Course Description

This course is specifically for Democratic candidates running for public office in the United States. Candidates will earn how to develop a stump speech, hold press conferences, speak to live audiences and the media. Additionally, they will learn how to defend themselves form Republican attacks. The course will cover every aspect of developing messages, answering reporters' questions and speaking in sound bites. You will learn how to be a better candidate through this course. You will learn all the essential elements of media training, public speaking and presentation training.


President, Media Training Worldwide

TJ Walker

TJ Walker is the founder of Media Training Worldwide and has been conducting public speaking training workshops and seminars since 1984. Walker has trained Presidents of countries, Prime Ministers, Nobel Peace Prize winners, Super Bowl winners, U.S. Senators, Miss Universes and Members of Parliament.His book, "Secret to Foolproof Presentations" was a USA Today #1 Bestseller, as well as a Wall Street Journal, and Business Week Bestseller.  A frequent network news communications analyst, Walker has made more than 2000 network TV and radio appearances on CBS, ABC, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, CNN, Bloomberg TV, Al Jazeera, NBC, CCTV, Fox Business, HLN, TrueTV, Comedy Central, Sirius and NPR.In 2009, Walker entered the Guinness Book Of World Records for most talk show appearances ever in a 24 hour period. Yearly, Walker has more than a quarter of a million views of his public speaking tips videos on social media platforms.Walker is also the author of "Media Training A-Z" and "Media Training Success." Walker is also the producer/host The Facebook Page "TJ Walker - Speak to Influence" a source of daily public speaking training videos, tips and inspiration. He is also a past president of the National Speakers Association, New York City.Walker is the most prolific producer of presentation skills online training courses in the world, with more than 100 separate courses. He has more than 50,000 students enrolled from 172 countries.Walker was a merit scholar at Duke University where he graduated magna cum laude. He has lectured or conducted trainings at Yale University, Columbia University and Princeton University.***“TJ Walker’s single-minded devotion to presentation has made him the #1 expert for executives seeking guidance on speaking to the public and media.” Bob Bowdon, Anchor/Reporter, Bloomberg Television“TJ Walker is the leading media trainer in the world.” Stu Miller, Viacom News Producer“The world’s leading presentation and media training firm.” Gregg Jarrett, Fox News Channel Anchor“To break through the cluttered media environment, it's important to get your message out in a clear and concise way. TJ knows how to do it and gives you the tips to succeed."

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Overview

    • Why are you running for Office?

    • Running Against Republicans

    • Running Against an Incumbent
  • 2

    Public Speaking

    • Public Speaking

    • The Stump Speech

    • Brainstorm Every Topic and Message for Your Speech

    • How to start a speech

    • What is Your Water Cooler Message?

    • You Must Communicate with the Head and the Heart

    • Spell Out Benefits for Your Audience

    • Don't Make Your Speech a Data Dump

    • Writing a Speech

    • How Many Points Should Your Presentation Cover?

    • Magical Phrase for Every Speech

    • How to Start a Speech with an Icebreaker

    • What to Do if You Don't Like Your Voice

    • How to Speak with Confidence

    • How to Give a Formal Speech

    • How to Put Your Audience at Ease

    • How to Close a Speech

    • How to Pace a Speech

    • How to Prepare a Speech

    • Tell 'em what I'm gonna tell 'em, tell 'em

    • Public Speaking Rules You Should Never Break

    • How can I find out whether my presentation worked

    • Should I Rehearse My Speech and for how long?

    • How to Eliminate Nervousness for public speaking

    • How Not to be like Rick Perry

    • What to Do if You're Losing Your Audience

    • How to Handle a Heckler

    • How to Handle Questions from the Audience

    • Should I read my speech so that I don't make any mistakes?

    • How do I remember what to say in a presentation?

    • How to Prepare and Use Notes in a Speech

    • How to Stop Saying Um and Ah when You Speak

    • Why You Should Never Memorize a Speech

    • How to Make a Speech Powerful and Persuasive

    • How to Speak in Front of a Big Crowd

    • What if You are asked a question You Can't Answer?

    • Should I warn my audience I will be boring?

    • A Positive Attitude for Public Speaking

    • If my allotted speaking time is cut, what should I eliminate?

    • How to Move around while Making a Speech

    • How to Make Eye Contact with Your Audience

    • How to to Use a Teleprompter

    • How to Give a Motivational Speech

    • How to Sound Conversational in a Speech

    • How to Recover from Making a Mistake in a Speech

    • How to Make Prepared Remarks as Good as Your Q and A

    • What to Do with Your Hands when Making a Speech Public Speaking

    • Have a Public Speaking Improvement Plan

    • How to Use a Lectern or Podium When Giving a Speech
  • 3

    Public Speaking - How to Tell Stories

    • Stories Are the Most Important Part of Great Speeches

    • Message Drives Stories

    • What is the setting for Your Story?

    • What Characters and Conflicts are in Your Story?

    • Your Speaking Stories Must Contain Dialogue

    • Share Your Emotions When telling Your Stories

    • Your Story Must have a Resolution

    • Don't Tell Stories, Instead Re-Live Stories

    • Story Fundamentals

    • What are Your Speech Goals?

    • Public Speaking Conclusion
  • 4

    Speaking to the Media

    • Dealing with the Media

    • Responding to Attacks
  • 5

    Media Training - How to Look Your Best on Camera

    • How to Look Your Best on TV Overview

    • How to Apply Makeup for TV Interviews

    • How to Sit for TV Interviews

    • How to Smile for TV Interviews

    • How to Move Your Head for Video Interviews

    • How to Use Your Eyes During a TV Interview

    • How to Move Your Body for TV Interviews

    • How to Move Your Hands for TV Interviews

    • How to Sit in Your Chair for TV Interviews

    • How to Stand for TV Interviews

    • How to Dress for TV Interviews
  • 6

    Media Training - Messaging

    • How to Frame a Media Message

    • A Media Message Answers all Basic Questions

    • Media Messages Must be Interesting to Reporters

    • Media Messages Must Resonate with Media Audience

    • Your Media Message Needs to Benefit You

    • Three is the Perfect Number of Media Messages

    • Media Messages using a Venn Diagram

    • Have a Positive Media Message

    • Add Quantifiable Results to Your Media Message

    • What Problem are you solving?
  • 7

    Media Training - How to Answer Questions

    • How to Answer Questions in a Media Interview

    • Answer One Question at a Time

    • Keep Your Eyes on Your Message Points

    • Do Not Repeat Negative Words from a Reporter

    • Tell Reporters 'I Don't Know'

    • Always Be Moving toward Your Message Points

    • Give Brief Answers to Tough Questions

    • Aim for All Three Messages In Every Answer

    • Re-Write the Reporter's Questions in Media Interviews

    • Don't Add One more thing at the End of the Interview

    • Don't try to Control the Interview
  • 8

    Media Training - Sound Bites

    • What is a Sound Bite? Overview

    • Sound Bites: Bold Action Words

    • Sound Bites: Reporters Love Cliches

    • Sound Bites: Emotion

    • Sound Bites: Give Specific Examples

    • Sound Bite Tools: Attacks

    • Sound Bites: Absolutes

    • Sound Bite Tools: Humor

    • Sound Bite Tools: Rhetorical Questions

    • Sound Bite Tools: Analogies

    • Sound Bite Tools Pop Culture References
  • 9

    Conclusion

    • Video Practice

    • Feedback

    • Final thoughts
  • 10

    Bonus

    • How to Speak Like Barack Obama

    • Media Training A-Z

    • Media Training Success

    • Public Speaking Success

    • Bonus Course

    • Secret to Foolproof Presentations