Preparation is the key to a successful media appearance. It is not enough to have the knowledge of your topic or the particular case you will be discussing on air. You must also know how to present your talking points or point of view. It is not only what you say, but how you say it.
The difference between a good guest and a great guest is determined by your demeanor, body language and positioning, and the use of your head and hands to get your point across. The type of guests who are invited back again and again are the ones who are animated, adamant about their position on a particular story and those who use pithy comments during their appearance. Your role as a guest on TV or radio is not just to impart information but also to entertain. TV is entertainment, even if the topic is serious.
The best way to make a good impression on producers and increase your chances of being invited back, especially if it is your first time on their show, is to be professionally media trained. The training will teach you to incorporate in every appearance you make, the tips and strategies that are essential to a great TV appearance and to insure that you will never come up against a situation that causes you to stumble on live television. One flubbed appearance, and the network and cable TV producers tend to write you off.
There is a right way and a wrong way to do most anything. Being professionally media trained prior to going on TV or radio is most definitely the right way to begin your on air analyst experience. The methods and strategies you will learn will also benefit you in your everyday life and career.
