I used to judge the press and the horrible nightly news, saw them as pawns PR’ing political agendas (or selling sensational crap)
My perspective’s changed! (Whew… the judgment didn’t feel so good…)
I spent last Thursday and Friday in Michigan, taking a two day intensive to learn how to make good use of the television media. One thing I didn’t anticipate – it totally transformed how I see ‘the press’.
I learned, or, more accurately, I cellularly integrated a couple new skills and perspectives. First, that the media is passive; they don’t go out after news, they respond to what’s brought to them.
Conclusion? If we want better news, its OUR job to be proactive and get the new info to them! (Who’da thunk?) Yahoo! I can no longer complain! (Now, after reading this, neither can you! ;)
Second, that it is important to speak in short bites (10 to 15 seconds), then wait for their next question.
And Third, NO SEX on the first date! (i.e. no shameless pitching to the camera). We are there to educate and inform, not to sell our services.
The training, called the ‘Media Mastery Bootcamp‘, is the creation of Shawne Duperon. Shawne is masterful, a 5 time Emmy award winner. She’s got a lot of other awards too, all I know is that Shawne is an awesome coach and that it was insightful, eye-opening and fun to take her training.
The most important learning? To smile (a lot!). I can do that!
As I get my book ready for publication, the skills I learned give me even more clarity for upcoming interviews. I now recognize reporters as fellow humans looking for a good story. And have I got a story to tell!
Oprah, Larry, Ellen, here I come!
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