Out of Time! Out of Breath! Out of Luck!

First, I have to say I'm a big fan of Martin Savidge. The first time I heard his voice on the air I thought it was  Bill Kurtis. They sound very much alike. Savidge can usually be counted on to deliver a polished and professional performance, as well as solid reporting. However, in this clip he violates one of my most basic rules for effective TV newscasting. Take a look. http://tinyurl.com/35j287b
Delivering a news story on live media is similar to flying an airplane. You have to be sure your cockpit is safety checked and ready to go, so that you don't crash and burn. You wouldn't want to fly with a pilot who waits until the last second to jump in front of the controls before taking off. And you don't want to get your news from someone who slides into the seat at the last minute.
Professor Terry's rule: be in the studio at least 5 minutes ahead of time. Pay attention to your audio check and test the level in your IFB. Try to get a look at yourself in a monitor to fix any appearance issues. Check the prompter distance, your chair height, and any last minute instructions from your producer if you have one. You are ready to fly!

Professor Terry's Coaching Corner

I've just started a new column for http://the247newsroom.com/, a new website by the former editor of TVspy, Tom Petner. You can check out the site for the latest news about the broadcast and online news biz, as well as my talent coaching tips. Check it out!

Going Natural

Multimedia is changing audience expectations for on-camera talent. News presenters and program hosts are in contact with the viewers/users 24/7, on the mobile phone, on the computer, or on the TV. People no longer seek out big voices announcing the news from the mountaintop. On the internet, that "old school" delivery is often presented as a parody of credible speech. Today's news consumers prefer to spend time with an intelligent friend, someone they'd like to meet for a cup of coffee at Starbucks.  As a talent coach, I teach techniques for making delivery more "real." While I'm not a hair and makeup teacher, appearance issues are part of the package. The audience wants us to look "real."

An African-American reporter for WPTV in West Palm Beach has decided to let her chemically straightened hair "go natural" during sweeps. As reported on the Maynard Institute's web site, Journal-isms http://mije.org/node/1349, she also produced a sweeps series on her transformation. Positive reaction so far has included this comment from former CBS morning anchor Rene Syler: "...our world is shaped by the images we see; young black girls need to see more women in high profile jobs sporting their natural hair." I suspect the new 'do makes Rochelle Ritchie more "real" to her viewers/users who can't afford the $9600 she claims to have spent on straightening procedures, not to mention the risk of exposure to the harsh chemicals involved in the procedure.

Here are the before and after pix; you decide.

The natural look has always been controversial. Back in the 70s, black women had a better chance of being hired if they didn't have a look that news directors (almost always white men) considered to be too "ethnic." In this case, the management of Rochelle's station actually encouraged her to be herself and share the experience with her audience. That's progress.

What we can all learn from this: in the multimedia world, the only look that is wrong is one that is fake or phony. The hair should be nothing more than a flattering and non-distracting frame for the face. I encourage on-air talent to work with their local resources to achieve this professional but approachable look. Now that we're all doing more with less, who has time to fuss with a fancy hairdo?

Shoptalk: A History Lesson

The parent company of the website TVNewser has announced it is buying TVSpy.com, which brings an end to a colorful sidebar in TV News history. Perhaps you could say it died with Don Fitzpatrick, the legendary consultant who founded the industry newsletter as Shoptalk, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and people still communicated mostly by phone and fax machine. News directors in the 1980s  received their daily dose of industry gossip by fax, and copies were furtively passed around to those "in the know." Shoptalk reflected the freewheeling atmosphere of TV newsrooms in those days and included juicy speculation about affairs in and out of the newsroom. Such antics led to threats of legal action, so the site tamed down as it became a daily email "must-read" for the  masses toiling in news cubicles with all the charm and color of an insurance office. Nowadays it offers little more than a roundup of stories about TV News, as it is covered by other media. A much better site is http://www.the247newsroom.com/, edited by Tom Petner who almost managed to revive TVSpy before it slipped into irrelevance,  its "watercooler" chat board dominated by a few nobodies hurling lame insults mostly at each other. RIP Shoptalk. It was fun while it lasted.

