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If a picture’s worth a thousand words here’s why the opposite may be true

The Laughing Cavalier by Frans Hals to the left. The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci to the right. So who’s the cavalier chap with the enigmatic face in the centre? And what’s his story?

Why choosing the right words is like a priceless oil painting is the subject of the latest episode in Rich Uridge’s Z to A of Media Training.


Poets spend a lot of time thinking about the right word to conjure up the right image. And the best poets – like Ted Hughes, Seamus Heaney and Dylan Thomas – do so brilliantly and almost always in the plainest of language. Here’s Richard latest poem, hopefully without an inappropriate word in sight. Do the words he’s chosen readily conjure up images? You be the judge….

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Why you should hammer home your key messages in interviews and presentations

You may well know what you’re trying to get across in a job or media interview or presentation. But does your audience? Probably not! Which is why it’s important you don’t leave your key messages to chance. So take a leaf out of Winston Churchill’s public speaking playbook.

In this episode of the Z to A of Media Training, ACM’s communication coach, Rich Uridge, delves into his toolbox to make a point and drive it home.

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How to make your key messages stand out in a media interview or presentation

You know what’s important when you’re giving an interview or presentation. But the audience doesn’t – unless you them them! Tagging is promotional technique that allows you to make your key messages loud, clear and “sticky.” In other words stick in people’s minds rather than go in one ear and out the other before you’ve barely finished speaking.

You use tags and labels on Christmas presents and suitcases so why not in interviews and presentations?

T is for Tagging is part of a growing collection of how to videos on The Z to A of Media Training here and on our YouTube channel.

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Why less is more in media interviews and presentations

Knowing when enough is enough in a media interview or presentation is really important. After all you could be Gone in 60 Seconds. Or half that.

So here’s some wise advice from ACM Training’s old owl, Rich Uridge, on keeping it short in this, the latest episode of the Z to A of Media Training.

The Z to A of Media Training (because everbody starts at A)
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How to make sure you’re in focus in online videos

Sharper-eyed viewers have spotted a rubber mask in the background of some of my online videos. So here I put him (it?) in the foreground, centre stage as it were and explain why he’s my mate. Spoiler alert. Watch to the very end. And please do not adjust your sets.

This is just one of a series of how to videos over on the Owl Service our YouTube channel.

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Pausing for effect

Why am I winking? Because here’s a quick and easy way to make your presentations – online and face-to-face – more memorable. Not by being cheesy but by pausing for effect…

Just made an important point? Then count slowly to at least three in your head before continuing…

Make that a five second pause if you want to inject real drama. A veritable cliff hanger……

Really should have changed out of those running shorts before doing this episode of the Z to A of Presenting. But then I’d have to have paused for 20 seconds and that’s waaay too long.

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C is for Captions

Richard Uridge: the perfect face for radio.

Captions are really good at making your videos more accessible. And handy for people who want to follow what you’re saying without having the volume turned up (even if it’s just in case the boss is listening). But it’s really annoying when those captions aren’t in the right place. The audience want to see your mouth. And your eyes. So here’s a bit of fun advice about positioning those captions so they help rather than hinder the whole business of communication. Yes! It’s the latest episode in the Z to A of Presenting.

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The Z to A of Presenting: T is for Tone

In this five minute video ACM Training’s communication coach, Richard Uridge, talks about striking the right tone in presentations – in particular in the current climate with all that is happening in Ukraine.

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G is for Gimmick

Using cheap tricks or stunts to grab an audience’s attention is the presentational equivalent of click bait. So here ACM Training’s communication coach, Richard Uridge, explains (with just a hint of festive irony) the difference between gimmicks and legitimate devices to hook people into your presentation. And, yes, you really won’t believe what he looks like today!

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How a treasury tag might have saved the Prime Minister’s bacon

Every failure is an opportunity to learn and grow – even when you’re the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. And it’s to him that we dedicate this episode of the Z to A of Presenting: T is for Treasury Tag. Watch to find out how the PM could have saved himself a whole heap of grief in that lemon-chewingly embarrassing speech to the CBI with one of those little bits of string with a tiny metal bar at either end that are buried at the back of stationary cupboards everywhere. It could just save your next presentation from a #peppapig moment too!

PS Buy shares in treasury tags!

“I knew those treasury tags would come in handy one day.”

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