SPIN, STRATEGY & SURVIVAL: WEEK ONE IN GOVERNMENT COMMS

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Course Outline

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Government communication is high-pressure, high-stakes, and unforgiving. Whether announcing policy, responding to crises, or managing leaks, every decision shapes public perception—for better or worse. In this course, Siobhan Bassford, former Chief Press Officer at the UK Cabinet Office and Director of Communications for the Mayor of the West Midlands, takes you behind the scenes of week one of government messaging, where every word matters, every mistake is magnified, and every decision can make or break trust. Through a choose-your-own-adventure decision-making approach, you’ll step into the shoes of a government comms leader and face real-world scenarios where you control the outcome.

“Your job? Control. The. Story. If you don’t, the media, your opponents, and the public will do it for you.”“

Siobhan Bassford

Government communications isn’t just about issuing press releases—it’s about managing crises, shaping narratives, and making split-second decisions in the face of media scrutiny. In this course, you won’t just learn about strategic comms—you’ll live it.

Using a choose-your-own-adventure format, this course puts you in charge of real-world government communication scenarios. Each decision you make—whether handling a leaked document, responding to a social media firestorm, or rolling out a controversial policy—will shape the outcome.

Guided by Siobhan Bassford, a 15-year veteran of government communications, you’ll gain practical experience in:

  • Crisis response in government: Managing misinterpreted policies, infrastructure failures, and public backlash.
  • Message discipline and strategic framing: Controlling the narrative before it controls you.
  • Handling leaks, misinformation, and media scrutiny: Regaining control when things spiral.
  • Making high-pressure decisions in real time: Understanding the consequences of different comms strategies.

Interactive Decision-Making Scenarios

In this course, you’ll step into the role of a government comms director and face realistic crisis situations:

  • A misinterpreted policy announcement leads to national backlash. Do you clarify with a press release, hold a briefing, or engage community leaders?
  • A major infrastructure failure causes widespread disruption. Do you apologise immediately, hold back details, or focus on long-term solutions?
  • A tweet from an official account sparks a firestorm. Do you delete, apologise, or double down?
  • A confidential budget document is leaked. Do you confirm, deny, or redirect the conversation?

Each choice you make affects the outcome, giving you first-hand experience in government crisis comms.

This course isn’t about theory—it’s about action. You’ll leave with the skills, instincts, and strategic mindset to manage messaging in the real world, navigate political challenges, and lead comms operations with confidence.

” In politics, perception is reality. If you don’t control the story, someone else will. “

In this course you will learn from

Siobhan Bassford

In this course, Siobhan Bassford, former Chief Press Officer at the UK Cabinet Office, takes you behind the scenes of week one of government messaging, where every word matters, every mistake is magnified, and every decision can make or break trust. READ MORE