Hollywood's Take on Morning TV news

One of my most important jobs as a TV news talent coach is working with morning news teams for local stations across the US. It's a giant money pot for the stations. While the late news audience is shrinking, the morning TV news audience is growing. People who still have jobs get up earlier because they may face longer commutes and are doing more with less, while trying to get the kids off to school and make it to work on time. The TV set is on in the background of all this activity, and it's often the working parent's only connection to the weather, traffic and news in the world outside until they get to the office and can log in on the computer. They want to know what happened in the world while they were asleep, what to expect from local weather and traffic, and be smart about the topics their friends and co-workers will be discussing at the water cooler. This creates a huge challenge for the people who deliver the morning news, beginning as early as 4:30 am in some markets. No matter how sleep-deprived they are, the anchors have to bring their best game to the screen from the first minute of the program; weather and traffic have to be packed with credible information, but also fun to watch. The whole cast must function as the family that the viewers want to wake up with.  

Which brings me to "Morning Glory," the latest Hollywood take on what goes on behind the scenes of a morning TV news program. After watching the trailer, the performances of Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford seem entertaining, if not terribly realistic. In the real world, there aren't many people in front of the camera who are over 50, but it's worth the price of admission to hear Harrison growl, "I won't say the word fluffy."

Their new producer, played by Rachel McAdams, seems way too perky in the trailer to be typical of the "understaffed, overworked" people who toil on the overnights. And she has the time and energy to have a boyfriend! While I respect the work of J.J. Abrams on suspenseful action flicks, the teaser for this movie comes across as a fluffier version of the classic "Broadcast News."

 I recently completed an assignment to coach an actor for a starring role a reporter and I have played a reporter or anchor in several feature films and network TV series. Anyone interested in this topic of how journalists are portrayed on the big screen should visit Joe Saltzman's excellent database on The Image of the Journalist in Popular Culture at http://www.ijpc.org/.

For more information on coaching packages for your morning news talent or for an actor playing a reporter role, visit my website at http://www.terryanzur.com/. 

Salute to Stan Chambers

The Radio Television News Association of Southern California is the latest organization to pay tribute to the legendary TV reporter Stan Chambers of KTLA. His career began in 1947 when there were only about 300 TVs in LA, and Stan was very generous with helping me research my screenplay on the Kathy Fiscus story, the first breaking news event covered on live TV news in 1949. Stan was one of the two live reporters on the scene for KTLA. He went on to cover virtually every significant event in Los Angeles from the Watts Riots to the Rodney King beating. Asked how he wanted to be remembered, Stan humbly said, "for being there, for being on the scene, for being part of the city." Stan officially retired in August, at the age of 86, but he is actively promoting a new CD and book at  http://stan-chambers.com/

The program included a panel with Stan surrounded by four current news executives. KNX-KFWB's Andy Ludlum correctly pointed out that Stan's longevity on the air is a feat that no longer can be duplicated. The always gracious Stan didn't offer any insight as to how today's reporters might manage to avoid a mass layoff, a nasty news director or the perception that an experienced reporter can't Twitter and Facebook as well as a younger person who might have the added benefit of looking better in HD.  Stan himself said it best, "It's the story that matters, not the reporter." Here's hoping he can inspire a whole new generation to get it first and get it right.

What We Can Learn from Rick Sanchez

Making the Grade at UNDP

Terry Anzur Coaching Services has been selected for the UNDP's roster of media trainers, which means I'll be eligible to take on some new international projects over the next two years. Although I have no idea exactly where this new adventure will lead, I was excited to read this opinion piece by U2 lead singer Bono in the New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/opinion/19bono.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=bono&st=Search

He does a pretty good job of explaining Millennium Development Goals and the role of transparency in attacking corruption around the world. Free and independent media play an essential role in making sure that funding intended to improve the lives of ordinary citizens actually reaches the people in need. I look forward to working with everyone at UNDP to realize these goals and am honored to have the opportunity.

