What To Say and How To Say It - TJ Walker

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 27

Media Training A-Z

Chapter Two “Talking Tips”


Short publication designed for Amazon Kindle

All chapters available for purchase individually


Full book available for purchase

Introduction
All of my media training clients want the same things when it comes to dealing with the media. First, when facing an
audience, they would like to come across as comfortable, confident and relaxed (and they’d actually like to feel comfortable,
confident and relaxed, too). Next, they’d like to be able to come up with and deliver a clear-cut, simple message; answer
questions in a thoughtful manner; and ensure that the exact quotes, or sound bites, they want get into the story. (A sound bite
is a bite out of the sounds you are making with your words during an interview that actually ends up on a TV or radio
newscasts) I use the term sound bite and quote interchangeably throughout this book. This book is a compilation of insights
I’ve gleaned over the last 20 years of trying to help clients accomplish these goals.

The Enemy Within


It never ceases to amaze me how creative and resourceful people can be when trying to control the outcomes of media
interviews. The following is a partial list of tactics used by would-be media manipulators.
• demanding to know all the questions that will be asked in advance
• setting restrictions on what topics can be addressed
• stating what questions must be avoided
• requesting that all questions be faxed in advance
• insisting that the written story be sent to them for final approval before publishing
• demanding the right to fax in their answers rather than having a face-to-face or phone interview
• requesting that a friendly or sympathetic reporter be assigned to their story
• setting a strict time limit on the interview, e.g., 15 minutes (and not because the interviewee has a plane to catch or
any other urgent business)
• asking for the right to videotape or audiotape the interview

This is only a partial list of extreme and counterproductive measures that people take to “control” the interview. In my
professional opinion, all of these tactics are a complete and utter waste of time, and they can only have a negative impact on
the story and your long-term reputation. (The only exception: if you are a $20-million-per-film movie star, you can get away
with making demands such as these.)

All of these tactics are an attempt to control the reporter. Unfortunately, the reporter is the one part of the process over
which you, as the interview subject, have no control. For many people whose careers involve communication through the
media, this realization is an important psychological breakthrough.

YOU HAVE ZERO CONTROL OVER REPORTERS, SO GET OVER IT.

What can you control?

YOU HAVE 100 PERCENT CONTROL OVER WHAT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.
For starters, you can come up with a clear, simple, easy-to understand, interesting message. Next, you can package your
message in media-friendly sound bites. Finally, you can talk to reporters in a comfortable, confident way that makes you look
your best. These are the three elements over which you, the interviewee, have total control. 100 percent control.

How effective would Bill Gates of Microsoft be if he spent 100 percent, or even 80 percent, of his time trying to figure out
what Larry Ellison of Oracle was going to do next week? Sure, Gates might be interested. He might appreciate market
intelligence from time to time. But Gates has to spend most of his time worrying about what Microsoft employees are
actually doing next week. Why? Because that’s what he has the most control over.

The real problem most of these would-be media manipulators have is that they don’t realize that they already have
tremendous power to control every interview. That power derives from the fact that they have 100 percent control over
what comes out of their own mouth. Never forget this: the reporter has 100 percent control over the questions and the topics,
but we interviewees have 100 percent control over our answers.

When clients complain to me about a so-called bad journalist who “burned” them in the past and who is “out to get them,” I
always ask for proof. The clients then might mention a previous article that made them look bad that included damaging
quotes.

I ask, “But did you say this quote?”

Invariably, the clients say, “They used a totally negative quote that they knew would make me look bad.”
Again, I ask, “But is that an accurate quote?”

They respond, “The quote was totally taken out of context.”

Then I remind them that every quote in every newspaper, radio or TV report is taken out of context. Any one sentence you
say is taken out of the context of a 10- or 20-minute conversation. Since you know this will happen before you even start the
interview, it’s rather pointless to complain after the fact that your comments were “taken out of context.”

Finally, I ask one more time, “Were you quoted accurately?’

A look of frustration comes over them and then they confess, “Yes! It was an accurate quote.”

