Check out what's new at terryanzur.com

The Terry Anzur Coaching Blog is moving to a new and better format. From now on, you can read all of my posts at http://www.terryanzur.com/. You can still access the old posts here, but the new and improved website will allow me to post news updates more frequently. And, best of
all, it's your one-stop shopping for all of the services offered by Terry Anzur Coaching Services:
-station or web site talent coaching packages;
-media training for individual s in journalism and public relations;
-journalism best practices for emerging democracies.
Here's something else that's new: a company logo! It was designed on crowdspring.com in a competition involving graphic artists from all over the world. The winning design, by an artist in Colombia, South America, managed to capture the theme of power performance and star quality in global media.

Many thanks to my former USC student, J.R.Raphael, for the web design. He is also profiled in my book, "Power Performance: Multimedia Storytelling for Journalism and Public Relations." The student has truly become the teacher; he's a contributing editor to PC World, an authority on all things Droid and founder of a very entertaining site called http://www.esarcasm.com/.

Another bonus: the new site will link you to a 20% discount code for the book until July 30.
See you on the new http://www.terryanzur.com/! As always, I welcome your comments.

For those interested in my travel adventures, there's a new blog: http://terryanzurtravel.blogspot.com/

A Power Performance in Tornado Country

The NBC Nightly News of May 24 featured Brian Williams against a backdrop of tornado destruction in Joplin, MO. This wasn't just a star turn by an accomplished broadcast storyteller. Williams was returning to his roots, the community where he paid his dues as a novice TV reporter.

Brian talked about his early career when I interviewed him for my book, "Power Performance: Multimedia Storytelling for Journalism and Public Relations." He could barely live on his poverty-level paycheck, and worried that no one would ever hire him at the next level. If you'd like to read his story and others, check out the link: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1405198699.html and use the code VB237 for a 20 percent discount.

At the Cronkite Awards for Political Journalism

Along with my former student Teresa Jun, I was one of the official screeners for the Cronkite Awards for Excellence in Political Journalism. I had a chance to view coverage of the 2010 midterm elections from TV stations around the country. I also got to meet some of the winners when the awards were handed out at USC on April 26. Gwen Ifill of the PBS Newshour got a big laugh when she told the audience about her encounter with a college student who claimed to get his political news from comedian Jon Stewart on the Daily Show. Gwen quipped: "Jon Stewart watches me!"
Another standout among the winners was Christina Boomer, a one-woman band in Phoenix who managed to twitter while asking the Arizona governor a tough question and shooting video of the answer. No wonder she got an award for individual achievement!

Teresa, by the way, is the accomplished weekend anchor of KOLD-TV in Tucson Arizona. She was tested earlier this year when she anchored coverage of the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Of course, her talent and journalism skills were obvious and I'm proud to have played a small part in her development.

Multimedia Writing in Las Vegas

They still call it the Broadcast Education Association, but professors at this convention are looking forward to the future of video for web sites and mobile devices. Kim Fox of the American University in Cairo organized a panel on Teaching and Assessing Media Writing and I was honored to be among the speakers.Kim, a former NPR journalist, has been able to incorporate the historic events of the Egyptian revolution into her courses by encouraging students to conduct interviews and blog about their own beliefs. Curtis Holsopple, a Mennonite teaching at the historically black Virginia State University, talked about the need to teach basic writing skills for all platforms. Trevor Hall from Boise State confirmed my belief that fancy writing programs dreamed up by textbook publishers only confuse and annoy the students. The skills taught in my book, Power Performance, can be practiced on any basic word processing program or on any newsroom software students might use in class or on the job. Sunny Skye Hughes from the University of Maine managed to keep us all on schedule while taking video and pictures of the proceedings.
We had a great exchange of ideas with those who attended. For teachers who couldn't be there, you can get a free examination copy of the book by emailing your course details to Rachel Herbert at SSHtextbooks@wiley.com. You can buy the book at a discount on www.wiley.com by putting in the code VB237.
Being in Las Vegas for the day gave me a chance to revisit the many things I don't like about this city. I totally agree with my son that it's better to save your money and visit the real Eiffel Tower or Venice canals. Intrigued by the ads for the new Cosmopolitan, I dropped by to see bars dripping in crystal chandeliers. I guess the theme of that place is bad taste. There are some beautiful spots like the spring garden at the Bellagio, but a day of shopping revealed an overpriced assortment of evening gowns and tshirts. My favorite attraction, Quark's Bar outside the Star Trek exhibit at the Hilton, is gone. The hotel seems shabby and lifeless without the roaming Klingons and Ferengis.I also stopped by the NAB show, which has evolved into a technology fest without the presence of RTDNA, which has moved its convention to New Orleans in September. You have to love the latest version of a live truck -- downsized into a Smart car.
Beam me up, Scotty. I'm done here.

