You're On!

Alec Sabin

Description

More of us are appearing on the media these days simply because there is more of it about. Radio, TV, YouTube, podcasts, webcasts - you name it - have voracious appetites and their cheap fast food is you and me. Yet more of us want to appear on the media as practised professionals, whether as TV or radio presenter, journalist, or simply guest interviewee on a show. In this brand new edition of You're On! Alec Sabin has simple advice for all would-be broadcasters, even the celebrity wannabee. You need to prepare, you need to engage and you need to communicate. Preparation allows you to look like you are winging it, when you're not. Did you think those cool, casual DJ ad-libs weren't planned? Engaging your audience is making sure they're listening to you even when all that's in front of you is a microphone or camera lens in a draughty studio. Communication involves taking your viewers and listeners with you.Taking a wide-ranging approach, Alec discusses the qualities of good presentation, engaging the audience and how mastery of your material is crucial. He provides exercises to improve vocal quality and breathing, tips on controlling nerves, and an insight into how broadcast audio and video technology can work for you. There is expert guidance and further exercises on everything from ad-libbing and podcasting to reading a script and interviewing.And what about creativity, energy, passion and something which comes from leftfield, not guaranteed but valued, and most of all welcomed by all professionals - a certain...? Well, it's described in the last paragraph of You're On! but to fully appreciate it you really need to read what comes before.This book will be essential reading for media students and professionals alike; with useful material for anyone who has to make a great impression in front of the camera or microphone.

Sujets

• Media

Informations

• Publié par: eBook Versions
• Date de parution: 02 décembre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781843964155
• Langue: English

Extrait

Alec Sabin as voice
and presentation trainer



You did a great job. We had lots of positive feedback about the sessions. I ve already heard the difference on-air.
Jonathan Aspinwall, Editor, BBC Radio 5 Live News.

As before - really focussed and useful and I know the team here found the sessions most useful. Hope we see you again in the future.
News Editor, BBC Surrey, November 2011.

This is so helpful, thank you so much. There were a couple of things that you hit on, without me telling you, so we are on the same page.
Presenter, World Have Your Say, BBC World Service.

Thank you for the feedback. It s really really helpful. There are some good tips which I ll take on board.
BBC TV Reporter, The Politics Show.

He communicated his ideas to me enthusiastically and effectively.

Has given me more confidence to broadcast.

Very good at getting to the crux of the problem.

Warm and engaging, good fun!
Various BBC journalists on evaluation forms.

A remarkable course that empowered me with specific media skills.
Extremely useful. Very well arranged. Should be obligatory for all leading W.H.O. staff.

It was worth travelling every mile to attend this course. (4,000 miles)
Trainees on a media course for the World Health Organization at Eli Lilly in Indianapolis.

Just thought I d let you know I m doing much better... In all I feel a lot happierwith my presentation than before I met with you... I was very happy with these sessions.
BBC Radio 6 Music Presenter.

Veteran broadcaster and BBC World Service Presentation Trainer Alec Sabin has some helpful advice that draws on both his years as a senior announcer at the Beeb, and his earlier incarnation as a jobbing actor in TV drama, soapsand the theatre.
Tina Bexson, from Relax - you re on air in 30 seconds...
Body Mind column, London Evening Standard.

Published by Mazan Media

Copyright © 2016 Alec Sabin

All rights reserved

Author s website
www.alecsabin.com

Alec Sabin has asserted his
right under the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988 to be
identified as the author of this work.

ISBN 978-1-84396-415-5

Also available in paperback
ISBN 978-1-53951-218-9

This book is sold subject
to the condition that it shall not,
by way of trade or otherwise, be
lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise
circulated without the author’s prior
consent in any form of binding or
cover other than that in which it is
published and without a similar
condition being imposed on the
subsequent purchaser.

eBook production
eBook Versions
127 Old Gloucester Street
London WC1N 3AX
www.ebookversions.com
For Pippa
Contents



Alec Sabin as voice and presentation trainer
Copyright Credits
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Introduction

Chapter 1 - Back to Basics
What is Presentation?
Presence
Focus of Attention
Communication
Talent or Know-how?
Self-awareness, Self-consciousness, Self-obsession
Your own 15 Minutes of Fame
Preparation and Study
The Media Today
Summary

Chapter 2 - Qualities of Good Presentation
Is Good Presentation Science or Art?
The Four Groups of Qualities
1. Communicative Qualities
2. Material Qualities
3. Personal Qualities
4. Vocal Qualities
Summary

Chapter 3 Voice and Breathing
Why do Broadcasters need Voice Training?
Intonation and Vocal Variety
Breathing
Relaxation
Posture
Voice Exercises and Articulation
Problems and What You Can Do about Them
Accents and Dialects
Summary

Chapter 4 - Your Audience
Connecting with Your Audience
Visualizing Your Audience
Radio Listeners
Television Viewers
Outside Broadcasts
On-air Identity
Interaction
Summary