And I respond, “So what you are really complaining about is that the reporter listened to you, accurately wrote down what
you said, accurately quoted you, but now, since you don’t like the quote and you feel it makes you look bad, you want to
blame someone else for your own mistakes. You’d like to blame the reporter for not trying to make you look good, is that
correct?”

At this point the clients are speechless because they know that this is exactly the situation, and they suddenly realize how
foolish they have been.

I’m not saying reporters don’t make mistakes – they do. I’m not implying there aren’t unethical reporters who occasionally
just make stuff up (the New York Times and USA Today have had their share of such reporters). But I’ve found it
extraordinarily rare for people to be upset about quotes and statements attributed to them that were fabricated. What angers
people most is when their own words are used against them to make them look foolish. Remember, it’s not the reporter’s job
to make you look good; that’s your job. If you go into an interview without a clear message and well-thought-out sound bites,
you just might have an enemy ready to destroy your career. But if you want to locate this enemy, don’t stare down the
reporter across the table. Instead, look in the mirror.

The One Common Leadership Trait


Why Communication Skills Matter
Political, business and cultural leaders come in many sizes, shapes and styles, displaying varying degrees of skill. Some rise at
4 a.m.; some work from noon to 2 a.m. Some are teetotalers; some like to drink a fifth a day.
Leaders often become leaders because they are experts at motivating other people to do that which they would normally not
want to do. Leaders learn how to delegate effectively. Corporate leaders can delegate sales, advertising and accounting
tasks. Political leaders can delegate the planning and fighting of wars.

However, there is one thing that all real leaders know they cannot delegate: speaking on behalf of their organization to the
outside world. A President must be able to speak on behalf of the entire American public when addressing the country and
the rest of the world. A corporate CEO must be able to speak on behalf of the company to clients, customers, employees,
vendors, analysts, investors and the news media. This cannot be delegated to staff.
That is why the one most common trait shared by true leaders is the ability to communicate well, especially through the
spoken word. Of course, speaking styles vary among leaders, but at some point most leaders find a way to be effective
when they are speaking.

There is more to being a leader than just speaking well. Having wisdom, good judgment and solid principles are also
essential. But try to imagine a wise and principled Winston Churchill who was afraid to give a speech. Impossible!
Churchill’s wisdom, judgment and principles would never have been brought to the world stage if he had not been able to
communicate them effectively via the spoken word.

More than height or looks or wealth or even charm, mastering public speaking is the one true X-factor that determines a
great leader. In fact, having strong communication skills can sometimes override the fact that there is nothing else a leader
can do in a certain situation. Take, for example, the case of New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani during the 9/11 crisis. By
every traditional measure of leadership (e.g., making unpopular decisions, encouraging the public to make sacrifices,
anticipating and preventing future dangers), how did Giuliani fare?

I would contend that Giuliani didn’t take any of the actions most commonly associated with great acts of political leadership
that we may associate with Lincoln or Churchill. (I’m not criticizing Giuliani; I don’t think the mayor of any city would have
been able to do much more than Giuliani did. Disclosure: I even voted for Giuliani in his reelection bid.) But why, in the
aftermath of 9/11, was Giuliani hailed as a hero across the country and around the world? What did Giuliani actually DO to
achieve such universal acclaim?
He talked. He communicated. He expressed emotions. He talked, without notes, from the head and the heart. For several
weeks, Giuliani was the nation’s talk-show-host-in-chief. A la Oprah, Giuliani was also a ratings hit, especially since he was
a more talented communicator than the New York governor or even the president of the United States at the time.

The public so deeply believes that outstanding communication skills are a hallmark of a great leader that sometimes
delivering a knockout single speech or series of public presentations is enough to etch an image of heroic leadership in the
public’s mind.

