CMS is pleased to host its second Media Training Workshop for Researchers, led by Sachintha Wickramasinghe, Media Relations Specialist at UBC.
This hands-on session is designed for CMS-affiliated faculty and graduate students who want to build confidence engaging with journalists and communicating their research beyond academic audiences.
The workshop focuses on practical interview skills. Participants will work with a clear, usable toolkit and participate in mock interviews on migration-related topics, receiving structured feedback from facilitators. The session will cover how to shape core messages, use soundbites and bridging techniques, and frame migration research in accessible, compelling ways, including through examples, metaphors, and human-scale stories. Time is also set aside to discuss strategies for handling difficult questions and navigating common media pitfalls.
Spots are limited and reserved exclusively for CMS affiliates.
Event details
Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Liu Institute for Global Issues, Seminar Room 121
Program highlights
- Introduction and overview of the media landscape around migration
- Interview toolkit: messages, soundbites, framing, and storytelling
- Mock interview practice (full-group example and small-group sessions)
- Group debriefs with feedback, tips, and strategies
- Takeaways, resources, and optional follow-up opportunities
Facilitators
Sachi Wickramasinghe is a media relations specialist with UBC Media Relations, supporting the faculties of Arts, Land and Food Systems and Education. She is a double UBC alum, with a background in journalism and sociology and experience in radio and television news in Vancouver and Toronto.
Erik Rolfsen is a senior media relations specialist with UBC Media Relations, supporting the faculties of Arts and Medicine. Before coming to UBC, Erik’s career in journalism took him to newsrooms in Salmon Arm, Maple Ridge and the Vancouver Province, where he served first as sports editor, and then as lead editor of theprovince.com.
