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Look into my eyes…

Eye contact is a really important component of communication. The words we’re speaking matter, of course. But audiences judge us in all sorts of non-verbal ways too. By looking into our eyes, for example, to work out whether they can trust what we’re saying.

So in this video, ACM Training’s media trainer, Richard Uridge, channels his inner Kenny Craig (a rubbish hypnotist played by the Little Britain actor Matt Lucas) and shows how a Post-it note can help.

E is for Eye Contact; The latest how-to video in the Z to A of Media Training.

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Slow down you move too fast

Simon and Garfunkel weren’t talking about media interviews and presentations when they sang the line “slow down you move too fast.” But it’s good advice all the same.

If you move too fast when speaking publicly, your audience will struggle to keep up. Give a point a chance to sink in before moving onto the next point.

Let it breathe…

And don’t have too many points – it’ll be hard to squeeze them all in without leaving your listeners and viewers by the wayside. S is for Slowly – another episode from ACM Training’s wise old owl, Rich Uridge, in 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 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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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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How to avoid your media interviews being edited

Want to know why I could get away with robbing a bank?

Because years of editing radio programmes with razor blades have removed much of my fingerprints. If you want to avoid journalists removing many of your important points in a media interview then you need to be disciplined so that your words – and your reputation – don’t get shredded.

And here’s how, in the first of a brand new mini series from the people that brought you the Z to A of Presenting (because everyone starts with A) – the Z to A of Media Training.

Spot the new(s) desk btw!

The Z to A of Media Training (because everbody starts at A)
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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.