Bye-Bye to the TV News Tie

For the past year or so, I've been warning my male anchor clients to get ready to lose the tie. Now, it has finally happened. The New York Times reports that KNBC news anchor David Ushery is going tie-less on his weekend broadcast as a way of attracting viewers who have drifted away to other media. The Times goes on about how this transition will be difficult for men of a certain generation. Nonsense. Casual attire now is the prevailing custom in most US businesses and TV news was slow to change, at least on the male side. It's time.Here in Los Angeles, it's not unusual to see female news readers in attire that looks more like lingerie. Even Megyn Kelly, the "it" gal of the moment on the Fox News Channel, regularly bares her arms and a lot more. Even in the heartland or the deep south, figure-flattering knit tops have become a standard alternative to a business suit for female talent. However, the sleek, contemporary look for women appears completely mismatched when paired with a man in a suit that Don Draper might wear on Mad Men.

Then there's the temperature factor. When I was hosting on the network that eventually became MSNBC, our boss Roger Ailes, preferred a meat-locker temperature in the studio. He said the freezing air helped keep the guests from falling asleep under the toasty lights, it also kept Roger comfortable in his wool suit. (His interview program aired right after the show I did with Chris Matthews on America's Talking). Female hosts like me, who even had lights pointed at our exposed legs, just had to freeze and bear it. On KTLA, Hal Fishman kept the studio so cold that my predecessor, Jan Carl, had to keep a portable heater under the desk. During my tenure on KTLA News at Ten, I'd shiver through the show until I couldn't even feel my legs anymore, and then run to my car and turn the heater up. Allowing the men to lose the multi-layer business suit means that studios can be a more tolerable atmosphere for everyone.

So, guys, get ready to take the tie off. And get to the gym ASAP. Because soon you'll be losing the jacket, too. Put on a fitted polo shirt and let us see your guns. As we move into the delivery of news on mobile multimedia platforms, people want to see someone they'd meet at Starbucks for a coffee, not a guy in a throwback business suit announcing the headlines from the mountain top.

Judging from the picture at the top of this post, Mr. Ushery could still use some advice on appearance. The black-white contrast is a bit stark and not flattering to a person of color. The business suit may be about to go the way of the dinosaur, but there are still rules for what looks good on camera. You want to keep your credibility while becoming more casual, comfortable and connected to the viewrs.

To learn how to make your talent more effective when presenting the news in multimedia, please visit my web site, http://www.terryanzur.com/, register and schedule your coaching visit today!

Body Pump Boot Camp

In addition to coaching on-camera talent, I also do some coaching at the gym. Fitness has always been a big part of my life and it comes in handy when teaching the breath control and posture required for on-camera performance. As a certified AFAA group exercise instructor, I teach strength, pilates and cardio at 24 Hour Fitness. But I wasn't quite prepared for the challenge of becoming a Les Mills Body Pump instructor. The trainers, Megan and Don, challenged us to learn the routines with perfect form -- and an insane amout of "role model" weight. The three-day boot camp tested my limits, especially because I did the training right after pulling an early morning radio news shift at KFI. I also made lots of new friends among my fellow instructors as we toughed it out together. We've passed two auditions and now only need to submit a video of an actual class so our teaching skills can be evaluated.
You may have read my earlier post (Body Pump, May 31, 2010) about the Body Pump instructors I met in Maldives. Now I have joined them as part of the worldwide Les Mills "tribe." The organization is based in New Zealand and sets the standard for barbell group strength training. A master class with their world class instructors at the IDEA convention in Los Angeles was truly inspiring. Soon, I'll be teaching Body Pump at 24 Hour Fitness in South Hills and Glendora, including one class that I'll be co-teaching with my Group X boss, Manny Ruiz. This program has taken my own fitness to a new level and I can't wait to inspire others to achieve their fitness goals.

