5 Old-School Myths About Talking To The Camera

Old school media trainers will tell you not to speak with your hands. Nonsense! In the modern media age, anything that helps your character shine through, that makes you appear more authentic, is good – scratch that — great! If you gesticulate naturally, go for it within reason. Use your hands to add emphasis or to make a point but if you see them flailing out of the frame, know that you’re going too far and that you may want to exercise a little restraint. I also counsel many of my clients to hold a pen – it’s like an on-air security blanket for certain people. Just make sure it’s a pen without a clicker. Otherwise, the temptation to nervously click could be overwhelming.

Bottom Line: Be your most expressive self, but be sure you’re not faking or exaggerating the movements.

There are two types of people in the world: Those who respond to stories and those who respond to statistics. If you really want to use stats to back up your point, don’t just spew out numbers. Cage them in a story. Give them context. For example 580,000 Americans died of cancer last year. Yes, that’s a large number but it probably doesn’t spark an emotional reaction or tell you if that’s a big or small number of people. You might want to try it like this: “More people died of cancer last year that live in the city of Boston.” Another example: Instead of saying “350,000 people in Detroit are functionally illiterate,” try: “One in 2 people in Detroit is functionally illiterate. Next time you’re on a train or bus, look around and imagine that half of the car can’t read or write.”

Bottom Line: While numbers aren’t great (especially on the radio), they work better if they are wrapped in a story that gives them context.

Strategic pausing is a good thing. It gives you a few seconds to gather your thoughts, relax and avoid filling the air with annoying verbal fillers — all the ums, uhs, you knows, likes, that make you sound less credible (Remember Caroline Kennedy, who after saying “you know” 142 times in an interview with the New York Times, was shamed into dropping out of the US senate race?). Also, viewers are willing to cut you a little slack if you appear to be a thoughtful person who is answering honestly and intelligently.

Bottom Line: Take a breath–a silent pause is often better than a verbal filler. If you’re doing a taped interview it won’t matter anyway. The dead air will be edited out.

4. You Must Memorize A Script

Frankly, it’s a bad idea to even have a script. If a reporter asks an unexpected question that throws you, you’re more than likely to stumble if your sticking to script. The more effective solution is to hone your messages. Have ready several 30-second stories and any statistics you’ll need to back them up. Then make sure you can tell that story in several different ways — it’s best to stick to one story and be armed with several variations of it.

Bottom Line: Scripts are boring and will likely come off as stale. But you must be prepared to tell pithy, engaging stories that convey your message.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. It’s the audience you need to satisfy, not the reporter. Some media trainers even counsel clients not to address reporter by name — to speak over him or her — directly to the audience. I don’t think that’s necessary, but it is crucial to remember that this is your interview aimed at your perceived constituency. You need to communicate to them in the clearest, most succinct, vivid way.

Bottom Line: You don’t get that many opportunities to tell the world about your great service, product, or self, so make the most of it.