Media Training for Writers ASJA Conference April 30, 2015

What Is Media Training? More than just preparing for media interviews Building confidence as a speaker Presenting yourself professionally Learning your message Taking control of situations

Media Training: Building Confidence The more talks you give, the better you’ll become. Avoid jargon. Pause rather than use filler—um, ah, like, you know. (Take a page from Toastmasters.) Smile when you talk Suppress nervous tics (rubber band)

Media Training: Present Yourself Professionally To be taken seriously, you have to dress right

Media Training: Present Yourself Professionally--Men Dress as well as—or better—than the person interviewing you Makeup isn’t just for women on camera Neither are root touchups Avoid crazy patterns

Media Training: Present Yourself Professionally--Women Dress professionally, not for grocery shopping or going out clubbing

Media Training: Present Yourself Professionally--Women Choose bright, solid colors for tops Get a suit jacket you love and that fits you well Pants are often better than dresses/skirts Make sure hairstyle is up to date If you color your hair, have it done regularly

Media Training: Learn Your Message Prepare sound bites to help you remember your message (this works for phone calls, too) Find out how long interview will last Always include call to action If you do pre-interview, never say “Like I said earlier…” You are delivering your message, not necessarily answering the interviewer’s questions

Media Training: Taking Control Never accentuate the negative Learn the art of the bridge – Phrases like "What's important is..." or "The real issue here is..." or "What I'm here to talk about today is..." can get you back on track If someone asks something you don’t know the answer to, don’t lie or make it up; say “Let me get back to you” (even if you never do)

Need Media Training? Contact Leah Ingram Through June 30, 2015 use code ASJA2015 to get a discount on media training. On the next slide, you’ll find links to video of our two writer volunteers—Vicki Powers and Kim Kavin (thank you!)

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