Chapter 5 - Your Material
It’s not how you say it, it’s what you say
News
Current Affairs
Sport Business
Feature Programmes
Being an Expert
Writing for Broadcast
Journalism
Summary

Chapter 6 - Reading a Script
Is the Script Necessary?
What Scripts Look Like
Preparation
Getting it Off the Page
Breaking Down the Script
Talking to Time
Summary

Chapter 7 - Problem Solving
Seven Common Problems
1. You often feel nervous or are overcome by nerves.
2. You feel you’re not being yourself, or natural.
3. You tend to go too quickly. You can’t control the speed.
4. You feel your delivery is unusual.
People don’t understand you the first time.
5. Your voice is too weak or high-pitched. You feel yousound too young or lack authority.
6. It sounds boring or monotone. How do you spice it up?
7. You tend to ramble. Your message needs honing.

Chapter 8 - Ad-Libbing
Preparation
Music Presenting
Pieces to Camera
Dealing with the Unexpected
Filling to Time
Continuity
Summary

Chapter 9 - Interviewing
What is an Interview?
Why Interview?
Asking the Right Questions
Types of Interview
What is the Interview for?
Useful Technique
Summary

Chapter 10 - Being Interviewed
What You Need to Know before the Interview
How to Get the Best out of an Interview
Some Practical Tips
Summary

Chapter 11 - The Media
The Application of Presentation Skills
Radio, TV, Online
Radio Broadcasting
Radio Technical Matters
Television
Online
Transferable Media Presentation Skills
Summary

Chapter 12 -p Final Thoughts
Useful Qualities Not in the Job Description
Training
Employment
And that brings us to the...
Summary

Bibliography and Websites

Glossary
Acknowledgements



Philippa Hurd for invaluable professional editorial advice and all the support and valuable time she has put into this project.

I am grateful to the following from the BBC:

• Andrew Burroughs for valuable information and advice on TV journalism and production
• Simon Griffin for useful TV and technical advice and information; Kevin Oliver for broadcast and technical advice
• Fiona Macdonald for valuable professional discussion and suggestions
• Piers Melbourne Mandy Coppard for technical advice
• Jonathan Stoneman Helen Law for their encouragement and support
• Andrew Walker for advice and contacts on TV

My thanks also to:

• Elizabeth Estensen for her insights into TV feature programme interviews
• Rebecca Sabin for editorial contributions

Some of the problems and their solutions have come from my many trainees including:

• Journalists and staff at the BBC
• Students at City Lit, London
• Actors and students at the Actors Centre London
• Corporate and private clients
Introduction



Since I wrote You’re On! How to Develop Great Media Skills (How To Books, 2009) inevitably there have been changes and developments in the media world. However it is remarkable how much remains the same, especially regarding presentation. Different content and programmes have come to air, and the use of YouTube and social media as well as digital and online activity in general has predictably grown. But the skills required to be your best on the media, whether as reporter, feature journalist, presenter, guest or casual performer are much the same.

It is for this reason that a broadcast presentation handbook is not only a useful helpmate, but also one that can endure in its appeal to those who need to create, understand or polish their on-air delivery. As a broadcast presentationtrainer I wanted to create a toolkit - a useful guide, an educational resource, a training manual, a compendium of practical exercises all in one place. Having a handbook to consult for whatever issue that comes up is, I think, always going to be an asset.

And, of course, as a presentation trainer I deal with all sorts of issues which form the basis of the book’s content. I hope that people who find themselves in front of a microphone or camera, who want to establish or perfect thenecessary skills, will find what they need here.

Who is this book for?

People who want presentation training do so for a variety of reasons. Some want to be professional presenters, and I certainly address myself to those who want to work as a radio or TV presenter. But I also see this book as beingfor people from a range of working environments, with differing professional abilities, who commonly have a desire or need to improve their presentation skills in front of the camera or microphone.

They may want help dealing with media professionals – how to be an effective interviewee. Experts and academics often want tips when asked to appear as guests on radio or TV. They want to know how they can best get their ideas and information across to a more general audience. Writers and print journalists may want to move into radio or television and so need to master another medium. Others may want to learn effective podcasting. Media and journalism students will need to effectively report and present. Those usually behind the camera and microphone can find out what it is likein front of them. Producers, directors and editors often ask me how to get the best out of their presenters. Actors and other performers may want the challenge to be themselves, for a change, in front of an audience. All kindsof professionals, corporate and management, may want help with making speeches or presentations to groups of colleagues or clients.

There is something here for all these people, and though this book focuses on the electronic media, where the audience is not physically in front of the presenter, the techniques discussed will be useful for any presentation, sincethe principles involved generally apply to all presentation.

The exchange

In my experience as a voice and presentation trainer I have found that when the best work is being done both parties are learning something - both my trainee(s) and myself. There is an exchange. It is true that some of my trainees may be experienced journalists with sophisticated ideas and a good deal of information about interesting parts of the world. I have worked with journalists from all over the globe: Eastern Europe, Russia, Central Asia, Iran, the Arab world, China, South East As