Enoch Powell once said that "for a politician to complain about the press is like a ship's captain complaining about the sea". Dealing with the media is one of the hardest things for any politician to do - be they a Member of Parliament, local councillor or student politician.

Here are "the 10 B's" to remember when dealing with the media:

1. Be Realistic: the press is not your PR machinery. It faces time and space limitations. Before peddling news, think like a journalist.

2. Be Prepared: know who the editors and reporters are. Only do interviews when you are ready. If you need more time, ask for their deadline, tell them you need to collect more information, offer to get back to them at a specific time - and do it!

3. Be Accessible: media relations is about human relations. Never say "no comment" - it suggests you are hiding something. Explain why you cannot comment, discussion general policy (not specifics) or switch to something you can say.

4. Be Honest: admit bad news and move on to corrective action. Lying always comes back to haunt you.

5. Be Quotable: make your quotes memorable. Put your issues into plain English in a way that connects with voters. It is better to delay to get the message right than to rush into giving an unmemorable quote.

The final five B's will be revealed next Monday. Make sure you bookmark the YBF website in the meantime and come back daily!

Tomorrow: the first of our Branch & Activist Profiles.

To learn more print and broadcast media tips, register to attend a forthcoming YBF workshop by emailing training@ybf.org.uk.