R.I.P. Flip

One of the best products EVER is the Flip camera. It slips easily into a purse or a briefcase and with the touch of a button, it's ready to record an hour or two of video, depending on the model, and it can even be in high def. Then, the flip-out USB port and self-contained software make it a snap to edit, make a simple movie and instantly post it to the internet to share with friends.
I especially like the battery powered models. If I'm on the road, I don't have to hunt for an electrical outlet and a USB port to recharge; just slip in fresh batteries and I'm good to go.
My coaching clients love the Flip. For private clients who are learning to be comfortable on camera, the Flip is much less threatening than massive TV gear. I can instantly show their progress from the beginning of the session to the end. It's a good ice breaker in group sessions when I have everyone introduce themselves to the Flip camera, and it's a sneaky way for me to record a name and a face for each participant. I've sometimes joked that I could finance entire foreign trips with a suitcase full of Flip cameras. I brought one as a gift to the Maldives and the entire country wanted one! I could have sold lots of them for double the price. Unfortunately, we couldn't get Cisco to ship overseas. I also got the cold shoulder from Cisco when I tried to work out a deal for a mass purchase for my students.
Which brings me to one of the dumbest business decisions EVER. Cisco is plugging the plug on the Flip. Read the press release here: http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Cisco-Restructures-Consumer-Business-NASDAQ-CSCO-1426209.htm
The irony is that if you go to Cisco's site, there's endless preaching about the importance of online video. Sure, the Flip isn't perfect. The built-in microphone is cheesy and I was really excited when they came out with a model that allows for a port to plug in a real microphone. I bought a brand new Flip Ultra HD in anticipation of the microphones being available. I'm still waiting!
I can't even imagine life without Flip. I bought one for my brother for Christmas, and I can count on getting a video of every time my neice gets a base hit in a softball game. I've used mine to record and share the musical talents of my son and all of his friends. Even stupid pet tricks.
According to Cisco, the Flip can't compete with the video capabilities of smartphones and tablets. So I guess at my next coaching session, I'm supposed to hold up a phone and tell my clients to speak into it? Here's hoping that some company with an understanding of this useful product will take it over and support Flip fans everywhere.

High School Journalism Stars at USC

Speaking at high school journalism day always restores my faith in our profession, no matter how much the technology may change. The University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism holds this event twice a year, with support from the MCormick Foundation. When I spoke to high school students in the early 1990s I was an anchor at KCBS-TV and most of them wanted to know about the typical career path in TV News: get your college degree, go to a small town and work your way up to the network level. Some things haven't changed. Most of the students still want to be on TV and most say they are interested in entertainment or sports, rather than hard news. However, the career path has changed. They must learn to be proficient in all media platforms. They might have more success as online journalism entrepreneurs.
My co-presenters were KTLA news photographer Phil Ige and Owen Michael, the online producer for KABC-TV. Phil is such a rock star in front of an audience that I wonder why he doesn't do more reporting in front of the camera. He entertained the students with the story of how he broke into the business when hard news broke out near Mt. San Antonio College, and he shot dramatic video of a police standoff that was picked up by the local stations. He also showed video of a San Diego reporter who was attacked in the field during an investigative report. He reminded the students that safety is job one: "No story is worth your life."Owen's style was a bit more reserved, but it was fascinating to hear him break down the web site elements of a big story that was unfolding as we spoke: the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan.
Putting it all together was Annenberg special event organizer Diane Guthman. The technical support from USC's Jim Yoder made the presentation flow smoothly. Thanks!
My message to these students is to get busy NOW. There are plenty of stories to be told in their own schools and communities, so why wait? They have all the tools they need to upload their work to CNN iReport or YouTube. My focus is on video storytelling for broadcast and the internet, and it was a chance to shamelessly plug my book, "Power Performance: Multimedia Storytelling for Journalism and Public Relations."Students often hear that the future of journalism is grim, with low pay and uncertain career prospects. I hope we reminded them that this business can be fun!Shameless plug: the book is available for pre-order at www.wiley.com. Enter the discount code VB237 to get the 20% discount price of $31.96. Teachers can go to the site to request a free review copy of the book. Amazon.com is selling the hardcover library edition for a LOT more money.