You Can Get a Second Chance to


Make a Great Impression
Of course, you never want to go into a presentation opportunity thinking, “OK, I’ll be lousy here because I can always do
better next time.” That’s highly counterproductive. However, one bad speech, or even a string of poor presentations, will not
kill you as long as you hone your skills and start to deliver great talks. Your peers and colleagues in your company and
industry will start to think of you as a great communicator in a short period of time if you start giving excellent presentations,
no matter how many lackluster speeches you’ve given in the past.

By all accounts, then-Governor Bill Clinton flubbed his keynote address at the 1988 Democratic Convention in Atlanta. He
went way too long and lost his audience, and he was roundly booed. The only time he elicited a cheer was when he said,
“And in conclusion . . .” That brought down the house – not exactly what a speaker is hoping for. Clinton didn’t wait long to
rehabilitate his image. He went on the Today Show the very next morning to make fun of himself and to reposition himself as
a more engaging speaker. Over time, and many well-delivered speeches later, even Clinton’s worst enemies (He did have a
few, didn’t he?) forgot the debacle of ’88.

If you ask Americans who were some of the greatest speakers of the 20th century, President John F. Kennedy makes the
top ten on any list, but he was not always considered a good communicator. As late as the mid-’50s, when Kennedy was a
senator, he was known as a lackluster speaker who came across as shy, awkward, unenergetic and not very interesting. I’ve
had Democratic activists who heard Kennedy speak to small political clubs in New York City tell me, “Kennedy came
across like any other run-of-the-mill city council candidate – he was mediocre at best.”

Jack Valenti, former aide to Lyndon Johnson, has written that the first time he saw Kennedy speak in the ’50s, the then-
senator read with his head buried in notes – only his thick hair was visible to the audience. Valenti even noted that as
president, Kennedy’s hands shook from nervousness while speaking.

But Kennedy changed. He practiced. He improved.

You can, too.


Testimonials for
Media Training Worldwide

“TJ Walker is the leading media trainer in the world and Media Training A-Z is the ideal resource for presenting well on
TV. I’d highly recommend this book for anyone who is planning on doing any TV work.”
– Stu Miller
Viacom News Producer

“I put the skills learned to excellent use. I was told by the producer that it was refreshing to work with someone who was
comfortable in front of the camera and could get their message points out. So, kudos to you for training me! It was a
wonderful experience.”
– Roxanne Moster
UCLA

“Media Training Worldwide is flat out better than any other presentation training firm we have ever used. They get better
results in one day of training than other companies do in two day seminars. The bottom line is that Media Training
Worldwide changes our executives for the better; when they leave a Media Training Worldwide workshop they speak with
much more confidence and passion. TJ Walker has made radical and permanent positive transformations with many of our
employees. I can’t imagine using any other training firm.”
– Jim Miller
Amerada HESS
“Anyone suffering from MDS (Media Deficiency Syndrome) will find this book an immediate antidote and long term, if
taken regularly, a cure.”
– John F. Budd
The Omega Group

“Over the years I’ve been a fan of TJ Walker and his rigorous approach to media training. If TJ had his way, no client
would ever lose a media interview. And, if every executive would take the time to read this latest edition, he or she probably
never will. TJ is clearly a veteran of the broadcast and print interview world and his tips are well worth reading. I know I’ve
learned some new strategies.”
– Edward Aloysius Moed
Peppercom, Inc.

“As a crisis communications consultant, I think I know a great deal about media training. However I learned a LOT by
reading TJ Walker’s book – Especially when it comes to tips and techniques for presenting yourself in as positive a way as
possible during TV interviews. TJ is truly an expert in this arena and his advice is valuable and practical. His writing style is
conversational – enjoyable to read and easy to digest. I highly recommend this book to my clients.”
– Judy Hoffman
Principle JCH Enterprises and author of
“Keeping Cool on the Hot Seat”
“A handy crash course for the busy or new executive encountering the media for the first time.”
– Michael J. London
Michael J. London & Associates

