why you should think like a journalist when planning to present

Why you should think

like a journalist when planning presentations

Five insights

A Confidence Tricks concoction

Why you should think like a journalist

when planning presentations (Five Insights)

Presenters and public speakers in any setting, be it …

• Industry conference keynote;

• The Board of Directors;

• Community town hall meetings;

• Tender contract procurement panels;

• (the list is endless!)

… can borrow a trick or three from the press corps when it comes to preparing to front their audience.

@simonmossman Ex-print newshound & photographer, video journalist & TV producer, internet journalist and now media & communication advisor and executive presentation skills coach and mentor.

CONFIDENCE TRICKS – Practical Presentation Skills Coaching

You are your stories. That’s how you are remembered. Effective presentation is vital to your ability to be influential. Confidence Tricks can help you improve.

i

Journalists believe

in themselves (and their story):

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

They are

supremely confident

(even to the point of cockiness);

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

They stick determinedly

to THEIR agenda

News writers … are accustomed to brevity to get the message across:

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

ii

Brevity in headlines

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

Journalists inherently understand the power of the pithy statement

(a.k.a. key messages in PR parlance)

a.k.a. ‘quotable quotes’;

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

Don’t use 10 words when two will suffice. The same rules that reporters learn at journalism school …

… apply to you, too. Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights

a Confidence Tricks concoction

Journalists develop writing styles & broadcast mannerisms & defined approaches to structure & delivery … and they stick to that tried and tested script:

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

iii

Which for you, the presenter and public speaker, translates as:

Repetition. Repetition.

Repetition.

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

By routinely practicing content development as much as regularly rehearsing delivery…

… you can develop confident, influential speaking skills

Specialist journalists – such as columnists, writers on regular key topics (e.g, politics, finance) - develop authority and set agendas which their readers

- YOUR audience - absorb (even if they dislike the sentiment):

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

iv

People choose the facts they want

– and they will read a journalist even if they don’t like his/her work;

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

The same applies to you. While your job is to win over your audience, you won’t get them all. BUT….

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

… you will develop greater self-discipline by: i staying on message, ii being consistent in thoughts, words and actions … which helps YOU develop a clear style and persona, a frame on which to carve a confident presenting career.

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

And the clincher?

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

v

Journalists are notorious for telling their war stories

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

Often unprompted, old news hacks love to launch into their tales from the trenches

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

Like a raconteur propping up the bar, never scripted,

always ad-libbed

because they know the subject matter inside and out.

Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights a Confidence Tricks concoction

They speak from the heart –

THANKS for your

ATTENTION If you liked this inaugural Slideshare presentation from Confidence Tricks, please share your comments here or online at www.confidencetricks.com.au. And if you enjoyed it THAT much, please send the link to your colleagues, bosses, training managers and anyone else who’ll appreciate our concoction. Oh, and get them to subscribe to our newsletter, our blog and follow us online. Here’s how >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

CONNECT with Confidence Tricks Web www.confidencetricks.com.au phone 0451 660 980 (simon mossman) 0438 553 052 (richard meredith) email simon@confidencetricks.com.au richard@confidencetricks.com.au CT Blog CT museletter

Why you should think

like a journalist when planning presentations

Five insights

A Confidence Tricks concoction

Credits, notes and fairly important stuff All this content is copyright, either of Confidence Tricks or the original photographers featured within. All images were sourced via appropriate Creative Commons licences but if you think differently or believe any image has been misappropriated here, do the right thing and let me know so I can do something about it. On a separate and personal note, while knocking this preso together I was bothered by the lack of evident women journalists who could equally inspire these five insights. If you can offer any suggestions (with where I can find available images), I’d be chuffed to update this preso, ‘cos I sure as heck had a challenge trying to find anything / anyone suitable! Cheers, @simonmossman Co-Founder & Executive Coach @confidencetrix