Update: the student reviews are in, and the presentation was a hit! Sample comments:
"Terry was my favorite speaker because she had... experience and knew what she was talking about."
"She was relatable for me, being a woman in journalism."
And you have to love the student who wrote: "Terry was by far the most interesting. I enjoyed her presence. I look forward to reading her book."
Students also got the message from Phil's video on the dangers of investigative reporting. They liked Phil's energy and Owen's insights, as well as my video examples showing the difference between a dude with a cellphone camera and a real reporter.
I wish them all the best as they begin their brilliant careers!

What We Can Learn From "The King's Speech"

With all of the Oscar buzz about "The King's Speech," I thought I take advantage of this teaching moment to make a few important points about talent coaching for on-air news anchors and reporters, and for anyone who needs to appear in front of a camera for online video.

First, there are a lot of bad talent coaches out there. At the beginning of the movie, Prince Albert is asked to put glass marbles in his mouth by a speech therapist who fails to get results with a "one-size-fits-all" coaching exercise. Geoffrey Rush's character, Lionel Logue, takes the time to address the specific, individual issues that are holding back his royal client's communication skills.

Another disaster occurs when the prince's father, King George, tries to improve the stammering son's performance by standing over him and commanding, "Relax!" It doesn't help your performance when the person who signs your paycheck demands that you "be conversational" without any further guidance.

Of course, stammering is a serious impediment that may require treatment by an expert in speech therapy. Most people who advance to the level of professional news anchoring and reporting don't stammer. But they often need the help of a talent coach to eliminate other types of static that is interfering with their performance. Some of our most celebrated broadcasters, such as NBC's Tom Brokaw and ABC's Barbara Walters, have noticeable speech defects. Yet, they are effective communicators. On the other hand, it's possible to have perfect diction and fail to connect with the audience.

What works? Logue insists on "trust and total equality, here in the safety of my consultation room." Talent coaching takes place in a safety zone where clients can experiment with changes in their performance that they could never risk on a live program. No, I don't ask my clients to swear at the top of their lungs, but we do breathing exercises, arm flapping and a few other things to break down the phony anchor facade and encourage an authentic performance. What happens in coaching stays in coaching. Or, as Logue puts it, "with complete privacy."

In addition to teaching skills, it's also important for the talent coach to have significant experience in front of the camera. As a Shakespearean actor, Logue knew how to project the image of a king. He understood how to size up a grand stage and prepare his client to take commeand. But, at the moment when the new king faced the challenge of preparing his country for World War II, Logue's advice was simple: "Say it to me as a friend."

Just as the stammering monarch in the movie had to deal with the new technology of radio, those of us who make our living in journalism and public relations must learn to use multimedia to reach our intended audience. Whether you are a veteran or a beginner, it helps to have a talent coach to bring out your true multimedia voice.

Get started on your coaching package at http://terryanzur.com/.

A version of this post has also appeared on a highly recommended web site for news professionals: http://the247newsroom.com/.

Power Women in Whittier

Empowering women through multimedia journalism and public relations doesn't always mean traveling halfway around the world. The Soroptimist Club of Whittier invited me to speak at their Feb. 15 meeting, and it was a dynamic group of women in business who are passionate about improving the lives of women and girls everywhere. They were a great audience for my talk about storytelling and political reform in the Maldives and how the techniques of multimedia storytelling can be just as important for anyone with a message to send or a product to sell. Preparing for the speech gave me a chance to get acquainted with the many good works of the Soroptimists, especially in the area of combatting human trafficking around the world. When the members join hands in solidarity and recite their pledge, I have no doubt that these powerful women will make a difference.

The Eyes (don't) Have It

Michele Bachmann is a rising star in American politics but she made a rookie talent mistake when she delivered the Tea Party response to President Obama's State of the Union address.