"I've read a variety of media training books over the years and never found the exact type of training manual with content
that I could just hand to a client for their review. That's until I read TJ's media training book. It incorporates most of the
media techniques and approaches that I have emphasized with my clients over the years -- and goes well beyond that -- to
help the novice and seasoned business professional alike with interview and media training tips. It really allows the most
senior on-camera client to still learn about news interview techniques without insulting them or making them feel like their
presentation is faulty or embarrassing. TJ's approach is well-organized and definitely concise so you can easily learn
effective interview techniques".
– Ron Dresner
President
Your PR Department, LLC

"This comprehensive guide is a 'must-have' for every communicator and pr practitioner. It's an invaluable resource and the
ideal tool following professional training."
– Nancy Friedman
Nancy J. Friedman Public Relations

"As the CEO of the fastest growing independent PR firm in the U.S., we realize that clients, corporations and executives
need to understand how to be best prepared to speak with the media in order to communicate clear messages, and utilize
every second on TV and every inch of ink. TJ Walker's book clearly communicates the necessary tools to ensure that image
and messages are captured. From the color and design of one's shirt, to hand motions, style of answers to repeating
messages over and over, media training can better prepare any and all for their PR Needs."
– Ronn D. Torossian
5W Public Relations

“TJ Walker was able to help my entire team operate more efficiently [and] maximize their message penetration to their
audience. I can tell you his pace was incredible, he was extremely articulate and he got the whole group involved. We really
enjoyed the day.”
– Michael Gallant
EMC

“Media Training A-Z is a concise, highly readable, user-friendly book--written by one who has been practicing what he
preaches--that should be in the briefcase of anyone who dares to speak to the public.”
– George Haber
Information Services

"When I first started in the profession, media training was not considered an important element of the PR profession. But
today, with the advent of new media, ranging from many different types of television opportunities, to blogs to online media,
training of corporate executives and celebrities is a vital part of the PR package. To have a book and a talent like TJ Walker
all under one roof is great."
– Alan Taylor
Alan Taylor Communications, Inc.
"There is lots of very important information about PR in this quick and deftly written read, not just for executives about to
appear on camera, but for anyone who ever interacts with the media."
– George H. Simpson
George H. Simpson Communications

“TJ Walker tells it like it is – simple, direct, impactful. Follow his savvy advice in Media Training A-Z and you’ll win with the
media every time.”
– Matthew Cossolotto
Ovations International, Inc.
“Home of the Standing O”

“I feel confident and more organized in my thought process.”


– Ken Porter
TransUnion

“It has helped my confidence in delivering a message and greatly improved my ability to develop stories that explain key
points.”
– Keith Jacoby
Wachovia Securities
This Book Is Dedicated to
Great and Aspiring Speakers Everywhere.
~ TJ Walker

Sale of this book without a front cover may be unauthorized. If this book is coverless, it may have been reported to the
publisher as “unsold or destroyed” and neither the author nor the publisher may have received payment for it.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except in the case of an editorial
review, a journalistic article, or for purposes of higher learning. For more information address Media Training Worldwide, 34
West 38th Street, - Floor 5, New York, NY 10018.

Published by Media Training Worldwide


Media Training Worldwide provides more media and presentation training workshops and seminars than any other company
in the world. We also publish more than 100 media and presentation training books, DVDs, CDs, and other information
products and are the premier presentation/media training publisher in the world.

www.mediatrainingworldwide.com

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2004115412


ISBN: 1-932642-36-6
Printed in the United States of America
Fourth Edition: May 2006

First Edition: December 2004


Developmental Editor: Deborah Knox
Copy Editor: Joni Mitchell
Book Design: Kristopher Gentile

Media Training A-Z

A Complete Guide to Controlling Your


Image, Message, & Sound Bites
By TJ Walker
Table of Contents

Introduction:
- The Enemy Within
- The One Common Leadership Trait
- You Can Get a Second Chance to Make a Great Impression

Chapter 1: Warming Up
- Don’t Think on Your Feet – Think at Your Seat
- In the Moment
- Got No Time
- Consistency Isn’t so Foolish

Chapter 2: Talking Tips


- I Hate My Voice!
- Protect Your Voice
- You Are What You Drink
- Talk to Your Best Friend
- Battling the Talk Radio Clock

Full Book Available for Purchase Through Amazon!