Last Dinner in Brussels

The final night of the RIAS exchange calls for celebration with group members who become like family during the two week adventure. The very friendly restaurant owner went out of his way to congratulate me on my certificate of completing the program. And it was one last chance to sample the seasonal delicacy, albino asparagus.
But most of all, it was one last toast to the whole group. We represented different media outlets and different age groups, but each individual brought his or her own flavor to the entire RIAS experience. Whenever I urge other American broadcasters to apply for this two-week all-expense-paid adventure in Germany and Belgium, they look at me in disbelief. It sounds too good to be true. Trust me, the only "string" attached is a short essay that each participant is required to write after completing the program. And, of course, RIAS hopes that American participants will use what they have learned to do a better job of reporting on Germany and the EU.
If you are a US radio or TV broadcaster and would like to apply for a RIAS fellowship, go to this link: http://www.rtdna.org/pages/media_items/germanamerican-journalists-exchange-program546.php?id=546

Thanks Rainer!

Watching over our group of crazy Americans, every step of the way for two weeks, was the incredible Rainer Hasters. Here you see Rainer and his faithful sidekick Lisa Ziss, looking down as our boat passed under a bridge in Bruges. Rainer has been doing this with at least two different groups of Americans every year since 1993, and he has the patience of a saint. He got a little huffy once over the slow walking pace of some stragglers in our group, but mostly he brings good cheer to every challenge. One of our fellows misunderstood the time of the bus departure from Bonn and Rainer was immediately on the case, cruising the streets in a taxi until the missing Fox producer was found. (I'm not naming names, Gabe.)
Every group photo left Rainer festooned with an assortment of digital cameras, since every one of us wanted the same picture on our own camera. Although this must have been annoying, he took all the pictures we wanted. A former radio journalist, Rainer is a fountain of information about all things German. He also graciously cheered for Team USA until we were elminated from the World Cup. I congratulate him on the German team hanging in there for third place. The success of the RIAS program, which includes two groups of Germans visiting the US each year, as well as annual journalism awards, is largely thanks to the hard work, commitment and vision of our fearless leader. Thanks Rainer!

In Bruges

The final day of the RIAS tour was an excursion to Bruges, a charming city that is Belgium's "Venice of the North." It is a testament to the wealth of the merchant class that flourished here in the 13th through 15th centuries, bringing in such art treasures as the "White Madonna." The striking sculpture is one of the few masterpieces by Michaelangelo that can be seen outside of Italy.The best way to see Bruges is a canal boat ride, so here's a look at some of the scenery. People were taxed based on the number of windows in their building, so some of the architecture reflects the removal of windows during hard times.Every turn in the canal revealed another amazing view.

Many thanks to Rainer Hasters for allowing my son Andrew to join us on the Bruges excursion. Next stop was the charming market square for lunch.
Andrew sampled a local brew that is served in a very unusual longneck glass, and was properly fueled for the climb to the top of the Town Hall tower for a magnificent view.

Brussels Mussels and Belgian Waffles

During my last visit to Brussels with RIAS in 2001, I ventured out with former NBC correspondent of John Dancy for a plate of mussels. They were delicious, but the result was some kind of food poisoning that made me miserable for two days. This time, I opted for mussels gratinee in escargot sauce. They seemed a bit dry and chewy but this time I lived to tell the story. Did you know that the Belgians claim to have invented "French" fries? They taste amazingly different here!
Andrew, of course, sampled an authentic Belgian waffle.

Brussels' Art Nouveau

I'm a huge fan of Art Nouveau and have made the pilgrimage to see the works of Mucha in Prague and Gaudi in Barcelona. Their Belgian counterpart was Victor Horta. His house in Brussels is now a museum. Although the curved lines and features of the house are charming, the collection inside is somewhat disappointing. I had a much better time spotting examples of living Art Nouveau around the city, like this former "Old England" department store that is now a cafe.Unfortunately, some of this art has been vandalized with graffiti. Europe really needs to have a no-tolerance policy instead of treating gangster spray paint like it's some kind of modern art.My son Andrew came to Brussels for the weekend from his internship in Romania. Near the Horta museum we noticed a vampire who must have followed him from Transylvania.

