Our History
Frank Cowan,
Founder of Media Survival Group
Media Survival Group began as founder Frank Cowan retired from the California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI). A long time trainer, there was never a thought about what he would do next.
Frank called on his many associates in the media and public information fields to form a stable of talented trainers to assist him on various projects. He assembled them into what he called "The Group" which at one point collectively counted more than 225 years of hands on, real life experience in crisis communications and training on a national and international level. Media Survival Group was born. Over the next several years, Frank and his team trained nationally and abroad on various aspects of crisis communications.
With the help of key members of "The Group", several training programs were developed. Primary among them was a course focusing on helping PIOs work as a team within a Joint Information Center/System (JIC/JIS).
But the end of 2007 brought a major change. Frank sold Media Survival Group to Karen and Dave Terrill. Karen is a long-time PIO, trainer and original member of "The Group" while Dave is a former PIO, management consultant, and head of a web design company. Frank agreed to stay on as trainer, class designer and key consultant.
With the creation of the Go Book in 2008, based on Karen's vision of a PIO "field guide" that could fit into a shirt pocket, and the enhancement of the training materials with Dave's help, the PIO Team JIC/JIS Workshop was presented to the Department of Homeland Security and quickly became a part of their catalog.
Media Survival Group specializes in public information officer team training (see our Workshops). We can help you and your organization learn to use "social media" and many other amazing tools now available through the Internet to immediately reach your target audiences.