Best Media Training Courses: Top Picks Compared (2026)

training courses split into two distinct purchases: spokesperson and crisis media training, where executives learn to face journalists, and media production training, where teams learn to create content. Coursera and Udemy dominate the second category, while PR and crisis communications buyers need the first.

The NCTJ diploma, for example, requires 100 words per minute shorthand. This guide separates both markets, compares UK and international options, and explains how to choose without wasting budget.

• First decide whether you need spokesperson/crisis media training (facing journalists) or media production training (content creation). They have different suppliers, price points and results.
• For accredited and publicly verifiable qualifications, see the NCTJ, BJTC and Ofqual-regulated awards; for corporate spokesperson training, consult PRCA, CIPR and specialist consultancies.
• MOOCs (Coursera, Udemy, FutureLearn) are inexpensive and flexible, but rarely include the on-camera practice, recorded and critiqued, which makes spokesperson training stick.
• The single biggest signal of quality in media training courses is recorded practice with playback and critique: if a course has no camera, no feedback, and no re-runs, it’s a lecture, not training.
• In the North West, MediaCityUK (Salford) and the Manchester/Leeds news clusters provide access to working journalists as trainers – a real advantage over generic online courses.
• Always ask for the trainer’s own newsroom credentials and a sample running order before booking.

First, separate the two markets

Search for “media training courses” and you’ll get a confusion of results because the term is used loosely. Before you compare anything, figure out what items you actually need:

1. Crisis media and spokesperson training. You or your client will be interviewed by a journalist. You need message discipline, bridging techniques, body language, handling difficult questions and practice under pressure. Buyers: PR teams, press officers, executives, communications leads for charities and the public sector. Typical format: one or two days, often in a studio, sometimes with a working journalist playing the role of interviewer.

2. Media production and social media training. You must create content: video, audio, social media posts, newsletters. Buyers: marketing teams, small businesses, journalism students developing their skills. Typical format: online courses, short in-person workshops, software-specific training.

3. Training in broadcast journalism. You want to work in the media. This is accredited vocational education – NCTJ, BJTC, university degrees and postgraduate diplomas.

Related: NCTJ Diploma in Journalism — The UK newsroom's gold-standard qualification — a real commitment, not a quick win..

Most of the top ranking pages for this keyword are actually selling Category 2, which is why they read like software tutorials. If your need is category 1, these pages will not help you, and vice versa.

Comparison: the main media training courses routes at a glance

Route	Best for	Typical format	Accreditation / credibility signal	Watch out for
University / NCTJ / BJTC courses	Careers in journalism	1–3 years, full or part-time	NCTJ diploma, BJTC accreditation, Ofqual-regulated	Cost and time; not for corporate spokespeople
PRCA / CIPR training	PR and comms professionals	1-day workshops, CPD	Industry body membership and CPD recognition	Often London-centric; check regional delivery
Specialist consultancy media training	Executives, crisis prep	1–2 days, studio-based	Trainer’s newsroom CV; client references	Quality varies hugely; no single regulator
MOOCs (Coursera, Udemy, FutureLearn)	Self-starters, production skills	Self-paced video	University or platform brand	Little or no live practice or feedback
In-house / newsroom-adjacent training	North West teams	Bespoke, on-site	Access to working journalists	Requires careful scoping

The accredited routes: NCTJ, BJTC and industry bodies

If your goal is a career in journalism rather than corporate media handling, accreditation matters more than any single media training course. The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) sets the industry-standard diploma, including the mandatory 100 words per minute shorthand requirement and the media law and public affairs exams.

The Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) accredits university and college courses that meet its standards for broadcast practice. Both are recognized by UK employers, unlike a Udemy certificate.

Worth a look: Skillshare Membership — Unlimited short creative classes — great for habit-building, thin on hard news skills..

For public relations and communications professionals, the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) both offer CPD training, including media-handling workshops. Their value lies partly in the training itself and partly in the professional framework that surrounds it: CPD records, ethical codes and a network of practitioners. If you are a press officer in a council, NHS trust or police force, this is often the most defensible route for a training budget request.

A practical caveat: accreditation tells you that a course meets a standard, not that it is right for you. A BJTC accredited degree is the wrong purchase for a marketing manager who needs to handle a local radio interview next month.

Specialist spokesperson and crisis media training

This is where the real business is located and where the market is the least regulated. There is no single regulator for ‘media training’ as a commercial service in the UK; quality is therefore judged based on the experience of the trainer and the structure of the day.

What good spokesperson training includes:

• Recorded interviews with playback. You look at yourself. It’s uncomfortable and that’s the point.
• A working journalist as an interviewer. Someone who has actually asked tough questions for a living, not an actor reading from a script.
• Developing messages before practice. You can’t stay on message if you haven’t built one.
• Crisis scenarios. Hostile questioning, a “no comment” trap, a breaking-news simulation.
• A follow-up recording. The improvement between the first and last take is the measurable result.

What to be skeptical about when choosing media training courses: courses that promise “confidence” without practice; trainers who cannot name the newsrooms in which they worked; and one-size-fits-all scripts. Ask in advance for the running order and two client references in your sector.

