE MEDIA CAN MAKE YOU.....AND BREAK YOU!

4. Every time you engage proactively or reactively With the media and social media you must Remember you are shaping the reputation of… YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL YOUR FAMILY YOUR CLUB & TEAM THE SPORT OF RUGBY LEAGUE YOUR COUNTRY That’s a BIG responsibility…you are all ambassadors and diplomats as well as professional athletes!!!

5. WHY DO YOU NEED THE MEDIA?

6. WHAT DO WE MEAN BY “CONVENTIONAL” AND ONLINE MEDIA? NEWSPAPERS (National daily and Sunday titles + regional & local newspapers) MAGAZINES (Rugby League and sports publications etc) RADIO (National & local) TV (National & regional) WEBSITES

7. If you are interviewed by radio, TV or a newspaper/web journalist ask these three questions unless you already know.... Who are you? What newspaper / magazine / radio / TV? What would you like to know?

8. If you are interviewed by radio, TV or a newspaper/web journalist... THINK ABOUT YOUR ANSWER THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS OFF THE RECORD! BE FRIENDLY & SMILE MAKE EYE CONTACT & BE CALM DO NOT PICK YOUR NOSE / EAR / FIDGIT!! DO NOT SWEAR!! SPEAK CLEARLY ANSWER THE QUESTION

9. Try to be more interesting when interviewed.... LIGHT-HEARTED & WITTY BRING IN YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES CONFIDENT OR SELF DEPRECATING

10. FIVE RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYERS WHO INTERVIEW WELL EORL CRABTREE SAM BURGESS JON WILKIN ROBBIE PAUL BRETT HODGSON

11. FIVE SPORTS PEOPLE WHO INTERVIEW OR INTERVIEWED WELL... BRIAN CLOUGH IAN HOLLOWAY GORDON STRACHAN JUSTIN ROSE DAVID JAMES

12. The do’s, don’ts, and dangers

13. Social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube) are becoming a major part of the media industry. Both the RFL and Super League, via its member clubs, have embraced social media and actively encourage its use But beware: That whatever you say on these platforms can be quoted by mainstream media outlets. So, before you tweet, think to yourself, would I say this to a journalist - do I want this to be published in a newspaper or online forum? THE BASICS

14. Darren Bent Philip Hughes Jonathan Thomas When it backfires........you are in the headlines for the wrong reasons!

15. England player’s post on Twitter, November 6: “2 more sleeps.. cant wait to get back to England never thought id ever say that..” From Ian Laybourn’s gloomy and negative post- Four Nations review on sportinglife.com “It was interesting to hear of xx eagerness, revealed through his twitter account, to get back to England after playing less than 40 minutes on tour.”

16. News travels fast on social media – bad news travels even faster! The rules surrounding betting and insider information also apply to anything posted online So does the law of libel. What may seem funny now will not seem funny when you lose your car, your house and your job Don’t under-estimate how thin-skinned some people can be about your views, no matter how un-extreme they may be. REMEMBER

17. Private messages are not necessarily private Check your security settings – don’t be complacent about who can access the information on your Facebook wall. All it takes is for a ‘friend’ to download an inappropriate posting or picture and forward to a wider audience for your reputation to be damaged. Just ask Joel Monaghan! Once an inappropriate tweet or Facebook post is out there, it’s out forever. If you’re unsure as to whether it’s safe to tweet something, ask yourself whether you’d feel happy writing it on a piece of paper and post it through the letterbox of your club chairman

18. Using Social Media correctly can increase your profile and visibility and enhance your own status Some simple things you can do; Do control the message you put out Do interact with fans Do use a conversational tone Do remember that you’re representing your club, country and sport Do post regular comments Do be responsible – if in doubt, don’t post it Do be honest and answer questions truthfully

19. Misusing social media can result in fines, bans and even contract terminations and prison sentences in extreme cases. Some simple things to avoid doing; Do not openly criticise match officials Do not talk negatively about your opponents Do not get into aggressive arguments with followers – healthy debate is good, threating fans is not Do not post any homophobic or racist comments – you may end up in prison! Do not post up play books, tactics or other information – you’re opponents may be reading Do not swear! Do not give out personal information

20. Footballer Ashley-Paul Robinson revealed last year he was having a trial at Fulham- despite being contracted to Crystal Palace. – Robinson posted a message: "Ashley-Paul is goin fulham on monday. If i pull dis off im on dis ting." On Sunday he added: "Ashley-Paul is travling 2 Bath With Fulham Fingers Crossed." – Almost 3 million people received the update, including bosses at Palace. "It's probably better that he looks elsewhere to further his career," said manager Neil Warnock. "Ashley-Paul has been very naughty" is how the player updated his page. He now plays for Conference South side Bromley The ECB suspended Azeem Rafiq, the captain of England under-19 team, for his use of inappropriate language on Twitter

21. Heard of Kieran Bowell or Max McKee? They were two of the most promising players in Scottish football a few seasons ago. In the aftermath of the Neil Lennon parcel bomb story, they took to Twitter to voice their approval of the plot to harm the Celtic manager. – Kieran Bowell: “Wish that parcel bomb f****** killed neil lennon, the little c***.” – Max McKee: "Somebody needs to hurry up and shoot Neil Lennon #JustSaying.” Now they’re both unemployed and no club will touch them Clint Greenshields tweeted: “Holy s***. Thaler is retarded. F*** me.” during the Challenge Cup tie against Leeds - He was fined £1600 by Catalan Dragons and suspended from their match against Sheffield, he was fined an additional £1,000 by the RFL

22. It happens to the big names as well… Former Liverpool player Ryan Babel was fined £10,000 for improper conduct, after posting a picture of Howard Webb in a Manchester United shirt. Wayne Rooney got in trouble after sending abuse to a fan on twitter

23. You are representing yourself, your family, your club, the game of Rugby League and your country - This means you should act responsibly whilst using sites Twitter and Facebook. If you are unsure of whether you should post something or if you have seen a post which concerns you, contact your club media manager of a member of the England management team. Rio Ferdinand himself says: “I’m speaking to people you would never come across in a month of Sundays - it’s a really good way of interacting with fans and people and shaping your image.”