Media 101: Introduction to Becoming a Spokesperson

Calling all spokespersons and those interested in becoming one!  

Telling the community health center story is critical now more than ever. News media provides an opportunity to highlight the lifesaving care health centers provide to their communities. Join this four-part training series to learn the basics of speaking with the media and to build confidence as a spokesperson. Each session will focus on specific skills that every spokesperson needs. Training is open to all; providers, patients and patient board members are encouraged to attend. 

Media 101: Introduction to Becoming a Spokesperson is the first training in the series. Attendees will learn the steps to take before agreeing to any interview, how to prepare for an interview and the basics of crafting key messages. Attendees will also have an opportunity to practice the skills they’ve just learned with the instructors.  

Learning objectives 

• Understand the role of a spokesperson 

• Understand how to vet a media request before agreeing to participate 

• Understand how to prepare for an interview  

• Understand how to develop and deliver key messages  

Remaining sessions will be held September through January (dates TBA). The training series will be issue-neutral and tailored to health centers, using evergreen health center issues as examples. Attendees are welcome to join individual sessions or all four (recommended). Participants who complete all four sessions will receive a certificate of completion.  

Training is complimentary and open to the members of Alameda Health Consortium, the Coalition of Orange County Community Health Centers and the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County. 

Please reach out to Taryn Burks, tburks@ccalac.org, if you have questions. 

Register for the first training, Media 101: Introduction to Becoming a Spokesperson, below. 

Instructors 

Jay Geer, President, Miller Geer & Associates  

With almost 30 years of consumer and trade healthcare public relations experience, Miller Geer & Associates, Inc. (MGA) is one of Los Angeles’ only public relations/marketing communications firms that specializes in the healthcare industry, providing communications services for hospital systems, medical groups (IPAs, MSOs and PPOs), Research and Development entities, medical device companies and healthcare associations. 

President of the agency, Jay Geer manages the firm’s accounts, specializing in client programming and media relations. Some current clients and projects include AltaMed Health Services, CalOptima Health, L.A. Care Health Plan, Hoag Orthopedic Institute and more. 

Jay is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America and is the recipient of several awards presented by the Publicity Club of Los Angeles. Jay was recently recognized as one of the top 50 healthcare public relations executives in the United States by PR Week Magazine. He holds a degree in Journalism from California State University, Dominguez Hills and is a frequent lecturer on the subject of public relations. 

James Chisum, Vice President, Miller Geer & Associates 

James Chisum is a healthcare public relations and marketing professional with nearly two decades of experience at a boutique, health-focused marketing consultation and media relations firm in Southern California. His career has centered on working with healthcare-related clients, including hospitals, health plans, clinics, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, behavioral health, wellness services, physicians, and advocacy organizations. 

He has managed multiple clients simultaneously and regularly oversees several multi-million-dollar organizations at once. His responsibilities have included increasing awareness, managing crises, driving sales, engaging target markets, and generating new campaign initiatives. He has also helped introduce medical devices to the marketplace, managed brand awareness campaigns for major health institutions, and directed public relations programs from conception to completion. 

His specialties include media relations, strategic message development, media training, public relations, social media management, and the creation of collateral materials. He has strong experience in healthcare and wellness communications and has worked extensively on behalf of hospitals, medical groups, payors, physicians, privately owned companies, CEOs, and other key personnel.