Media Training

Interacting with the media and interviewing on live television can be a stressful experience, especially if it's your first time. Since the exposure and brand awareness that stem from media placements is incredibly beneficial to your company's reputation, it's important to be fully prepared.

If you're not used to being in front of the camera, it can be difficult to remain calm and focused under the bright lights (or ring light via Zoom!). That's where we come in. Cleary Strategies will help you hone your interviewing skills and boost your confidence both on and off camera.

Our Approach

At Cleary Strategies, our media training services are tailored to each client's needs. We understand that every individual has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses, which is why we take the time to get to know you and your story before developing a training plan.

We will focus on the areas where you need the most help and prepare you for success.

Understanding Your Goals

Ronica Cleary and our team of media experts will work with you to understand your goals. What do you want to achieve from media interactions? Who is your target audience? What is your underlying message? Conversely, what topics are you hoping to avoid? Are you comfortable pivoting an interview from an uncomfortable topic to one you are eager to discuss?

Once we have a clear understanding of your objectives and desires, we will then tailor a training program to help you achieve those goals. We will also provide valuable feedback and critiques so that you can continuously improve your performance.

Fine-Tuning Your Message & Responses

We will help you learn how to choose your words carefully for the most impact. You may not realize that the industry jargon and complex terminology you often use is confusing to audiences. Or perhaps you're unaware of how often you use filler words, such as "like" and "um." These small details are critical to the success of your interview, to your message being portrayed accurately in the media, and to the chances of securing more interviews in the future.

With training and practice, you'll be able to effortlessly weave your message into your responses without going off topic, coming across as a salesperson, or even ignoring the interviewer's questions altogether.

Mannerisms and Appearance Matter

Media training is so much more than helping an individual to fine-tune their message and knowing how to answer questions well. It also helps you to adjust your tone, posture, hand gestures, and body language in a way that will not distract viewers and take away from what you're saying. You want your mannerisms and outward appearance to improve and enhance your message.

We’ll also provide guidance on how best to present yourself on air. This includes wardrobe and makeup tips, and advice on selecting the right colors and tones for your wardrobe or Zoom backdrop.

As television is a visual medium, you may be overlooking these important details that matter to the viewer and booking producer, impeding your opportunities to be featured on air again and again!

Our Media Training Philosophy

Cleary Strategies has a long-standing reputation as one of the best media training firms. Some media coaches strive for stoic, robotic, perfection. We do not. We believe in authentic, sincere, and compelling interactions on air that are a representation of your true self.

We will never tell you exactly what to say or attempt to change you into a person you are not for on-air interviews. We’ll never encourage you to transform your wardrobe so drastically that you feel like you’re wearing a costume. Instead, we’ll look at who you are and help you to present that in a compelling and effective way within the space of television media.

Contact Our Media Experts

If you're looking to improve your media interactions and skills, Cleary Strategies can help. Schedule a consultation with our team today to get started!

Media Training FAQ

What is media training?

Media training is a process that helps individuals learn how to interact with the media, prepare for interviews, and deliver their message effectively on camera. With this form of specialized training, you can learn to better anticipate your interviewer's questions, recognize their cues, and keep your cool under the pressure of live TV segments.

Why is media training important?

You may feel confident and clear-headed leading up to your interview, until just moments before going live when you feel unprepared, anxious, or fidgety. Having a lack of confidence on the air could be detrimental to both your brand reputation and the success of getting your message across. What's more, since TV and media placements are so competitive, if your interview doesn't go well, doing poorly could affect your chances of being asked to return to a program again.

Past appearances are also important when presenting you to new TV bookers and producers. They want to see what you have done to feel confident that you would be a good fit for their program. These are just a few of the reasons why it is so important that your first time on camera is great.

Do experienced interviewees need media training?

Even the most experienced individuals can benefit from media training. If you're not happy with how your last interview went or if you want to take your media game to the next level, we can help.

Who benefits from media training?

Anyone who wants to improve their media skills and confidence can benefit from media training. This includes business professionals, brand representatives, entrepreneurs, politicians, community leaders, and non-profit organizations. What's more, producers and reporters will also benefit because they're getting a great interview and your expert opinion for their story.

What are some signs that I need media training?

If you find yourself getting anxious before an interview, if you're not sure what to expect, if you're not confident in your message, or if you're not happy with how your last interview went, then media training could be right for you.

Is media training only for TV interviews?

No. Media training can be used for much more than television segments. We provide training for the following:

Public speaking
Conferences and panels
Facebook / Instagram Live
Broadcast interviews, including radio and podcasting
Non-live interviews, such as quotes for web articles or print magazines and newspapers
Group workshops