Check out the video on CNN.com. Notice that Bachmann is not looking into her camera and not talking to the camera as if it were a person. I'm told that she looked at a second camera that was recording her speech for a Tea Party group, instead of the main camera that was broadcasting her live performance. Notice how the lack of eye contact makes the overall impression kind of creepy. Bottom line: Viewers will judge your credibility by your eye contact. Be sure you adjust your studio conditions to give you a comfortable line of sight with the viewers and, obviously, know which camera is on!

Best dressed for the anchor desk... and the story

A website called Styleite has come out with its list of “Best Dressed Newscasters of 2010.” Here’s the link: http://www.styleite.com/media/best-dressed-newscasters-photos/
What does it take to make their list? Wearing lots of black seems to be the calling card of MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, CNN’s Anderson Cooper and ABC’s Diane Sawyer. The listmakers have an odd obsession with Mika Brzezinski’s shoes, despite the fact that newscasters’ feet are rarely seen on TV.

CNN’s Fredericka Whitfield is praised for a “bold piece of statement jewelry.” Since when are newscasters supposed to be making statements with their jewelry? The people who made this list don’t seem too familiar with the number-one rule for effective on-camera appearance: Notice the person, not the outfit. While I am NOT a hair and makeup teacher, I do mention appearance issues when they interfere with delivering your message on camera. Other guidelines are:

Stick to solid, bold colors.
Avoid all white or all black.
Avoid shiny fabrics, ruffles, prints and patterns.

For women:
-an open V neckline is the most flattering.
-avoid chunky jewelry that draws attention away from your face.

Good examples from the Styleite list are CNN’s Betty Nguyen and FNC’s Megyn Kelly, although Kelly’s cleavage and bare arms would be too daring for some markets or time periods. Keep in mind that these are national news presenters who may receive help with their wardrobe in the form of a consultant, a clothing allowance or freebies from garment manufacturers.

I’d like to nominate a few people that I've already mentioned on this blog. Scroll down to read about Rochelle Ritchie, the multimedia journalist who let her chemically straightened hair go "natural" and New York anchor David Ushery, who stopped wearing a tie for his weekend newscasts. I suspect that these changes made each of these presenters seem more “casual, comfortable and connected” to their respective audiences. If I were a news director, I’d experiment with a casual Friday where newscasters could dress more like their counterparts in most other American workplaces. Find out what your audience thinks.

There’s an old saying about business attire: “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” It also applies to on-camera talent. If your goal is to be the friend who connects with viewers on multiple media platforms, you might want to embrace “business casual.” On the other hand, when I teach in developing countries where journalists are trying to establish their credibility, standard business attire is essential for both men and women. There’s also the angle of “dressing for the story.” You wouldn’t wear a t-shirt to a White House news conference or a coat and tie to a forest fire.

Who’s on YOUR best dressed list of news anchors and reporters? Send in your nominations and we’ll publish your feedback in a future post.

Note: the original version of this post first appeared in Professor Terry's Coaching Corner on http://www.the247newsroom.com/

Social Media Boot Camp: Video Rules

It's time to update your social media strategy to include video!

That message was loud and clear at a Social Media Boot Camp for CEOS, presented by a Splash Media. The Dallas-based firm provides one-stop shopping for firms who want to outsource their marketing through social networks. According to presenter John Larsen, search engines favor sites with videos. "People would rather watch the internet than read the internet," he declared.
About half of the 60 business owners in the room got that "deer in the headlights" look as they realized that they will have to appear in front of a camera. The Splash social media package includes the use of a five million dollar production facility in Dallas, with the goal of producing at least one video a month for the company's website. The on-camera talent is generally the CEO of the business. "This is not the amateur hour," Larson said.

So, in theory, everyone who is marketing a product on the web is going to need a talent coach like me! If you are going to spend upwards of $60,000 a year on social media marketing, doesn't it make sense to spend just a little more to make sure you deliver a power performance in front of the camera?
The free workshop included some awesome examples of power performance and storytelling, but my favorite was this one from a company called Blendtec. Check it out on their site, http://www.willitblend.com/, or on YouTube, where it has gotten millions of hits. These guys will throw anything into a blender, including a brand new iPad!