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Video production tips, media and messaging secrets & more
Advanced Media Training Techniques
The buzzer is back! And it's not by popular demand. Most clients hate it. But let me explain. When it comes to messaging and media, most clients struggle with condensing their messaging more than anything else. The media needs your messages to be "packaged" in a form...
Tips for Delivering a Great TV Interview
I'll be honest with you. MANY components determine what makes for a compelling on-camera interview, and I can't cover all of them here. However, I can share some of the top things you can do to improve your on-camera performance. But before we do, it's essential to...
Spring Cleaning For Your Communications Team
It's that time of year to refresh your internal and external communications team. Along with getting your taxes filed, it's equally important to re-evaluate your comms team. What have you done well and where do you need improvement? Here's a quick and easy to-do list...
On-Camera Tips: How to Be More Authentic.
Before you can run a marathon, you need to train first; In fact, you need to train a lot. And that is also true regarding being more authentic when appearing on camera. To have opportunities to show your authentic self, you must master your messaging and basic...
How to deal with a Citizen “Journalist”
Yes, I put " journalist" in quotes purposefully. That's because a so-called citizen journalist is rarely a journalist at all. In my humble opinion and based on what I've witnessed with media training clients over the years, citizen journalists have zero training in...
Do You Have a Bad Side? On-Camera Tips and Tricks
"Get my good side!" If we had a dollar for every time we've heard someone say that before a sit-down interview. While many will ask jokingly, you can always sense some sincerity and concern in the question. But do most people have a bad side? I was reminded of this...
How AI is changing Video Production
Users of the ChatGPT app already know the mind-blowing power of AI and how it is changing the world. But artificial intelligence is also being used in the video production world too. Just this week, the popular video hosting site Vimeo announced a transcription...
New Services: Visual Storytelling 101
Dubek Media Group adds video production training to its suite of media training services. March 31, 2023 The Dubek Media Group is pleased to announce new training curriculum within our media training consulting suite of services. "Visual Storytelling 101" is now...
Create an Impactful Gala Video
It's gala season! Use this proven format to motivate your audience to give. Happy New Year! Along with a calendar rollover, it's widely recognized as the season for giving. Perhaps you have already attended a gala event this winter. If you have, you also likely...
Former Arizona Journalists Sound Alarm on Democracy, First Amendment
A 2022 election which threatens our very democracy. That was the sobering message presented by former Arizona journalists in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. On October 18, 2022, former members of the Arizona media gathered in downtown Phoenix, sandwiched between Arizona...
Stop these Annoying Zoom Call Bad Habits
I am as guilty as anyone. You probably have your own internal list of zoom call bad habits which annoy you, right? Many times people are completely unaware they have these bad habits unless someone tells them but the damage has already been done. Bad Zoom call habits...
Media Training 101-Stop Saying Um!
Words like "um" and "like" and "basically" are crutch words and this bad habit can be controlled with practice. But I'll be completely transparent on this topic right up front. It's not easy to completely get rid of annoying crutch words in speeches and during media...
Knowing When to Shut Up: The Power of Silence
Of all the media training trouble spots I encounter, the inability to stop talking is at the top of the list. So many many people just can't stop talking. They can't stop talking during media interviews, they can't stop talking during presentations, blah blah blah...
Video Production vs Video Storytelling: Know the Difference
Knowing the difference between video production and sorytelling is critically important if you want your key messages heard within your video content. Yet everyday I see examples online which fail when it comes to delivering impactful messaging which resonates with...
Media Training Tips-What do I do with my hands?
"I don't know what to do with my hands when I am doing an on-camera interview?" Without a doubt, this is the single most common question I get during my media training sessions. "Do I sit on them? Put my arms around my back and clasp my hands? Hold something?" No, no,...
Video Production with these Non-Profits Making a Difference in 2022
With so much uncertainty in the world, it's the perfect time to shine a light on those who are pressing forward and creating positive change in our community. The Dubek Media Group is proud to have worked with some of these change makers in 2021, and we are pleased to...
Are Virtual News Interviews Here To Stay?
I know it seems hard to believe, but before COVID, virtual news interviews via SKYPE, Facetime, Zoom or by any other platform were virtually unheard of. The networks and even local news programs avoided the temptation of a no-cost interview solution because of...
Three Tips For Mastering Any News Interview
Oh no! You just found out the media is coming and you know you are not ready. What do you do? I sincerely hope you are not ever caught in this position without media training first but sadly, we often get an inquiry for services AFTER the media event has taken place....
At the Intersection of Media, Branding & Power Point
I recently had the opportunity to present as a guest speaker at a Communications Summit in Tempe, Arizona. The idea with this summit was to offer participants an opportunity to get a refresher course on all things communications, as part of re-entry back into the work...
Rule of Three for Media & Messaging Never More Important
These are complicated times and it's super easy to get lost in the weeds, especially when dealing with complicated topics like COVID-19. Many private sector companies and government groups are now dealing with implementing new rules, procedures and policies as all of...
Capturing History: Habitat for Humanity’s First Ever 3D Printed Home
Habitat for Humanity has been helping families turn home ownership into reality for decades. But one particular home being built in Tempe, Arizona is getting worldwide attention. This newly constructed Habitat home is being partially constructed using a 3D printer,...
How to Become a Media “Go To” Expert
Just this week I was reminded of a very common question which I get asked frequently, usually during my media training sessions where the client is part of a unique professional organization. "How do I get the news media to use me as their "go to" expert? " This...
How to Write Teleprompter Scripts-It matters!
Did you know there are specific ways to format scripts being used with a teleprompter and by doing so, it will save you time and a lot of aggravation? It's true! Learned years ago during internships in broadcast news and these same techniques apply today, although I...
Get Rid of Virtual Rust!
Refresher Tips for the inevitable return to in-person messaging. A year! Maybe even more than a year for some of us. Virtual everything-meetings, presentations, media interviews, recorded zoom videos, internal and external virtual communications, the list goes on and...
Launching a Podcast? Read this before you begin.
In 2020 it is estimated there are roughly 850-thousand active podcasts and more than 30 million episodes. What once was a somewhat unique way to message is now a very active and crowded platform. Unless you are a known celebrity of some kind, you will likely not be...