Media Tips

TELEVISION

1. If you are anywhere near a camera, assume it is on and recording every word and action.
2. Don’t wear stripes; they dance around on the screen and are distracting.
3. People shouldn’t judge you by your appearance, but they will.
4. If you do or wear anything distracting on TV, people will remember that and nothing you say.
5. Every TV anchorman, soap opera actor, sitcom star and talk show host on TV is made up and groomed for TV. Unfortunately, this is TV audience’s standard of comparison when they are watching you.
6. Don’t look at the camera unless there is no reporter or host around to speak to.
7. It is easier talking to a human being than it is talking to a hunk of metal.
8. Don’t lean back in your chair; you’ll look short and fat.
9. Don’t sit up perfectly straight; you’ll look stiff and nervous.
10. Do lean forward 15 degrees into the camera; you’ll look taller, leaner, and more confident.
11. If you lean forward, your double chin will disappear and you will appear to have a stronger jaw line.
12. Do keep moving your head.
13. Do move your body a little.
14. Do move your hands–whoever told speakers not to use their hands was not given accurate information.
15. Don’t move your hands above your face, below your chest or wider than your shoulders.