Course Description

Imagine debating your local or national TV preacher or theocratic politician on TV or radio and winning! You can look comfortable on TV, deliver a clear and understandable message, and speak in memorable sound bites. You can communicate your secular activist principles and worldview to the media and to the nation.

Currently, the forces against secular thinking are better at controlling and even owning the media. That's why they define the terms of debate. But it doesn't have to be this way. a new generation of secular activists is speaking out and gaining massive coverage in the mainstream media. You can be a part of this at the local or even national level.

Communicating through the media isn't just about money or looks or power. There are basic skills that anyone can master in order to make yourself more attractive, more interesting and more quotable to the media. This course will teach you exactly how to do this.

TJ Walker is a highly experienced media trainer and the author of numerous books and online training programs. he is also a secular activist who has appeared on national TV and radio thousands of times battling the Promise Keepers and other anti-secular organizations and causes.

President, Media Training Worldwide

TJ Walker

TJ Walker is the founder of Media Training Worldwide and has been conducting public speaking training workshops and seminars since 1984. Walker has trained Presidents of countries, Prime Ministers, Nobel Peace Prize winners, Super Bowl winners, U.S. Senators, Miss Universes and Members of Parliament.His book, "Secret to Foolproof Presentations" was a USA Today #1 Bestseller, as well as a Wall Street Journal, and Business Week Bestseller.  A frequent network news communications analyst, Walker has made more than 2000 network TV and radio appearances on CBS, ABC, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, CNN, Bloomberg TV, Al Jazeera, NBC, CCTV, Fox Business, HLN, TrueTV, Comedy Central, Sirius and NPR.In 2009, Walker entered the Guinness Book Of World Records for most talk show appearances ever in a 24 hour period. Yearly, Walker has more than a quarter of a million views of his public speaking tips videos on social media platforms.Walker is also the author of "Media Training A-Z" and "Media Training Success." Walker is also the producer/host The Facebook Page "TJ Walker - Speak to Influence" a source of daily public speaking training videos, tips and inspiration. He is also a past president of the National Speakers Association, New York City.Walker is the most prolific producer of presentation skills online training courses in the world, with more than 100 separate courses. He has more than 50,000 students enrolled from 172 countries.Walker was a merit scholar at Duke University where he graduated magna cum laude. He has lectured or conducted trainings at Yale University, Columbia University and Princeton University.***“TJ Walker’s single-minded devotion to presentation has made him the #1 expert for executives seeking guidance on speaking to the public and media.” Bob Bowdon, Anchor/Reporter, Bloomberg Television“TJ Walker is the leading media trainer in the world.” Stu Miller, Viacom News Producer“The world’s leading presentation and media training firm.” Gregg Jarrett, Fox News Channel Anchor“To break through the cluttered media environment, it's important to get your message out in a clear and concise way. TJ knows how to do it and gives you the tips to succeed."

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Media Training for Secular Activists Overview

    • What are Your Media Training Goals?

    • Be Upbeat

    • Never Defend and Don't Be Angry
  • 2

    Messaging

    • Secular Messaging

    • How to Frame a Media Message Overview

    • A Media Message Answers All Basic Questions

    • Media Messages Must be Interesting to Reporters

    • Media Messages Must Resonate with Media Audiences

    • Your Media Message Needs to Benefit You

    • Three is the Perfect Number of Media Messages

    • Media Messages Using a Venn Diagram

    • Have a Positive Message

    • Add Quantifiable Results

    • What Problem are You Solving?

    • Assignment - Create Your Own Media Message
  • 3

    Answering Questions in a Media Interview

    • Secular Answering Questions

    • How to Answer Questions in a Media Interview - Overview

    • Answer One Question at a Time

    • Keep Your Eyes on Your Message Points

    • Do Not Repeat Negative Words from a Reporter

    • Tell Reporters 'I Don't Know'

    • Always Be Moving to Your Message Points

    • Give Brief Answers to Tough Questions

    • Aim for All Three messages in Every Answer

    • Re-Write the Reporter's Questions

    • Don't Add One More Thing

    • Don't Try to Control the Interview
  • 4

    Speaking in Sound Bites

    • Secular Sound Bites

    • What is a Sound Bite - Overview

    • Sound Bites Bold Action Words

    • Cliches

    • Emotion

    • Examples

    • Absolutes

    • Attacks

    • Humor

    • Rhetorical Questions

    • Analogies

    • Pop Culture References

    • Three Easiest Sound Bite Tools

    • Reflections on Sound Bites

    • 5 Outcomes of Every Media Interview

    • Sound Bite Homework

    • Sound Bite Practice
  • 5

    How to Look Your Best on Camera

    • Secular How to Look Your Best on TV

    • How to Look Your Best on TV Overview

    • How to Apply Makeup for TV Interviews

    • How to Sit for TV Interviews

    • How to Smile

    • How to Use Your Eyes

    • How to Move Your Head

    • How to Move Your Body

    • How to Move Your Hands

    • How to Sit in Your Chair

    • How to Stand for TV Interviews

    • How to Dress for TV Interviews

    • Video Record and See Your Improvement

    • How to Critique Your Own Performance
  • 6

    Closing Thoughts

    • Conclusion

    • Feedback
  • 7

    Bonus Reading

    • Media Training A to Z

    • Media Training Success

    • Secret to Foolproof Presentations

    • Public Speaking Success
  • 8

    Bonus Videos

    • How to Eliminate Nerves Before TV Interviews

    • How to Tell If Your Media Interview Was Effective

    • If You Forgot What to Say in a Media Interview

    • Should You Wear Glasses for a TV Interview?

    • How to Look Good for Your Skype Video Interview

    • How to Make a YouTube Video Via a Webcam

    • What is Media Training?

    • 5 Step Walker Method of Media Training

    • Should You Take Beta Blockers?

    • How to Speak Into a Microphone

    • How to Think on Your Feet

    • Crisis communications

    • Emergency Preparation for Interviews

    • Media Interviews, How to Get the Questions in Advance

    • Media Stars Enjoy Interviews

    • Worst Television Interview Ever

    • How to Give a Great Radio Interview Over the Phone

    • Top Three Media Interview Mistakes

    • What if You Hate Your Voice

    • How to Do a Satellite TV Interview

    • What Makes Great Media Communicators Great

    • How to Use a Teleprompter for Newscasts

    • Never Say 'No comment'

    • How to Avoid saying Uh and Um

    • What is the Difference Between Mediocre Media Training and Great Training?

    • How to Stall a Reporter

    • What Ground Rules Should Media Interviews Have?

    • Should You Memorize Your Media Messages?

    • What Equipment do You Need to Conduct a Media Training?

    • What is the Best Camera for Making Internet Video?

    • Media Skills are Learned, Not Bred

    • Which Media Form is Most Effective

    • Media Training Tips for Talk Radio

    • What if a Reporter Misquotes You?

    • How to Brainstorm Media Messages

    • What if Reporters are Stupid, Lazy or Dumb?

    • Don't Wait for Reporters to Ask Questions

    • How to Turn Sound Bites On and Off

    • How and When to Be a Sound Bite Machine

    • Return Reporters' Phone Calls

    • Never Act Defensive in a Media Interview

    • Don't Lie to the Media

    • How to Stall for Time if a Reporter Calls

    • When to Speak Off the Record

    • Don't Time Stamp Your Media Answers

    • How to Fight Media Bias

    • Don't Ask Reporters to Read Back Your Quotes

    • Don't Wait for Reporters to Call You

    • Crisis Communications, Don't Let Lawyers Run the Show

    • How the Media Can Make or Break Your Career