BLOG
Video production tips, media and messaging secrets & more
Internal Corporate Video Does Not Have To Be Boring!
Just about every corporate communications team is using video in same shape or form. But how are you using video? Especially for internal communications, when it might be easier to record a company statement on an Iphone. After all, the video is for internal purposes...
Expert Video Production Tips: Script First or Last?
Your company or business is ready for your next big video production and the question naturally comes up- do you need a script in-hand before you begin the shoot? Should you have everything scripted out before the first scene is recorded? Based on our experiences, the...
Three Takeaways From Three Hours with a Leading Facebook Expert
Most freelance news media assignments I cover are interesting but some are true learning experiences. That was certainly the case when I recently interviewed one of the worlds leading experts on Facebook. Dennis Yu with Blitz Metrics is now the "go to" network news...
Why HBO’s Vice News Could Be The Future of Local TV News
No anchors. No studio. Maybe you don't have HBO, or haven't taken the time to check out that channels news show. When and if you do, Vice News does not follow the typical news show format model at all. The show starts and ends in the field, with reporters tackling a...
Snap Judgements in a Snapchat World: How to Make a Great First Impression.
Are you on Snapchat? I admit I have not yet taken the plunge but I am in the minority. According to those at the Snapchat app, more than 158 million people are on Snapchat and each user opens the app 18 times a day, on average. The app allows its user to share short...
Top 3 Worst Trends in Video Production
We make it a habit to explore the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to video production and today we will focus on the ugly because we are seeing some really bad trends out there. Some of our picks might surprise you but we ask that you thoroughly read our...
Top Three Mistakes When Pitching News Media
Twice over the past month I've spoken to business groups about the news media and both times we ended up with a large chunk of time focused on pitching stories-best practices, do's and don't, etc. Additionally, as a freelance TV journalist, my email gets bombarded...
Video Production Arizona: The Tempe Police Story
The video production team at DMG is very proud of this special video we produced for the Tempe Police Department. This long time media training client recently came to us with a different project in mind. The department wanted to create a high end, fast-paced video...
Beyond The Obvious: What Are The Real Lessons Learned From The Airline PR-Media Mess
By now most have seen the original stories and many follow ups regarding the mess which is United Airlines and the doctor dragged off the flight for refusing to give up his seat. While that story continues to have legs, another story made headlines regarding an...
Why Arizona Wildcat Head Basketball Coach Sean Miller Is The Best.
No, this Sun Devil did not go to the dark side. I did watch a lot of March Madness though and I believe in giving credit where credit is due, and Arizona Wildcat Head Basketball Coach Sean Miller deserves a lot of credit. Not for getting to the Sweet 16 though. Some...
How Much Time Goes Into Creating a Professional Video?
Maybe you are in the market for a professional video? Or maybe your company uses more and more video and your marketing team is thinking about building an internal video department. Either way, before diving in, it's important for anyone to understand the man hours...
Spotting Fake News: What’s in a Name?
Fake News is THE news of late. Our new President called some traditional news outlets "fake", and the topic of fake news is now dominating social media. How many times have you see someone post this- "I don't know what news is real and what news is fake anymore?" As a...
Four Tips For Creating Successful Social Media Video
Social media video is no longer the exception but the rule. If you are not posting video, you are missing out on a huge opportunity to connect with an enormous audience through direct views and shares. As an example, a few months ago I used Facebook Live and posted a...
Relax: Three Ways To Ease your Nerves For An On-Camera Appearance
If you've never seen the movie Broadcast News, you probably haven't seen this painful and uncomfortable clip from the movie. Still, it's worth your time: Movie Clip: Broadcast News This can really happen to anyone, even the news pro's can get tongue tied,...
How To Spot Fake News
Since the Presidential election wrapped up there has been a lot of attention on fake news and the impact on the race. As a media trainer, I should have known better but here is my disclaimer-I've been duped by fake news too. These trolls are very clever and use slick...
Do You Need Media Training? Answer These Four Questions.
You or your team may need media training and you don't even know it. That's because today's definition and application of media training covers a much broader range than just communicating with the media. Let's address how we have helped our clients over the years....
Arizona Video Production In Volume, Without Breaking The Bank
These are exciting times to be in the video production world as we seem to learn of new cameras, drones, and other high tech video production gadgets on a weekly basis. While I will always stress that professional visual story-telling trumps everything else, these new...
Media Training Is Not…
SPIN A lot of people assume this is what I do. But most audiences can see right through "spin". "Spin" at your own peril. Instead, we teach message creation and delivery tactics. There are two sides to every story and we empower our clients to be able to tell their...
Professional Video From Your Smartphone? Three Simple Video Production Tips For More Professional Video.
While professional video production is my business, there are times when my personal life intersects with my line of work. Such was the case recently when my better half asked me to edit a video for her mom's 80th birthday. The idea was simple enough-get long distance...
Video Production For Live Events: Four Simple Steps To Improve Workflow and Wow The Client
Of all the various video production assignments which may come your way, producing footage for a live event may be the most difficult. After all, some things can not be predicted or planned. That's where a news background can be extremely helpful. News crews are...
Under The Mega Media Microscope In Rio
"He's shadow boxing in front of Phelps! Chad le Clos won't stop staring at Phelps!" The media loves story-lines and that moment will last an eternity in Olympic history. Never mind that Phelps won another gold medal. The story will always be about how the South...
Do These Three Things Before Going Live On Facebook
I'm sure you have seen the "live reports" within your news feed on Facebook by now. You too have the power to go "live" and Facebook has made it very easy. Simply go to your new post tab and you will see an option for "live". Title your post, click "live" and you are...
Why the 2016 Presidential Election and Facebook Don’t Mix
Hillary is a crook! Trump is a fraud! Is your Facebook news feed screaming as loudly like mine? It is nearly impossible to take a quick glance without being bombarded with political posts, ads. likes, shares, you name it. While this environment is certainly not new,...
Want a Successful Video Campaign? Follow These Rules.
Video production may seem like a no-brainer, especially considering that YouTube videos get approximately 4 billion views every single day. You might be wondering what the secret is, or why 13-year-old kids are having wild success on the Internet, but truthfully most...
Digital Media Training That Works!
Do you have what it takes to make truly compelling digital media? Are you looking to create a video production for your company but don't know where to start? Are you simply seeking general communication improvement? The Internet is changing all the time. Old media,...