CASE STUDY: MediaTrAiner – Fight or Flight’s AI Media Interview Platform

Overview

Fight or Flight, an award-winning international PR agency, set out to modernize the way executives prepare for media interviews. They envisioned a platform that could analyze real interview transcripts, evaluate how well key messages were delivered, and instantly generate an article in the style of any reporter or publication — all powered by advanced AI.

Sandcastle partnered with Fight or Flight to turn this concept into a production-ready SaaS platform. The result was MediaTrAiner, an AI-driven media-training tool that blends sophisticated prompt engineering, custom application development, and a streamlined UX into a scalable service offering. Shortly after launch, MediaTrAiner was shortlisted for “Best AI Platform” in the PRWeek US Awards 2026, one of the most prestigious events in global communications.

The Challenge

Media-training sessions are intensive and time-consuming. PR teams often invest hours analyzing transcripts, crafting mock articles, and identifying areas where a spokesperson’s performance can improve. Fight or Flight wanted a way to:

• Scale media training without sacrificing quality
• Evaluate interviews with greater consistency and depth
• Tailor results to the style and tone of specific reporters and publications
• Give clients actionable feedback — quickly
• Offer MediaTrAiner as both a standalone SaaS product and a value-added service within Fight or Flight’s consulting engagements

The challenge was to develop a secure, intuitive, AI-driven tool that could guide users through complex evaluation logic, integrate domain-specific media-training expertise, and produce publishable-quality output — all within minutes.

The Solution

Sandcastle collaborated closely with Fight or Flight to architect, design, and build the MediaTrAiner platform from the ground up. The result is a fully customizable AI media-training system featuring:

AI-Powered Article Generation

Users upload an interview transcript and specify:

• Key target messages
• Reporter or publication style
• Desired tone (positive, neutral, or negative)
• Any additional editorial instructions

MediaTrAiner securely integrates with the ChatGPT API to generate a highly realistic, publication-ready article reflecting the interviewee’s quotes, tone preferences, and message alignment.

AI-Driven Interview Evaluation

Using Fight or Flight’s proprietary media-training framework — distilled into the Media Interview Rulebook — the platform provides a comprehensive spokesperson performance assessment, with specific recommendations for improvement. This includes:

• Message delivery analysis
• Strengths and weaknesses
• Opportunities for improvement
• Observations based on specific quotes and responses

The tool transforms what is normally a subjective, manual process into a structured, repeatable evaluation system.

Secure Transcript Upload & Processing

The platform supports secure upload of DOC, DOCX, and TXT files, parses transcripts, and prepares the content for multi-step AI processing.

Subscription-Based SaaS Model

To support Fight or Flight’s growing global client base, Sandcastle implemented:

• Tiered subscription plans
• Secure payment processing
• Account dashboards and subscription controls
• Access management for individual teams and clients

MediaTrAiner can be offered either directly to clients or as part of Fight or Flight’s consulting services.

Administrative Controls & Flexibility

A custom backend allows Fight or Flight to:

• Manage the Media Interview Rulebook
• Update AI behavior and model preferences
• Control authentication keys
• Configure response logic
• Monitor user interactions and plan usage
• Integrate customer support directly into the platform

This ensures that the tool evolves as the agency’s methodology evolves.

Results

MediaTrAiner quickly proved its value — both operationally and strategically.

A Scalable New Service Offering

Fight or Flight can now deliver high-quality media training at scale, allowing their consultants to focus on strategic guidance rather than time-consuming manual review.

Dramatically Faster Turnaround

Analysis and article creation that once took hours can now be completed in minutes, improving speed, consistency, and client satisfaction.

Award Recognition

The platform was shortlisted for “Best AI Platform” at the PRWeek US Awards 2026, highlighting both the innovation behind the tool and the success of the Fight or Flight + Sandcastle partnership.

New Revenue Channel Through SaaS

The subscription model allows Fight or Flight to expand beyond traditional consulting, generating ongoing recurring revenue.

Enhanced Consistency & Quality

The combination of Fight or Flight’s media expertise and Sandcastle’s AI infrastructure ensures every user receives a thorough, structured, and insightful assessment — no matter the interviewer, spokesperson, or publication.

Technology Stack

• Custom WordPress plugin development
• ChatGPT API (GPT-4o, GPT-5 series, model selection features)
• Secure file handling (DOC/DOCX/TXT)
• Subscription billing system (SaaS architecture)
• Custom UI/UX and frontend design
• Role-based access control
• Custom admin interface for rulebook and model configuration
• Scalable hosting environment optimized for AI workflows
• Integrated Fresh Service customer support

Highlighted Features

• Fast, secure upload of interview transcripts
• Multi-step AI orchestration for article + analysis generation
• Customizable tone and reporting style
• Message alignment scoring and insights
• SaaS subscription management
• Fine-grained admin controls for AI behavior
• Flexible framework designed to support future features and training models

Client Profile

Fight or Flight is an internationally recognized PR agency specializing in bold, insight-driven communications strategies. They work with global brands across technology, aviation, and professional services to improve their media presence and storytelling impact.