More Sights in Brussels

Brussels wins the award for most expensive country on this trip. Fortunately, there was plenty of great sightseeing to be had for free! It was a short walk from our hotel to the Grand Place, the splendid square dating back to the1400s when the City Hall was built (the building behind me and to the left in the above picture.) It was eventually surrounded by guild buildings showing the power of the merchant class. Now it is a UNESCO world heritage site.
The streets around the Grand Place are fun to explore. Below is Anthony Knopps of WTVG in Toldeo, Ohio, touching the good luck statue.
Near the hotel was the charming Egmont Palace and a statue dedicated to the Duke of Egmont,whose execution for religious reasons contributed to the independence of the Netherlands and inspired works by Goethe and Beethoven.A plaza near the national library provided a peaceful view of the sunset over the old town, although most of our RIAS group opted for a Czech music festival instead.

The Mannekin Pis

The Mannekin Pis, which means "little boy urinating" in Flemish, is Brussels' equivalent of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen. You can take your pick of the legends about why it was created, but my favorite is that a little boy got lost, and his father prayed to God that if the child was found he would put up a statue showing how the child looked when found. You guessed it...
There are a number of "fake" mannekins pissing around town, most notably this one who seems to be leaking Stella Artois. There is also a tradition of dressing the real one in costumes, although I've never seen the ceremony for changing the outfit.

Notes from NATO

The first thing you notice about the NATO complex on the outskirts of Brussels is the security. Once inside, the second thing you notice is the smell, a cross between raw sewerage and toxic mold. Endless construction delays have prevented a move to a new building across the street.
Our cameras and phones were confiscated, so I won't be able to give you an inside look at the officers club where we shared lunch and conversation with NATO officials. We also had some briefing sessions which were, again, off the record. Topic one: Afghanistan, where 120,000 troops from 46 countries are stationed. The goal is to get Afghan forces to take over by 2011 and the big push is on. Even the Russians are pitching in with helicopters to fight narcotics traffic. Things are less cozy with the Russians when it comes to admitting former Soviet bloc countries as members of the military alliance. NATO claims credit for stabilizing the Balkans, and is running training missions to Iraq.
We visited NATO on the day when Afghanistan commander Stanley McChrystal was relieved of duty for badmouthing the Obama administration in a Rolling Stone article. NATO spokespersons seemed unruffled by the tough comments in the article, which cited American soldiers making fun of NATO's International Security Assistance Force, saying ISAF stands for "I Suck At Fighting."

Understanding the EU

On my last RIAS exchange in 2001 the "United States of Europe" was still a realatively new political entity. On this trip, a full day of meetings was devoted to the workings of the EU and its endless array of commissions and councils. The EU issues directives and it is up to the member countries to pass the required laws, which is a problem when some countries don't want to go along. Americans, accustomed to a union with a single currency and federal laws, have trouble grasping the fact that the Eurozone is a different set of countries who are financially qualified to use the euro, and for immigration and trade purposes the so-called Schengen group is yet a different list.
The recent financial problems of Greece, and the resulting "bailout" have presented challenges for the EU's response to the world financial crisis. Former communist countries like Romania and Bulgaria have been admitted as members but haven't lived up to expectations for ending government corruption. Bulgaria did such a bad job of accounting for EU development money that the funds had to be returned. Romania is sitting on 23 Billion development euros to build badly needed roads, but doesn't have the "financial capacity" to spend it properly. All of this has the EU slowing down on the admission of new members. All member nations must agree to admit a new country, and Turkey's prospects seem dim because tiny Cyprus will never approve.
EU offiicials shared some fascinating observations, but agreed to talk only "off the record," which made their comments of limited use to a bunch of journalists. In fact, the full day of lilting European accents made it a challenge for some of us to stay awake!
We attended the official press briefing, which was on the record, and dealt with such topics as Belgian sewerage treatment and an EU court ruling on a libel suit against an Albananian TV channel which reported on the alleged sexual misconduct of a public official. As a media trainer I have learned that libel suits are a way for authoritarian governments to put investigative news organizations out of business. The EU can't do much about it, except to point out that freedom of the press is a requirement for membership.