Businesses across Yorkshire and Humberside are being given the opportunity to improve their relationship with the media through the launch of a new series of public relations training courses.

Press Association Training, the training division of the national newsagency for the UK and Ireland, has designed a series of courses for small and medium-sized companies to help them to understand how the media works and how to use PR to raise the profile of their business.

The Press Association has been training journalists for more than a decade and this expertise and insight is now being offered to organisations outside journalism.

Run from the PA Training Centre in Howden, East Yorkshire, the courses cover key areas associated with media relations including effective press release writing, what makes news, how to deal with the press and developing a public relations strategy.

Commenting on the launch of the courses, Tony Johnston, head of editorial training, said: "Many small and medium-sized companies are recognising the value of and investing in public relations. Press Association Training's extensive experience of the media can help these organisations maximise the potential for their business.

"These courses are ideal for staff new to PR and employees who take on PR in addition to their day-to-day job."

The first course will run in March, with two courses being held each month.

More information can be found at www.editorial-centre.press.net.

Updated: 16:01 Wednesday, February 15, 2006