Monday, 13 July 2009

It's all about the thrill of it!

Every editor in broadcast news would have had one goal this year and that was to get an exclusive interivew with Obama - The race was on as soon as the results of the American elections were announced. So this time Sky won the day and there will be much hang ringing in newsrooms as to why they didnt get the main man of the moment - Such is the competition for ratings that I'm sure champagne corks were popping long into the night at the SKY HQ so if you're sitting there saying 'so what' its just an interivew - - the thrill is in the race thats what runs through a journalist veins from the minute they wake up to the moment they go to sleep!

Monday, 6 July 2009

FEDERER WOWS THE CROWD & THE MEDIA!

What a superstar Roger Federer is - not only is he the best tennis player in the world but also unlike many sports stars, he completely understands how to manage the media - he gives them what they want so they love him! He definitely knows how to play the game both on and off the court. He knows what makes the media tick and manipulates them so he not only raises his own profile but that of all his eager sponsors who so desperately want to get their logo broadcast to millions. Once again confidence, clarity and control are the key to a successful relationship with the press and boy does he have all three!

Wednesday, 1 July 2009

THAT VOICE!

Ok I have to admit having blogged on the wonders of Andy Murray's interivew technique - i now have to have a moan. Surely with all the money, coaching and advice that is available, could someone please make his voice sound just a bit more animated! Even after a gruelling 5 sets on Monday he still managed to describe his brilliant performance as if he were reading a shopping list! This is one of the key things we train people to do whenever they are doing interivews or presentations - is to show how passionate and enthusiastic they are so that the audience can connect with you!

Monday, 29 June 2009

MURRAY MEDIA MAGIC

One man who has definitely improved his interivew technique is the main man at Wimbledon this year - Andy Murray. At every press conference or interview - all attempts to be led off course into the dangerous territories of - do think you going to beat Federer, do you think its a given your going to be in the final - he calmy replies that hes taking each match at at time...all his competitors are playing at the top of their game . etc etc - a perfect example of confidence, clarity and control!

Friday, 26 June 2009

ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN!

Yes, Wimbledon is here, exam time is nearly over and its raining at Glastonbury and so the nightmare of the silly season starts here. News editors around the UK are desperately seeking stories to fill acres of pages or airtime. So take heed all of you who have great postive news stories to tell - phone your favourite journalist now! He/she will greet you with open arms. So Carpe diem !

Monday, 8 June 2009

Its not just what you know its how you say it!

In these troubled times when we need the brightest brains to tell us how to work our way out of the worst recession for decades isnt it amazing that one of the reasons the electorate has lost faith in the system is that MPs just dont know how to communicate with us. Whether its the expenses scandal, or the collapse of the banks the lack of ability to engage with an audience and understand what the general pubic need to hear as to what is the way forward has been lost. Being able to get your message across in challenging times and demonstrate care and compassion is just as important as when there is a positive message to get out. So really its not just about knowing what needs to be said but how you said it!

Friday, 5 June 2009

VIRGIN DOES IT AGAIN!

Yet another piece of brilliant PR this morning on the radio by the chief executive of Virgin Trains. Despite the interivewer throwing every negative at him from late running trains, ,major disruption on the west coast, he still managed to turn every single response into a positive and ended up being a great 4 minute advert on travelling by train!