Media Training and Appearing on Camera
We all know that feeling when the heat is on and that lens is staring you in the face, It’s easy to lose sight of the task at hand and get flustered. Relax! This video is here to guide you through techniques that will ensure your message and personality translate through to your audience.
Now, there’s a fine balance between being prepared and being an over scripted robot. Nobody expects you to be over rehearsed and rigid – your personality is important! We suggest that you prepare a few queue points and phrases that you want to include that will help you deliver a clear message when you’re called to action. Think about: What is the storyline? Why should your viewers care? Where is the selling point? Dumb it down, can anyone understand the concept you want to convey? It sounds simple, but really it makes a difference.
If you don’t feel comfortable, you won’t look it. Plain and simple. That’s why you need to go for a professional but comfortable style – well fitting but conservative. If you’re wondering what to wear there are a few do’s and don’t.
Herringbone and fine patterned shirts can cause an unwanted effect on the camera, this is called Moire. You may see it from time to time on the news but if you can plan your wardrobe then avoiding fine patterns is a good thing to consider.
If possible, also avoid anything that shines or reflects. As a general rule don’t wear flashy jewellery – necklaces’ especially as they can interfere with clip mic sound.
Eye contact is essential. This could either be with the camera if you’re presenting directly to the audience or if you’re filming an interview then with your interviewer.
It’s important to remain relaxed in an interview. Take your time to think about the questions before you answer and don’t worry about having to say everything in one go. It often works better if your soundbites are 10-15 seconds long anyway for editing purposes. Try to answer the question fully, meaning repeat the question in your answer. This shows you’ve listened and always sounds better on playback, especially if the interviewer’s questions won’t be featured in the end product.
Treat the first few minutes of the interview as an icebreaker – get comfortable with the interviewer then start to delve deeper into the important questions. Remember – Clarity is key, so project your voice, but make sure you stay at a consistent level.
Also, watch your hands. Some people like to use their hands when explaining things, and that can be ok to show your personality, but make sure they’re not distracting. If you can, stick your hands at your side, or behind them. It really depends on what shot is being used on you, and if you can use your hands in any way for the presentation.
But why is it important to have these skills? Well there’s a number of reasons. For one, they’re perfect for tackling crisis management. Having training to handle the media in a crisis situation is a critical part of a company’s emergency response and emergency preparedness procedures. Having a well trained spokesperson for your company can make a spontaneous situation easier and manageable. This is crucial for any large company looking to maintain good brand identity and reputation.
Having strong media communication skills is crucial for anytime you’re on camera. Being able to deflect questions that aren’t relevant and deal with interruptions from pushy journalists when your company’s brand is on the line is another important skill. Media training will teach you how to tailor your message to your audience and keep them engaged in what you have to say, whilst feeling relaxed and confident in your delivery.
You should also know that with current video marketing trends that more and more businesses are looking to present their own video content for the launch of new products or for delivering video training exercises. Having key personnel equipped to present on camera, that are professional and clear with their message is a growing trend amongst companies developing their own training programmes and digital platforms. When thinking about making this content, it’s a good idea to have someone with these skills hired and fully trained, meaning you can get your content out more efficiently.