Chapter 3: Looking “Mahvelous” on TV
- Do Clothes Make the Man or Woman?
- To Button or Not to Button, That is the Question
- Be Cool, Man
- Make Up Your Mind About Makeup
- Smile for the Camera- Move Your Head
- Lean Forward to Look Lean
- Keep Your Tongue in Your Mouth
- What do I do with my Hands?
- Befriend Your Host
- Be a Name Dropper
- Prepping for Primetime

Chapter 4: Creating and Conveying Your Media Message


- Stop Worrying About - the Questions
- The Power of the Positive
- Answer the Basic Questions
- Keep it Short
- Creating You Media Message
- The Power of Three
- Reporters are Distracted
- What Does the Media Want?
- Does the Audience Care?
- What Do You Want?
- Results are Key
- Say Everything You HAVE to Say
- What is Your Problem?
- Make it Engaging!
- Accomplishments and Solutions
- Make Your Message Tight and Simple
- Avoid the Weasel Words
Chapter 5: Fielding Questions
- Open with a Short Answer
- Picking Your Poison
- Eyes on Your Message
- “I Am Not a Crook”
- Move to Your Message Points
- Eliminate Complexity
- Delete Your Database of Knowledge
- “I Don’t Know” Is A Perfectly Good Answer
- An Expert’s Dilemma
- Rewrite Questions to Suit You
- Aim for All Three Message Points - In Every Answer
- Positive Answers Only
- Oh, and One More Thing

Chapter 6: Crafting Sound bites and Quotes


- The Art of the Sound Bite
- Analogies in Your Answers
- Use Bold, Action-Oriented Words
- Let Your Emotions Flow Freely
- The Quotable Example
- Attack Your Way to the Headlines
- Absolutes are Absolutely Quote Worthy
- Cliché Your Way to the Top
- Joking Your Way Onto the Airwaves Using Humor
- Populate Your Quotes with Pop Culture References
- Comment With a Rhetorical Question
- Opposition Quotes
- Recycling Can Be Environmentally and Rhetorically Correct
- The Limits of Spin

Chapter 7: Honing Your Skills


- You Can Be a Star Without Having Star Talent
- More is More in Media World
- The X Factor: Fun- Learn From Friend and Foe Alike
- Break the Rules, but First Learn Them
- Parlay Your Prominence

Chapter 8: Learning Do’s (and One Don’t) From Media Figures


- Paul Harvey . . . . . . . Good Day!
- One Size Fits All
- The Reagan Rhetorical Legacy
- The Dean Scream
- You Aren’t the Star of the Universe,
Even During Your Starring Moment

Chapter 2:
Talking Tips
I Hate My Voice!
At least once a week one of my trainees tells me, “I hate my voice.” This is usually followed by a solemn declaration that
somehow all recording devices distort his or her voice in an unflattering matter. What’s going on here?

Perhaps you have noticed when you hear your own voice on a voicemail or on a home video recording that it doesn’t sound
like you at all. Actually, it does sound like you, just not the you to whom you are accustomed to listening.

All of us hear our own voice in a distorted manner, only it’s not because we have big or small egos. We hear a distorted
voice because the bones in our head affect the sound we hear internally. Not only do we hear our voice from the outside, but
we also hear it through our skull, which muffles the sound to some extent.

When I play back video recordings of my clients during my trainings, they often react with, “That’s not how I really sound.”
But they notice that when their colleagues are videotaped, what they hear in the recording is exactly what the colleague
sounds like live. They then realize that there is nothing wrong with the recording device.

When people tell me they hate their voice, they aren’t lying. The real problem for most people, however, is that they are just
unfamiliar with their “true” voice, and when they hear their voices for the first time as others do, the difference in perception
is so great that it is shocking. It is this disconnect that they don’t like, not the actual quality of their voice.

