Course Description

Imagine becoming a regular fixture on the talk show circuit and in the national media as a well-known author. Writing a good book isn't easy, but getting in front of enough people to generate buzz and demand for your books can be even harder. This Media Training for Authors course will teach you step-by-step how to prepare for media interviews. Specifically, you will learn how to look good on TV, how to frame a media message, how to answer reporters' questions and how to speak in sound bites.

If you want to sell a lot of books, you will need to be able to sell your ideas and your expertise to the public through regular media appearances. You can begin learning how to master the media right now in this comprehensive, interactive course.

TJ Walker is a media trainer with 30 years of experience as a media coach to best-selling authors, experts, CEOs, Presidents of countries, Prime Ministers, and Nobel Peace Prize winners. Walker is also the author of the USA Today #1 Bestseller "Secret to Foolproof Presentations" (also a Business Week and Wall Street Journal Bestseller). Walker once set the Guinness book of World Records for most talk show appearances ever in a 24 our period (104) while promoting one of his public speaking books.

The course also features three bonus interviews with book publishing legend Dan Poynter.

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

    • Intro

    • Nobody Cares about Your Book

    • What Are Your Media Training Goals?

    • Message for Topic of the Day

    • Create a Gimmick

    • Talk Show Hosts Won't Read Your Book

    • Be the Media

    • Expertise Not Authorship

    • How Often to Mention the Book
  • 2

    Bonus Interviews with Publishing Legend Dan Poynter

    • Dan Poynter on Promoting Books Through the Media

    • Dan Poynter on Promoting Books Though Speaking

    • Dan Poynter on Amazon
  • 3

    How to Look Your Best on TV

    • How Authors Can Look Good on TV

    • How to Look Your Best on Camera - Overview

    • How to Apply Makeup

    • How to Sit for TV Interviews

    • How to Use Your Eyes

    • How to Move Your Head

    • How to Move Your Body

    • How to Move Your Hands

    • How to Sit in Your Chair

    • How to Stand for TV Interviews

    • How to Dress for TV Interviews

    • Video Record and See Your Improvement

    • How to Critique Your Own Video Performance
  • 4

    Messaging

    • Message from Your Book

    • 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

      FREE PREVIEW

    • What Problem are You Solving?

    • Create Your Own Media Message
  • 5

    Answering Questions in a Media Interview

    • How to Answer Questions - Overview

    • Answer One Question at a Time

    • Keep Your Eyes on Your Message Points

    • Do Not Repeat Negative Words

    • 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 Reporters' Questions

    • Don't Add One More Thing

    • Don't Try to Control the Interview
  • 6

    Speaking in Sound Bites

    • What is a Sound Bite - Overview

    • Bold Action Words

    • Cliches

    • Emotion

    • Examples

    • Absolutes

    • Attacks

    • Humor

    • Rhetorical Questions

    • Analogies

    • Pop Culture References

    • Three Easiest Sound Bite Tools

    • Reflections on Sound Bites

      FREE PREVIEW

    • The 5 Outcomes of Every Media Interview

    • Sound Bite Homework

    • Sound Bite Practice

    • Final Interview Practice
  • 7

    Concluding Thoughts

    • Conclusion

    • Feedback
  • 8

    Bonus Videos

    • How to Eliminate Nerves Before TV Interviews

    • How to Tell If Your Media Interview Was Effective

    • If You Forgot What to Say

    • Should You Wear Glasses for a TV Interview?

    • How to Look Good For Your Skype Video Interview

    • How to Make a YouTube Video Via Webcam

    • What is Media Training?

    • 5 Step Walker Method for Media Training

      FREE PREVIEW

    • Should You Take Beta-Blockers?

    • How to Speak Into a Microphone

    • How to Think on Your Feet

    • Crisis Communications

    • Crisis Communications, Don't let Lawyers Control Message

    • Emergency Preparation

    • How to Get Questions in Advance

    • Media Stars Enjoy Interviews

    • Worst Televison Interview Ever

    • How to Give a Great Radio Interview

    • Top Three Media Interview Mistakes

    • What if You Hate Your Voice

    • How to Do a Satellite Interview

    • What Makes Great Media Communicators Great

    • How to Use a Teleprompter for Newscasts

    • Never Say 'No Comment'

    • How to Avoid Saying 'Uh' and 'Um'

    • What is the Difference Between Good and Bad Media Training?

    • How to Stall A Reporter During an Interview

    • What Ground Rules Media Interviews Should Have

    • Should You Memorize Your Media Messages?

    • What Equipment Do You Need to Conduct a Media Interview?

    • What is the Best Video Camera for making Internet Video

    • Media Skills are Learned, Not Bred

    • Which Media Form is Most Effective

    • Media Training Tips for Talk Radio

    • What if a Reporter Misquotes You?

    • How to Brainstorm Media Messages

    • What to do if Reporters are Lazy, Stupid or Dumb

    • Don't Wait for Reporters to Ask Questions

    • How to Turn Sound Bites on and off

    • How and When to be a Sound Bite Machine

    • Return Reporter's Phone Calls

    • Never Act Defensive

    • Don't Lie to the Media

    • How to Stall for Time if a Reporter Calls

    • When to Speak Off the Record

    • Don't Time Stamp Your Answers

    • How to Fight Media Bias

    • Don't Ask Reporters to Read Back Your Quotes

    • Don't Wait for Reporters to Call You

    • How the Media Can Make or Break Your Career
  • 9

    Bonus Reading

    • Media Training A to Z

    • Media Training Success

    • Secret to Foolproof Presentations

    • Public Speaking Success