University Leaders Face a Unique Media Landscape. Are Yours Ready?

Media training for higher education is specialized coaching that prepares presidents, provosts, and faculty experts for campus crises, tuition questions, and national coverage. Higher education leaders navigate competing pressures: managing campus crises, explaining tuition increases, defending academic freedom, responding to student activism, and positioning their institutions in a rapidly changing higher ed market. Media narratives shape enrollment, donor confidence, and university reputation. Success in Media has coached presidents, provosts, and communications leaders through the most challenging moments in higher education today.

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What We Know About Higher Education Communication

Campus Crises & Student Safety

When crimes, health crises, or safety incidents occur on campus, media response is immediate and intense. Executives must communicate decisively while protecting student privacy and the university's reputation.

Tuition & Affordability Controversy

Higher education costs are politically charged. Leaders must explain tuition increases and affordability measures credibly without fueling negative coverage about rising costs.

Academic Freedom & Controversial Speakers

Balancing academic freedom with campus safety and student concerns requires nuanced messaging that satisfies faculty, students, donors, and the public.

Diversity, Equity & Student Activism

Universities navigate intense scrutiny around DEI initiatives, student protests, and social justice issues. Leaders must communicate values clearly and authentically.

What Success Looks Like

Navigate Campus Crises Effectively

Respond to safety incidents, health crises, and misconduct allegations with clear, compassionate communication that protects the community and the institution's reputation.

Explain University Decisions Credibly

Build understanding around difficult decisions, tuition increases, program changes, campus development, through messaging that demonstrates institutional values and fiscal responsibility.

Articulate Academic Mission & Values

Establish thought leadership on academic freedom, diversity, and the purpose of higher education while navigating politicized conversations.

Build Enrollment & Donor Confidence

Develop media presence that attracts prospective students and donors while strengthening the institution's reputation in a competitive higher ed market.

We've Worked With

University of Chicago
Miami University
East Carolina University

"The High Stakes Presenter training gave me exact techniques to navigate some challenging situations. These skills helped get me my new Dean position."

— Nicole F. Bromfield, PhD, Dean and Professor, College of Health and Human Performance

Scenarios We've Coached

Campus Crisis Response

Managing media and community communications during student safety incidents, crimes, health emergencies, or other crises affecting the campus community.

Tuition & Affordability Communications

Explaining tuition increases, scholarship programs, and financial aid initiatives to media, prospective students, families, and donors.

Controversial Speaker Events & Academic Freedom

Navigating media coverage around controversial speakers, balancing safety concerns with academic freedom principles.

Enrollment & Recruitment Strategy Communications

Positioning the university in media, crafting messaging for recruitment, and building brand reputation in the higher ed market.

Higher Education Media Training Questions

Can you prepare university presidents for campus crisis coverage?

Yes. Crisis preparation for presidents, provosts, and chancellors is a core part of higher education media training. Leaders run recorded practice exercises built around campus safety incidents, protests, and enrollment controversies, learning to respond decisively while protecting student privacy and institutional reputation under intense coverage.

Do you train deans, faculty experts, and communications staff as well?

Yes. Many engagements pair an executive session for the president with group workshops for deans, faculty media ambassadors, and the communications office. Faculty experts learn to give quotable commentary in their fields, which builds the institution's visibility between crises, not just during them.

How much does higher education media training cost?

Media training typically ranges from $1,000 to $15,000 per engagement depending on group size and scope. A focused session for one spokesperson sits at the lower end, while multi-day team workshops with recorded practice sit higher. See our media training questions page for a full breakdown of what drives pricing.

Who leads the training?

Every session is led by Jess Todtfeld, founder of Success in Media. Jess spent 13 years as a television producer at NBC, ABC, and Fox, and holds the Guinness World Record for the most media interviews given in 24 hours: 112. He has coached university presidents, provosts, and communications teams through high-profile moments.