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TELEVISION
AND RADIO SKILLS
Stevens
Media Consulting provides evaluations and coaching in the following
areas:
TV
AND RADIO JOURNALISM -
Interviewing, news writing, reporting, anchoring, voice-over, standups.
A
Comment on Anchoring: Many people think this skill relies mainly on
“voice”. I approach it more theoretically- teaching anchors
to work from foundations of semantic theory...news/information analysis..
and audience analysis. A majority of journalists have perfectly fine
speaking voices – but lose their way in the course of trying
to sound “professional”.
Problematic issues specific to someone’s voice or speech (articulation)
are addressed separately.
SPORTS
AND COLOR ANALYSIS
WEATHER
PROGRAM
HOSTING AND INTERVIEWING
INFOTAINMENT
- for TV’s How-To Programming
TELEPROMPTER
SKILLS - For first-timers or professionals honing this skill
SYNDICATED
CUT-INS - Professionals learn how to translate their knowledge
to taped stand-alone TV or radio segments.
CROSSOVER
TRAINING - Print journalists learn to transfer their reporting
skills to TV or radio.
VOICE TRAINING
Services
Finding and Using Your Optimum Voice
Interpretation/Delivery Techniques for News and Information
Voice-Over Training for Tracking
Correcting Bad Habits, Patterns, Misconceptions
Many
journalists are already strong in writing.. reporting.. and standups.
Voice is a separate vehicle that carries and supports information.
A person’s speaking voice may or may not need some work. Sometimes
it’s evident.. other times it comes as a supportive request
from management- or an agent. Voice work should not be a big deal
and it certainly should have a finite number of sessions. Cars need
continuous, professional maintenance over the years. Journalism voices
don’t.
There are 2 types of voices that merit voice training: The normal
voice that’s used wrong in effort to sound “professional”..
and the natural speaking voice that is distracting enough to become
a professional liability.
Some Thoughts on 3 Commonly Encountered
Frustrations
On needing more ‘energy’- What does management really
want when they ask you to “punch it” .. “put more
energy into it”.. “make it more conversational”..
or “pretend you’re talking to your best friend”?
We’ll get you over the hump.
On
breathing- Gasping in air is inefficient and tiring. You should never
be worrying about ‘where to breathe’. The right way to
support a pleasant and clear voice can be easily learned.
On
‘emphasis’- Many people get caught up in a superficial
concept of ‘emphasis’- and lose their way. Script analysis
techniques can help hook you into a natural delivery.
SPEECH/ARTICULATION
This
refers to the anatomical placement and precision of speech sounds.
Speakers in the United States use a ‘standard English’
presentation of vowels and consonants that varies throughout North
America and Canada.
Most
people speak in a perfectly acceptable manner. But if you’re
told that you sound too ‘regional’.. or if you indeed
have an idiosyncratic speech problem - you may need some help in isolating
and correcting the appropriate vowels or consonants.
Assistance
in reduction of accents and dialects is provided. Complete conversion
to standard North American speech cannot be promised.
RELATED
SERVICES
HOSTING
Hosting success depends on the ability to be yourself.. and to be sincere..
despite the fact that youíre on TV. With this said: some behaviors
may need to be a bit exaggerated.. and others eradicated or tweaked-
depending on the nature of the script or program. Since it can be uncomfortable
to "be natural" while saying something that you wouldn't necessarily
say, techniques and tips for interpretation and delivery are taught.
Learn to host scripted programs or those that provide only preparation
material.
PREPARATION
FOR TV AUDITIONS
Largely for anchoring and hosting. Learn what works on TV and why- from
the perspective of communicating and bonding with the unseen viewers.
Learn about the audition process- ie. how to comport yourself once you've
entered the space.. and how to best participate in the audition. Anchors
also receive practice in breaking news.
SKILL
EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
We’ll discuss what’s strong.. what’s weak.. and we’ll
tackle techniques for improvement. This includes writing, reporting
and delivery.
ASSISTANCE IN SELECTION OF DEMO TAPE CONTENTS
Come with a reel or a bag-full of cued tapes. We’ll select your
opening montage as well as the content to follow.
DIAGNOSTIC
COACHING
Provided as a service to management or individuals. This can serve as
a shortcut to determining a person’s potential.
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