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Press Secretary

An improvised press conference in a crisis situation: one spokesperson defends their version of events against aggressive questions. Use for training status, quick thinking, and persuasive rhetoric in a conflict dialogue.

Players

4–8

Difficulty

Beginner

Full description

Setup and Launch

Assign roles: press secretary, minister, and at least two journalists. Position the press secretary facing the "audience," journalists in a semicircle opposite, the minister to the side. The trainer formulates, or invites the group to formulate, one clear crisis problem of the department in one sentence.

The minister briefly briefs the press secretary (1–2 lines): what happened and what the initial defense line is. Then the minister steps back and doesn't interfere; journalists each prepare one sharp question.

Flow

The trainer maintains tempo, watches for clear status (confident press secretary — persistent but professional journalists), and ensures the conflict stays within the shared reality of the scene.

  1. Opening statement. The press secretary confidently delivers an introduction, reframing the negative into a manageable narrative and setting the tone of the conference.

  2. Journalists' questions. Questions are short and specific; one question per journalist. Add world details to the scene, not external facts that break the established reality.

  3. Defense maneuvers. The press secretary uses acknowledgment of minor points, renaming, shifting focus, and promising action. Hold the line given by the minister, without denying what has already been established.

  4. Escalation and finale. If tempo drops, the trainer adds a clarifying fact or tightens a deadline. At the peak, the press secretary formulates the final "victory narrative," followed by 2–3 rapid-fire questions and a scene close with role rotation.

Key rules

  • Clear problem in one sentence. If the framing is vague, the trainer reformulates it aloud before starting so everyone knows what they're playing.

  • Question discipline. Journalists ask briefly, one at a time; shut down interruptions and long monologues to keep the rhythm and focus.

  • Defense line consistency. The press secretary doesn't argue with the minister and doesn't roll back the already-established reality; if they slip — they reformulate and move forward.

  • Status balance without toxicity. Journalists are sharp but professional; at excessive aggression the trainer resets the question neutrally and returns the tone to businesslike.

  • Tempo and raising stakes. Complicate with specifics (a fact, a deadline), not general drama; wrap up at the peak, when the press secretary's version looks maximally "built."

Context

🧺 Cart