How to resonate

Sometimes I am asked to speak about my career in the media at business events, conferences and dinners. Across more than 25 years there’s quite a lot to talk about.
At the end we get on to the Q&A and I am nearly always asked what I have learned from all those years on the road.
The answer is always the same. I learned how to resonate.
Of course there are so many skills to develop in a demanding career in the print and broadcast media. There are processes to practice, there is experience to gather and the kind of ambient knowledge for which there is no short cut but in the end only one thing counts. Have you engaged with your audience?
As young reporter on the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday one of the things I did best was connect with people. I was delighted to leave the parameters of the large regional newspaper where I trained because I found council meetings, tribunals and endless court cases hard to report. My then news editor (quite rightly) wanted accurate, detailed reports of local issues without too much colour or pathos.
Once on the Mail, I was happy to be in an arena where human interest stories were always top of the agenda.
In the five years I spent with Associated Newspapers I met so many different people from a sex-change pilot at Cambrian Airlines (male to female) to rape victims, multiple murderers (released on licence), celebrities and politicians that I learned how to connect with people.
When I pitched up at Sky News it was a different ball game. Or rather it wasn’t…I just thought it was. I spent so much time trying to broadcast that I forgot to be myself. It took a man called Peter Settelen (who coached Princess Diana) to make me realise this.
To be a good news presenter you have to be a good journalist, have a very quick mind and -especially in 24-hour news – resilience. Those are all what I would call straightforward skills. They are time-consuming to acquire but the process is linear. The hard bit is allowing your personality to shine within the confines of a news bulletin.
I tell my clients the same is true for them. They all have top level careers behind them – otherwise they would not be on TV but it is finding a way of projecting their character that is the hard part. That is why I always insert some elements of behavioural analysis into what I do. You don’t have to be an extrovert to perform well – but you do have to understand what type of person you are – and why that is valuable. Many of the best contributors on TV right now are introverts not extroverts who need to see understand their value in the studio.
It was a good two or three years before I settled down at Sky News and not long after I left the UK for Hong Kong where I became the Asia Correspondent for Fox News. Now I was really in at the deep end. US networks love personalities. They expect the highest standards of journalism but they also want their on-air people to resonate. It was hard letting go of some of my stuffier habits. Still, there was nothing like kneeling on the grass at midnight ad-libbing my script into the camera during the overthrow of the Indonesian President to cure me of that.
So you would have thought that when I arrived at ITV’s flagship Tonight programme that I would be able to leap through the lens and embrace the audience but no, there was still a way to go. My colleague Jonathan Maitland was the master of this kind of delivery and while I will never broadcast his way, I did develop my own style. I became the go-to presenter for all the stories on children’s health, women and drinking, knife crime, cosmetic surgery, nutrition and the food industry. In short, I could cover every subject I really cared about and, of course, it was easy to just be myself. I lived and breathed those stories until, in performance terms, there was very little difference between me and my interviewees.
I had learned how to retain years of journalistic experience with an ability to connect with those I spoke to and therefore the viewer.
So on more than 25 years of reporting and broadcasting here’s what I know works…
- Know yourself
- Know your audience
- Know your story
And understand that in any story, any event any challenge there is always what I call a simple, single truth; the one line that builds the bond with whatever audience you face.
My truth is that I am still learning…..but that is for another blog.
This post is invaluable. When can I find out more?
calvin klein online baratos http://www.stolzeplanejados.com.br/jado.php?es=calvin-klein-online-baratos
I always email this blog site to all my friends, because I like to read it. My contacts will too.
Thanks for the sensible critique. My neighbor and I were just preparing to do some research on this. We found a book in our local library but I think I learned more clearly from this post. I’m very glad to see this kind of info being shared freely.
Of course, what a fantastic blog and illuminating posts, I will bookmark your site.All the Best!
Hi to every single one, it’s actually a good for me to go to see this website, it includes helpful Information.
air max niños http://www.dnetrfid.eu/tfid.asp?so=air-max-ninos
Iˇm now not certain where you’re getting your info, but good topic. I must spend some time learning much more or figuring out more. Thank you for great info I was on the lookout for this information for my mission.
We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with valuable information to work on. You have done an impressive job and our entire community will be thankful to you.
zapatillas trail salomon http://www.jjmoveis.com.br/mives.php?es=id-5440
Itˇs actually a great and useful piece of info. I am happy that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
calzoncillos calvin klein 3 euros http://www.onavegantes.com.br/cvega.php?es=calzoncillos-calvin-klein-3-euros
very nice submit, i actually love this web site, carry on it
“Of course, what a great blog and illuminating posts, I will bookmark your website.All the Best!”
Rattling instructive and excellent structure of subject material, now that’s user genial (:.
Hey there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group?
There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content.
Please let me know. Thank you
No problem. Many thanks.
Howdy! Quick question that’s entirely off topic. Do
you know learning to make your blog mobile friendly? My blog looks weird
when browsing from my iphone. I’m trying to find a template or
plugin that might be able to correct this issue.
When you have any suggestions, please share. Appreciate it!
I got Natasha Courtney Smith to design it. I will forward her details later.
Undeniably believe that you stated.You’ve been able to hit the
nail on the head. In addition to defined whole subject wetland people will get the message. Will probably be back to get additionalinformation. Thanks
wow, awesome blog article. Awesome.
Wow! This is one of the most helpful blogs we have seen on this subject. Actually Fantastic. I am also an expert in this topic therefore I can understand your hard work.
I’m gone to inform my little brother, that he should also pay a
quick visit this website on regular basis to get updated from most up-to-date reports.
Wonderful items. I have read your stuff before
and you’re just great. I really like what you do here, certainly like what you might be
stating and the method by whichyou say it. You make it entertaining and you still to stay wise. I can not wait to read a lot more. This is really a terrific site.
I really love the theme/design of your web site.
Do you come upon any browser compatibility issues? My blog
audience have complained about my site not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Safari. Do you have any recommendations to aid fix this problem?
whoah this blog is wonderful i really like reading your posts. Keep up the great paintings! You know, a lot of individuals are looking round for this info, you could help them greatly.
tiendas de ropa interior femenina http://www.serrasulturismo.com.br/serra.php?es=tiendas-de-ropa-interior-femenina
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is great blog. A fantastic read. I’ll definitely be back.
Hello! I just want to give a huge thumbs up for the nice information you’ve got here on this post. I will likely be coming back to your blog for extra soon.
Im not too much of a internet reader to tell the truth however
your sites really nice, make it up! I’ll proceed to bookmark your site to return in the future.
Cheers
I think other web site proprietors should take this website as an model, very clean and great user friendly style and design, as well as the content. You are an expert in this topic!
buty zimowe timberland m臋skie http://www.teolds.com/lod/timberland-premium-6.html
I appreciate you sharing this post.Really looking forward to read more.
Muchos Gracias for your blog post.Really thank you! Will read on…
Thank’s a great post.
Your means of explaining all in this piece of writing is in fact good, every one be able to effortlessly know it, Thanks a lot.
trapery damskie timberland http://poszukujemy.com.pl/pie/trapery-damskie-timberland.html
Awsome info and right to the point. I don’t know if this is really the best place to ask but do you people have any ideea where to hire some professional writers? Thx 🙂
buty timberland dla dzieci http://vozim.com.ua/usho/timberland-warszawa.html
I am in fact grateful to the holder of this website who has shared this impressive article at at this time.