Very few people have voices so mellifluous that they can make a million dollars a year doing voiceovers for TV
commercials. The good news is that you don’t have to have a voice like that to be an excellent communicator. Barbara
Walters has a speech impediment, but she makes more than $18 million a year, in part, with her voice. Rudy Giuliani has a
lisp, yet he is paid more than $100,000 for an hour’s worth of work giving a speech. John McCain has a sibilant “s” problem,
yet he is a political and media darling.

If you think your voice is holding you back, chances are, you are just obsessing over a nonexistent or minor problem.

GET OVER IT!


Protect Your Voice
Your voice is your precious speaking instrument. You must preserve and protect it at all times. Observe these pointers to
conserve the strength and quality of your voice before a major speech or presentation:

• Don’t sing in the car while listening to the radio. This strains your voice.
• Don’t talk at all, except when necessary.
• Don’t smoke.
• Don’t allow yourself to be around second-hand smoke (stay out of smoky bars in your hotel).
• Don’t ever scream!
• If you are swimming, be careful not to exhale through your mouth, as this will strain your vocal chords. Instead,
exhale through your nose.

The voice box is a fragile instrument. If you are nice to it, your voice will serve you well. If you abuse your voice, it will
abandon you when you need it the most.

You Are What You Drink


Although you should drink plenty of water before you go on TV, heed this advice: “Too much of a good thing isn’t a good
thing.”

I once quickly drank a 32-ounce Big Gulp Coke before a four-hour, talk-radio hosting gig. All of the sudden I got the hiccups.
And I don’t mean a small case of barely noticeable hiccups. These were violent, chest-cavity spasms that practically
knocked me out of my chair every 20 seconds.

To make matters worse, I had no guests for the final two hours of the program and darn few callers. So bathroom breaks
were few! Still worse, the hiccups were so ridiculous that I couldn’t stop laughing after each episode. Never a good
combination – laughter and a full bladder. Fortunately for me, this did not take place during a ratings-sweep week. Don’t let
this happen to you.
A note on carbonated beverages in general. When you are speaking, you are using your vocal cords. It is your job to protect
them, nurture them and make them feel comfortable before you speak so that they won’t fail you when you need them.
(Although unrelated to protecting your voice, carbonated beverages can also make you hiccup and belch – never attractive in
any human encounter – and when consumed in excess, they make you have to use the bathroom.)

Drinking coffee may seem like a good idea, especially before speaking at a breakfast meeting or an early morning talk-radio
show. But the caffeine can make you jittery and even more nervous. Starbucks will hate me for this, but even the decafs can
be problematic if you put milk in your drink. Milk creates extra mucus in the mouth, which makes it harder to talk clearly.
You could also burn your tongue or another body part easily, which would really make for an unpleasant interview. So skip
the coffee and avoid milk or anything with milk in it.

Alcohol?
You’ve got to be kidding. I know many people who claim to have done a shot or two to calm their nerves, especially before
speaking at an evening meeting. And yes, some singers use beer to “loosen” their vocal cords, but this is a bad idea for
several reasons:

• Alcohol affects the memory, so you are more likely to have your mind go blank in the middle of a speech.
• Alcohol is more likely to make you sweat, which doesn’t make a good impression on your audience.
• After you speak, some audience members may come up to say hello or ask questions. If they smell alcohol on your
breath, they will not assume that you just had one or two drinks to calm your nerves. Instead, they will assume you
are Otis, the Mayberry town drunk from “The Andy Griffith Show.”

By now you may be thinking that I want you to die of dry mouth. Not at all. In fact, it is important for you to drink more
liquid than usual before speaking and sometimes while you are speaking. The real question is not whether to drink but
WHAT to drink.
We have already scratched near-boiling drinks. Ice water is on the other extreme. Unfortunately, too much coldness can
tense up your vocal cords. Think of them like a rubber band. They are less flexible when frozen than when warm. So the
very best thing for your voice is room-temperature water. If you are speaking for more than 10 minutes or you are a guest
on a talk-radio or TV show for more than one 10-minute segment, have a glass of room temperature water by your side at
all times.

