Media training: it's time journalists got even

Journalists tend to get angry when they discover that there is an industry dedicated to minimising their capacity to get free flowing information from the people they interview. They are surprised and dismayed by the extent of media training and by the tactics trainees are taught in order to 'retain control' during interviews. This paper asserts that journalists shouldn’t just get angry. They should get even. It argues that journalism educators have an important role in preparing reporters to deal with media-trained talent. It discusses the prevalence of media training - who is providing it and who is receiving it - and exposes some of the more dubious tricks of the trade. Also, it begins the discussion about the ways journalists can respond.