My Services
I offer a host of services to help you meet your communication goals – everything from media training sessions to panel moderating and conference emceeing.
Media Training
Media training isn’t about turning you into someone you aren’t or teaching you to answer questions with robotic answers. Instead, it’s about having you feel comfortable and confident when dealing with the media. I know how daunting it can be to sit in front of a camera; even with decades of network experience, there were times I had butterflies brought on by the demands of breaking news.
My goal is to help you understand how to present yourself effectively and ensure that your message comes across. Media training sessions are aimed at understanding how media interviews work and what the reporter is looking for. A key part of the training is working not just to hone messages, but to practice techniques that allow you to make sure your most important points are front and center – no matter what questions are asked. To help you prepare for interactions with the media, I focus on crafting insightful and tough questions you might face. Training sessions also include mock interviews on camera, which are then reviewed to improve performance and boost confidence. Whether you’re preparing for a specific interview or press conference or want to prep overall for interviews still to come, I can help you master the necessary techniques.
Would you like to have media training?
Moderating
I have extensive experience moderating panels and conducting interviews at conferences. I have conducted keynote interviews with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and moderated panels featuring Mark Kennedy Shriver, as well as and with the CEOs of the top business airplane manufacturers. I’ve moderated press conferences on subjects as varied as the presidential debates to women and the economy. Prior to any event, my goal is to prepare, prepare -- and then prepare even more. I don’t leave anything to chance, drawing on my years of work as a journalist to research and delve deeply into the subject matter at hand. I reach out to experts in the field for their insights. Whether moderating a panel on aviation and climate change, interviewing a renown keynote speaker, discussing early childhood education, or dissecting the Federal Reserve’s move to raise interest rates, my extensive preparation allows me to promise a discussion that is entertaining and informative. I work closely with you to understand your objectives for the event and to ensure those are met.
Are you looking for moderating services?
Emceeing
A good emcee is part conductor, making sure that your event is both in tune and on time. A good emcee is also part stage manager, helping the conference organizer make sure the event runs smoothly. And a good emcee is part magician, ensuring that when things don’t go as planned, the audience is none the wiser. As a television correspondent whose job it was to inform and entertain, and who worked in a profession where even the best-laid plans often changed by the second, I have the skills to be a confident and dynamic emcee. I understand pacing and timing, smooth transitions, and how to keep audiences engaged. As with my moderating, I prepare extensively prior to any conference, researching the subject matter and working with organizers to plan out my portion of the event. My goal is to guarantee that audiences not just learn something, but do so while remaining fully energized and engaged.
Do you need an emcee?
Newsmaker Interviews
As a journalist I have conducted thousands of interviews through the years. Using those same skills, I help my clients uncover the story they want to tell and the messages they want to deliver. I’ve been privileged to interview keynote speakers on everything from planetary science to economic policy, helping to kick off conferences and ensure the event begins in a compelling way. I make sure my interview subject is relaxed and assured before we sit down for our on-stage chat. There’s nothing more delightful or satisfying than having a natural, fun, and informative conversation that leaves the audience with a “wow” moment.
Interested in newsmaker interviews?
Messaging
Whether talking to journalists, doing a company presentation, or giving a speech, you want to ensure that you connect with your audience and get your message across. Words matter – both in terms of content and delivery. Messaging is especially key during media interviews, when you might have fewer than 10 seconds of airtime to make your point. As a former network news correspondent, I understand how to communicate clearly and with brevity. I understand how to craft messages so that they are “quotable” and relatable to the audience. I can help you develop messaging that you are comfortable with, and will also resonate with the audience. Strategic messaging is especially critical in this social media age, when a single comment taken out of context can go viral and create a harmful impression. As a former TV journalist who has written hundreds of scripts and done countless live interviews, I am perfectly positioned to help ensure your messaging is on target and serves your organization’s goals and needs.
Want help with messaging?
Storytelling
Weaving words together in an impactful way has been the hallmark of my career in the media, and I now draw on these storytelling skills to help clients tell their own stories. The goal is to create a narrative that is understandable, while also connecting emotionally with the audience. Working with either print or video strategies, I can help clients get the word out on study results, promote their good works, and raise awareness about issues they care about. Whether it’s a 10-second radio soundbite, a two-minute public service announcement or a two-page written press release, I’ve got the skills to help get your stories told.
Looking to perfect your story?