Promotions surface everyday for seminars that promise to show the easy way to become a media superstar… start a video blog… or pitch yourself to Oprah.  Ee gads!  One seminar’s landing page had video testimonials from past participants that had spent $5,000 to meet reporters and producers in hopes of becoming a guest expert.  Not one of these people could look comfortably at the camera, and I cringed at the money they had just dropped for the weekend. Without camera awareness, they don’t have a chance of being booked as a guest.
 
There is a certain camera savvy that must be in place before you put yourself in the vulnerable position of media exposure.
 
Still not sure if this media training is really what you need?
 
Here’s the experience of an unpolished guest on a TV interview show as seen

• through the eyes of the interviewer: They are struggling to keep the segment running at a smooth pace, the guest is running on, and falling off topic… they are tiring, and the guest will not be asked back if the host has anything to say about it.
• Through the eyes of the producer;  He sees the obvious struggle of his host, and wants the guest out of the chair asap.
• Through the eyes of the editor;  A guest that doesn’t know how to find camera and doesn’t speak in clear sound bites for him to edit easily, makes his job much more difficult.
• How about the audience?:  They will find they’ve lost interest, and may not be able to explain why, but they change the channel, or go get a snack. 

As a guest you have responsibilities!  Media wants you to be entertaining, high-energy, hold their audience and teach them something.  It is actually more important HOW you say what you do than WHAT you say.  Learning interview structure, camera awareness, story telling, sound bites are all crucial to maximizing your media opportunities.
 
That’s what media training does.  Good media exposure is powerful, and builds on itself… be ready out of the gate!  Your message is important, and the media wants you to be a star… it makes them look good!  Your job is to be ready!