The Case of Noddy and the Mysterious Media Interview

Well, at least that got your attention!

Can you remember the worst interview you’ve ever seen on TV? I bet you can. Was it a politician, reality ‘star’, footballer or unsuspecting member of the public?

For me, it was the director of a certain holiday park company who was being grilled by a prime time TV reporter about some pretty torrid holiday experiences from customers at one of their venues. This was a perfect example of media training - or in this case, lack of media training.

The company representative continually denied everything, was incredibly defensive to the point of being downright aggressive in tone as well as body language, was utterly disinterested in the customers’ complaints, and frankly made viewers feel they’d never want to use that holiday firm in the future.

How different it could have been. The right spokesperson, preparation, tone, language and message delivery could have been the difference between:

(a) alienating the reporter as well as the viewer;

(b) getting the company perceived as caring, considerate and responsive; and

(c) winning and losing customers.

Have you worn the right outfit for the interview?

There are so many things to consider when agreeing to appear on TV or on the radio, or on-line, and that’s where we come in.

Our media trainers are experienced broadcasters, journalists and communications experts, not wannabes or copycats.

We will create a bespoke training course for your business and its issues, and deliver it at your own offices or venue of choice. It can last as long as you want it to ie half a day, a whole day or two. It depends how many people are to be trained and how much content we agree with you will benefit your executives. We also incorporate personal branding and image.

We work with a professional filming crew, so everyone will be filmed and critiqued (in only the most positive way), then we go about giving you expert tips and techniques to hone your skills and make you feel confident and controlled for future broadcasts. The experience takes away the mystique and fear, and having been through it once, you’ll feel much better about doing it for real when the need arises.

“This was one of the best courses I’ve ever been on, and I remember your tips to this very day,” said one of my delegates, a director from a housing group, “even down to the choice of tie I should wear!”

And Noddy? 

It’s the name for those little head shots you see in interviews consisting of nods or signs of listening by the interviewer. Usually it’s because there’s only one camera available, and noddies are recorded after the interview has taken place then edited in. It seems real to the viewer, as if the interview is being filmed from several different angles with a bigger film crew.

Get in touch now to talk about the creation of a bespoke package for your company executives. Simply click here or give us a call.

Your company reputation is worth it.

I’m ready for my close-up now, Mr DeMille

Your heart is racing. There are little beads of sweat on your brow. Your mouth is so dry you could scrape a match along your tongue and it’d light up (don’t try that at home, folks).

In two seconds, you’ll be appearing on live TV. You thought you could handle it. You thought it was a waste of money employing a professional to help you to prepare. Now you’re wishing you’d listened to your colleagues and not thought you knew it all.

Your head is now an empty place with tumbleweed blowing around and you’re grasping around for any words that you can string together to make rational sentences. What will they ask me? What can I answer? Who am I and why am I here?!

This is a familiar position for people who are asked to take part in interviews for the media, whether on TV, radio or for an online platform, who haven't prepared properly. Your performance in front of the cameras or on the radio can mean the difference between getting your messages across succinctly, on point and professionally, or rambling incoherently, losing the plot and damaging your reputation. Which would you prefer?

It’s a no-brainer - get professional training. 

Here are some of the benefits:

•  You'll find out who's the best person to use
• You'll learn how to prepare, visualise and rehearse
• You'll get skills to get the job done effectively
• You'll learn how to calmly deliver key messages
• You’ll look the part and feel more confident
• You’ll know what the journalist is looking for
• You can raise your brand awareness
• You'll understand what soundbites are and how to deliver them
•  You'll keep your cool in a crisis
•   If relevant, you'll grab the opportunity to turn a negative into a positive

Choosing the right location is important too

To find out more about our media training courses and bespoke in-house training for your company, check out Chimera Courses.

Our trainers are industry experts with many years of relevant media and training experience, not novices or copycats. We’ve handled press and crises in-house for small to large companies and not-for-profits, as well as been media interviewers, journalists and producers, so we know what we’re talking about. 

Altogether in our team, we have around 200 years of experience in PR, sales and marketing. That makes us very old or very knowledgeable, our clients judge which. 

Hint: none of us are collecting our pensions just yet…