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!