It’s usual to interview candidates for a job. What’s unusual today is that the selection process for the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Kensington and Chelsea includes a grilling by a senior media figure, Andrew Neil (BBC reports).
By extension, all senior executives may one day face this ordeal (before they stand trial by television for real). Think what this would do to boost the esteem and value of media and policy advisers? It’s an unpopular prospect, I know.
PR Studies 
The Labour Party has long had mock news conferences as part of its selection process for by-elections in Labour seats. The training and selection process for its national parliamentary panel also includes a mock media grilling.