Your vocal cords will thank you.

Talk to Your Best Friend


Of course, you need to sound intelligent and have your facts straight when talking to the media, but when it comes to being
interviewed for TV and radio, you need much more. You need to be able to sound as if you are having a friendly
conversation with your best friend in the whole world. You need to be conversational.

• That means DON’T sound as though you are reading or go through some prepared list.
• Listen to the journalist as well as the callers (if it is a talk radio or TV program) and then respond to them in a
genuine manner.
• Sound like you are talking to one person, rather than lecturing to a room full of 300 students.
• Avoid big words, insider jargon or fancy acronyms.

If you can sound conversational, many other inadequacies you may have will be forgiven by TV and radio producers and
audiences alike. If you don’t sound conversational, it won’t matter how many facts or insights you rattle off your tongue; you
most likely won’t be invited back on the air!

Battling the Talk-Radio Clock


So you’ve been booked as a guest for an entire hour of a talk-radio show to promote your latest book/campaign/new product
launch. Finally, you can get away from the tyranny of the sound bite. You will have the luxury of going into great detail and
depth. You’ve got a whole hour, for goodness’ sake!

Sorry, but this is not the case. Let’s break the hour down minute by minute. From the top of the hour until seven minutes
after, you often have news, weather, sports, traffic and some ads to pay the bills. Next, you have ad breaks every seven
minutes or so. At the bottom of the hour you may have a short news break, followed by more commercials. And then you
may end a minute or two before the top of the hour. So your hour has shrunk to about 39 minutes. But wait, you don’t get to
talk the whole time – the host is going to want half that time to ask questions and pontificate, so now you are down to
approximately 20 minutes.

Wait, we forgot about the callers who want to ask questions – now you are down to about 12 minutes of actual talk time.
But still, 12 minutes is a good length of time, right? Especially when you compare it to a three-minute quickie on TV’s Good
Morning America.

Alas, there is another complication. Research shows that the average talk-radio-program listener tunes in for only 15
minutes. The audience for most talk-radio shows turns over four times during the course of an hour interview. Look at your
own experience. If you are driving for 15 minutes from the grocery store to your home, what happens when you get home?
Do you sit in your car for another 15 minutes while your ice cream melts just to listen to an expert on the radio? Of course
not. You turn both the car and the radio off – that’s it.

So if you are a guest on a talk-radio show for one hour, you must remember that you only get about 12 minutes of talk time.

But . . .

You must spread those 12 minutes of talk time over four separate audiences, which means most people listening to you will
only hear you for three minutes (12 divided by 4). Therefore, you do not have the luxury of waiting until the end of the show
to mention your web site, your campaign, your new product, your toll-free number or your book. You must do these things at
least once during every 15-minute sector of the clock, or once every three minutes in your conversation.
This does not mean that you should mention the name of your book and your publisher in every single sentence. This is
annoying and it will alienate you from your audience as well as the talk radio host. But most guests on talk radio go too far in
the other direction; they passively wait until the end of the program for the host to plug their reason for appearing on the
show. By that time, you’ve already said goodbye to 75 percent of your audience without ever telling them what you are
promoting.

So beware of the hour-long talk-radio interview format – make every minute count.

Do You Use PowerPoint?

8 Quick Tips to help improve your next Presentation:

1. Only One Idea Per Slide


2. Explain Your Point, Then Show The Slide
3. Speaker is the Star, Not The Slides
4. Never Read From Your Slides
5. Use Photos And Drawings
6. Face Your Audience, Not The Slides
7. Avoid Complexity
8. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse

Media Training Worldwide not only helps clients improve their media experiences, but also offers training in Public
Speaking and Presenting.

For More Information Contact:


[email protected]

We hope you have enjoyed reading this chapter of Media Training A – Z and will either buy the next Chapter in the
series – “Looking ‘Mahvelous’ on TV” or the book in its entirety via Amazon.

You might also like