In the North West, proximity to MediaCityUK in Salford and the news ecosystems of Manchester and Leeds is a real advantage. Trainers from the BBC, ITV and regional press are accessible in a way that is more difficult to arrange outside of London and the South East. For a Liverpool or Manchester press office, a half-day studio session in Salford is often more valuable than a two-day residential session in London.

Related: MasterClass — Big-name instructors and glossy production — inspiration, not a syllabus..

Online and MOOC options: Coursera, Udemy, FutureLearn

Pages currently ranking for this keyword rely heavily on MOOC platforms, so it’s worth being clear about what these media training courses offer. Coursera hosts media and communication courses from universities; Udemy hosts a very large, unvetted catalog of media and social media courses; FutureLearn hosts courses from UK universities and institutions. They’re great value for production and theory: video editing, social media strategy, media studies, digital storytelling.

They are weak for spokesperson training, for a structural reason: the format cannot offer live, recorded, critiqued practice with a real interviewer. A video lecture on “handling difficult questions” is a useful foundation, but it won’t prepare you for the moment a reporter asks the question you were hoping to avoid.

If you use a MOOC, consider it as preparation and not as the training itself. Pair it with at least one live session where someone watches you answer questions on camera.

Reader favorite: Udemy Journalism & Feature-Writing Courses — Cheap, on-demand skills courses — quality varies wildly, so choose carefully..

How to choose: a decision checklist

Go through them in order. The first two questions eliminate most of the market.

1. What is the result? A job in journalism, a degree, a spokesperson ready for a specific interview or a team capable of producing a video? Each indicates a different route.
2. Does this include recorded practices and feedback? If the answer is no and you need spokesperson skills, walk away.
3. Who is the trainer? Newsroom or editorial experience, and in which media? Ask directly.
4. Is it accredited or recognized by the CPD? Relevant for careers and for budget approval; less relevant for a one-off crisis preparation session.
5. Is the format correct? From in-person to online studio sessions for spokesperson work; online rather than in-person for software and production skills.
6. What is the follow-up? Refresher sessions, recorded resources, written debriefing. Good providers offer something after the day.
7. Can you see a sample? A running order, a clip, a program. Reputable providers share them.

Where UK journalism education fits in

For readers coming from a journalism education perspective, it is worth noting that media training courses and journalism education are increasingly converging. Newsrooms expect reporters to shoot, edit and publish across all platforms; Public relations teams expect press officers to understand how these newsrooms work. This convergence is why a BJTC-accredited course now includes multiplatform production, and why PRCA and CIPR training increasingly covers social media and video.

The practical implication: if you choose training for a career, favor qualifications accredited and recognized by employers. If you’re choosing for a specific task — an upcoming interview, a crisis plan, a team that needs to start posting video — prioritize practice, feedback, and a trainer with relevant newsroom experience. The two are not interchangeable and the best spend depends entirely on which you are.

To find out more about the structure of journalism training in the UK, see the National Council for the Training of Journalists and the Broadcast Journalism Training Council. For professional public relations standards, see the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Public Relations and Communications Association.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between media training and media production training?

Media training in the classic sense prepares a spokesperson to be interviewed by journalists: message discipline, handling difficult questions, presence in front of the camera. Media production training teaches people to create content: video, audio, social posts. They have different providers, formats and outcomes, and the term “media training course” is used for both, leading to a significant waste of budget.

Are online media training courses worth it?

For production skills and theory, yes: platforms like Coursera, Udemy and FutureLearn offer good value and flexibility. For spokesperson training, they are limited, as the format does not allow for live recorded practice with a real interviewer and delayed playback. Treat an online course as preparation and pair it with at least one live recorded session.

Do I need an accredited media training course?

It depends on your goal. Si vous souhaitez faire carrière dans le journalisme, l’accréditation du NCTJ ou du BJTC est un véritable signal d’employeur. If you are a public relations professional, PRCA or CIPR CPD recognition makes budget approval easier. If you need crisis preparation for an executive, accreditation matters less than the experience of the writing trainer and the structure of the day.

How much does media training cost in the UK?

Costs vary greatly depending on format and provider, so be careful with any numbers. MOOCs are generally the cheapest option; full-day sessions with company spokespeople fall in the middle; Multi-day residential courses and accredited professional courses are the most expensive. Always ask what is included (studio time, recorded resources, tracking) before comparing listed prices.

Can I get media training in Manchester or the North West?

Yes, and the region has a real advantage. MediaCityUK in Salford and news hubs in Manchester and Leeds provide access to trainers who work as journalists, which is more difficult to arrange outside of London. For a North West news office, a half-day on-site studio session is often more convenient and cost-effective than traveling to a London residence.

How do I check a media trainer is credible?

Ask three things: which newsrooms the trainer has worked in, for how long; whether the session includes recorded interviews with reading and critique; and for two client references in your sector. A reputable supplier will share a current order and sample clip without hesitation. If they cannot, that is your answer.

P.S. A few readers have asked which online courses we actually reach for — it's Udemy Journalism & Feature-Writing Courses; take a look here if you want the current details.