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Media Training A-Z
New edition includes up-to-date tips and strategies for speaking and dealing with NEW Media, blogs, podcasts, webcasts, and ezines. --- Learn to get the quotes you want, look good on camera, and sound confident and comfortable during your next media interview. In the book, TJ Walker -A systematic approach to developing and delivering a memorable message -Strategies to help reduce nervousness -Tips and guidelines for looking your best on camera -A successful approach to answering tough questions -Tips on dealing with ANY interview situation -Memorable examples from key media figures -A proven, step-by-step system to create sound bites and get the quotes you want! - Strategies for speaking to new media
- GenresNonfiction
165 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 20, 2020
Awesome book!
June 25, 2015
When it comes to talking to the press, people are largely divided into two camps. The first doesn't think it's anything to worry about and the second is terrified of the prospect. Media Training A-Z from TJ Walker has a little something for both groups.
I've worked with a few people who fall into the first camp. The CEO who doesn't think he needs to "waste" any time preparing for the interview ends up having a rambling, hour-long conversation, during which no message is communicated. The reporter is left with little that's usable and often takes their pick from the dozens of messages they heard. Once the interview is published or aired, the CEO complains about being misquoted or "taken out of context."
To them, Walker communicates the importance of preparing for the interview. He advises that you not enter an interview "without knowing in advance precisely the exact quotes you want to see in tomorrow's newspaper or tonight's newscast." He includes examples from the political world of how communicating can make your career (think Ronald Reagan) or break it (Howard Dean).
For the novice about to face an interview, Walker dissects it into its various parts and lays out a systematic plan of attack. The book is also loaded with tips and tricks that Walker has drawn from more than 20 years of media training experience. From what to say, wear and even drink, Walker conveys it all.
The book is not flawless. Some people may find them helpful, but the acronyms Walker uses for memorization reminded me of high school and were so long that the acronym was almost as difficult to remember as the concept to which it was related. I also could have gone to Walker's web site to find his other products and thus have done without the 30 pages he devotes to them at the end of Media Training A-Z. But those minor detractions are more than made up for by the balance of the book.
A final note for leaders (of non-profits, companies, churches, etc.): speaking to the media will most likely be unavoidable at some point in your tenure. Because what you say to the media could eventually be seen/read/heard by thousands of people, you should do your best to make sure you say it well. Media Training A-Z made me a better communicator and helped me teach my clients to do the same. Whether you're a public relations pro or prepping for your first TV interview, this book is a valuable resource.
I've worked with a few people who fall into the first camp. The CEO who doesn't think he needs to "waste" any time preparing for the interview ends up having a rambling, hour-long conversation, during which no message is communicated. The reporter is left with little that's usable and often takes their pick from the dozens of messages they heard. Once the interview is published or aired, the CEO complains about being misquoted or "taken out of context."
To them, Walker communicates the importance of preparing for the interview. He advises that you not enter an interview "without knowing in advance precisely the exact quotes you want to see in tomorrow's newspaper or tonight's newscast." He includes examples from the political world of how communicating can make your career (think Ronald Reagan) or break it (Howard Dean).
For the novice about to face an interview, Walker dissects it into its various parts and lays out a systematic plan of attack. The book is also loaded with tips and tricks that Walker has drawn from more than 20 years of media training experience. From what to say, wear and even drink, Walker conveys it all.
The book is not flawless. Some people may find them helpful, but the acronyms Walker uses for memorization reminded me of high school and were so long that the acronym was almost as difficult to remember as the concept to which it was related. I also could have gone to Walker's web site to find his other products and thus have done without the 30 pages he devotes to them at the end of Media Training A-Z. But those minor detractions are more than made up for by the balance of the book.
A final note for leaders (of non-profits, companies, churches, etc.): speaking to the media will most likely be unavoidable at some point in your tenure. Because what you say to the media could eventually be seen/read/heard by thousands of people, you should do your best to make sure you say it well. Media Training A-Z made me a better communicator and helped me teach my clients to do the same. Whether you're a public relations pro or prepping for your first TV interview, this book is a valuable resource.
April 21, 2013
The content was well prepared and presented. The author's love affair with Ronald Reagan and other Republican orators makes it seem a bit politically slanted to the right. Even with that, it still was very useful.
April 22, 2007
helped me to learn how to be a talking head. :)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews