One of the most challenging skills to master in media training is finding the right balance between warmth and authority. Lean too far into authority and you risk sounding cold, unapproachable, and overly corporate. Focus only on warmth and you might come across as lacking in credibility or gravitas. The art lies in blending the two so they work together.
Audiences want to feel reassured that you know your subject — but they also want to feel a human connection. Authority gives you trust; warmth keeps people engaged. In presenting, these qualities are not opposites. In fact, the best communicators make them inseparable.
Think of an experienced news anchor. They speak with the weight of knowledge and the assurance of experience, yet they deliver their words with empathy. They are confident without arrogance, friendly without being casual to the point of losing professionalism.
Achieving this balance starts with self-awareness. Media training helps you identify whether your natural style leans more towards warmth or authority. Once you know this, you can develop the complementary side. If you’re naturally warm, you can work on tightening your structure and boosting your vocal power. If authority is your strength, you can bring in more openness, conversational language, and visual engagement.
The goal is to create a style where the audience feels both guided and welcomed. When warmth and authority work in harmony, your message not only lands — it sticks.
https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/media-training
One of the golden rules of media training is simple: less is more. Too many presenters — whether they are new to the industry or seasoned professionals — fall into the trap of overexplaining. They circle around their point, padding every sentence with unnecessary words until the original message is lost in the fog.
The problem with waffle is that it forces your audience to work harder. They have to sift through the clutter to find the value. And in today’s media landscape, where attention spans are short and competition for viewers is fierce, you can’t afford to lose people in the first few seconds.
Great presenting is about clarity. It’s about choosing the one key idea you want to land and delivering it with precision. Think of your words like high-quality ingredients — you don’t need to drown them in sauce.
When you cut the waffle, your delivery gains energy. Your key messages stand out. Your audience feels respected because you value their time. This doesn’t mean stripping away your personality or warmth — it means using those elements more effectively. The tighter your delivery, the greater the impact.
Media training helps you spot the unnecessary words, the tangents, and the filler that creep into your speaking style. Once you remove them, you’ll discover that you not only sound more confident — you are more confident. And that confidence is what your audience will remember.
Find out how we can help you craft your message: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/media-training
In media training, one of the most important lessons you can learn is the value of finding your own voice. Recently, I saw a post from a presenter trainer promoting her services. She spoke with precision, every word placed as if it had been measured against a ruler. The delivery was reminiscent of the Queen’s Speech: formal, deliberate, and entirely disconnected from the real human rhythm of conversation. It was polished to the point of sterility.
This kind of presentation might seem impressive on the surface, but it doesn’t work for television, online video, or live speaking. Audiences connect with people, not performances. If your style is overly rehearsed, every sentence perfectly clipped and polished, you risk coming across as cold and inaccessible.
Finding your own voice is not about discarding professionalism — it’s about bringing your personality into the way you speak. Your voice should carry your experiences, your sense of humour, your pace, your natural quirks. When you speak like yourself, people believe you. They feel they are being addressed directly, not spoken at from behind a glass screen.
This is the real skill of media training: to take what makes you you and turn it into something that feels effortless, even in high-pressure situations. The most engaging presenters sound like they’re talking just to you, not delivering a lecture to the masses. When you find your voice, you not only keep your audience listening — you give them a reason to come back.
Our own Gareth had a great chat on the Chatterbeans podcast recently. Talking all things presenting, TV and career.
Take a look here: https://www.chatter-beans.com/latest-episodes
It was so much fun to do!
The camera can be intimidating. Even the most confident professionals sometimes freeze or go into performance mode when the red light comes on. But the best media interviews don’t feel performed — they feel real.
So how do you sound natural on camera? The key is to speak like a person, not like a press release. Media training helps you find the balance between professionalism and personality. It’s not about being perfect — it’s about being you, with polish.
Start by knowing your talking points. If you’re clear on what you want to say, you can relax and have a conversation — instead of worrying about getting it right.
Next, think about pace and tone. People often speed up when they’re nervous, which can make you seem rushed or robotic. Slow down just a little, and let your tone be friendly and expressive. It’s okay to smile and show warmth — it helps the audience connect.
Eye contact is also key. If you’re on live TV or doing a recorded interview, keep your eyes on the interviewer or the lens, whichever is appropriate. Avoid darting around or looking distracted. The more grounded you are, the more confident you’ll appear.
Ultimately, great media interviews don’t happen by chance. They’re the result of preparation, practice, and knowing how to bring your best self to the screen.
For more information about our training programmes visit: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/media-training
If there’s one mistake people consistently make in media interviews, it’s this: they forget their message.
Under pressure, it’s easy to go off on a tangent, give long-winded answers, or try to say too much. But the most successful interviews are the ones where the speaker is focused, clear, and in control of what they want the audience to remember.
That’s where media training comes in. It helps you identify your key messages — the core points you want to land — and shows you how to weave them naturally into conversation. No matter what question you’re asked, you’ll learn how to bridge back to what matters.
This doesn’t mean ignoring the question. It means answering it in a way that still delivers value to your audience and reinforces your message. It’s about balance — being authentic while staying strategic.
So if you’re ever in a situation where you need to represent yourself or your company in the media, remember this: preparation beats improvisation. Know your message, practise your delivery, and you’ll come across as confident and credible.
For more information about our training programmes visit: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/media-training
In today’s fast-moving digital world, the media can be your greatest opportunity — or your biggest risk. That’s why media training is no longer just for celebrities or politicians. It’s a vital skill for anyone representing a brand or business.
When you're being interviewed, how you say something matters just as much as what you say. Media training helps you learn how to deliver your message clearly, confidently, and with purpose — whether it's on camera, in print, or across social media.
It also prepares you for pressure. Interviews can be unpredictable, and without the right tools, it’s easy to get thrown off track. Media training teaches you how to stay calm, avoid being misquoted, and handle difficult questions with professionalism.
Most importantly, it helps you speak like a real person. Audiences connect with authenticity — not jargon or rehearsed statements. Great media interviews feel conversational, natural, and honest.
If you're a business leader, spokesperson, or expert in your field, media training should be part of your professional toolkit. It's about protecting your brand, owning your story, and making your voice count.
For more information about our training programmes visit: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/media-training
One of the biggest myths about public speaking is that you have to perform or become someone else. In reality, the most powerful speakers are the ones who sound like themselves.
Audiences respond to authenticity. They don’t want perfection — they want connection. So if you trip over a word or lose your place, it’s not the end of the world. What matters more is whether they believe you and relate to you.
Use language you would use in a conversation. Speak naturally, as if you’re talking to just one person in the room. This creates a feeling of intimacy, even with a large audience.
Let your personality come through. If you’re passionate, show it. If you’re thoughtful, lean into that tone. You don’t have to be loud to make an impact — you just need to be real.
Authentic public speaking builds trust. When people feel like they’re hearing the real you, they’re more likely to listen — and more likely to remember what you said.
So before your next presentation, ask yourself: am I being the best version of myself, or am I trying to be someone I’m not? The more you bring yourself to the stage, the more powerful your message becomes.
For more information about our training programmes visit: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training
Confidence is one of the first things people look for in a speaker. But here’s the secret — confidence isn’t something you have or don’t have. It’s something you can build.
The first step is preparation. Knowing your material inside out gives you a strong foundation to fall back on. If you’re confident in what you’re saying, it shows.
Next is how you carry yourself. Body language and posture speak before your words do. Stand tall, take a breath, and look your audience in the eye. Even if you don’t feel confident, acting confident helps shift your mindset.
Don’t be afraid of pausing. Silence gives weight to your words and gives your audience time to absorb what you’re saying. It also gives you space to think.
Reframe nerves as excitement. The physical symptoms are similar — racing heart, butterflies — but the way you interpret them makes all the difference.
And remember, the audience is on your side. They want you to do well. When you focus on the message rather than yourself, your nerves start to ease.
Confidence grows the more you practise. Keep saying yes to opportunities, and over time, public speaking will feel more natural.
For more information about our training programmes visit: https://www.presenterstudio.com/business-presenter-training/presentation-skills-training