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Monty Alexander asked:




LG Shine KE770 like its name suggests is made to outshine itself. It comes with some surprise features which you would hardly find in any other mobile phone. It is enabled with JAVA version MIDP 2.0. This distinct feature makes it an updated mobile phone. It is enabled with a wallpaper and picture/ring tone downloading feature.

Key Features

LG Shine KE770 is enabled with both executive and entertainment features. It is enabled with an internet service with the help of which you can access the internet anytime you want. It also has entertainment features like an in built music player and a camera as well, to explore your photographic instincts.

Design

This LG Mobile Phone has a classic design. It has dimensions of 105.2 x 46.3 x 9.9 mm (LxWxD). Its weight is 79 grams. It is extremely light weight. Hence, it will deliver a good performance without asserting its weight. This mobile phone has a 262K color TFT screen. As a result, you will enjoy using this phone for long hours. This phone allows a talk time of up to 2.5 hours and a standby time of about 200 hours. It is very average on the battery front. Most of the devices today boast of longer talk time and battery back-up.

Executive Features

This LG mobile phones is enabled with a Bluetooth (version 1.2) device. With this device assisting you, you can transfer important data easily without wires. You can also receive calls when in a hurry or when you are not in position to receive calls manually. For data transfer, you can also use a USB device and PC Sync.

With this LG mobile phone you can easily surf the internet and send/receive emails since it is enabled with WAP. You can also play games on the internet since it is enabled with JAVA technology. Hence, you may run down to the conclusion that this mobile has high end technology.

Entertainment Features

This LG mobile is enabled with an MP3 player. You can also edit music with MIDI technology. When tired of everything, you get to play games with your LG Shine KE770 The finest feature of this mobile phone is its 2 megapixel camera which is enabled with CMOS technology. This technology converts incoming light into electrical signals that enhance the quality of images discerned. You get to click excellent images that will really satisfy you.

Conclusion

LG Shine KE770 has features that will perfectly suit your needs. It definitely deserves to be your faultless choice.

M Vroom asked:




Mobile catering refers to selling food out of some type of mobile vehicle, either a truck or van in most occasions. It is similar to regular catering since the food is brought directly to the customers, but is served directly out the vehicle rather than inside a building. Mobile catering is popular in many urban locations where it is convenient to grab food on the run, and it is a great business opportunity for those looking to get into the food business.

A mobile food truck is a great investment for anyone interested in getting into the food business, since it doesn’t require one to buy or lease an entire restaurant. Instead, individuals can sell their homemade goods right out of a moving vehicle, and can travel to popular locations where they know they can make a profit.

An ice cream van is similar to a mobile food truck, since they were invented in order to distribute ice cream to people walking on the street. A mobile food truck or van is designed similar to an ice cream van, since it has a large window that makes it easy to converse with customers. The inside of the van is completely different though, since ice cream vans are full of freezers in order to keep the ice cream cold.

A mobile food truck is almost like a small and portable kitchen, since it contains many of the same components as a regular kitchen. It can contain places to heat up food, a fridge and freezer for storage, a sink for washing up, and even a drink fountain for dispensing colas. They also contain locations for storage and even shelves for displaying products, and a counter top for a cash register and storage for dishes and cups. They come in a number of different variations, and the purchaser can decide which components they need based on the menu they plan on selling.

Mobile kitchens can either be purchased as a mobile food truck or van, or as a trailer that can hook directly onto the back of a vehicle. Either way, it makes it possible to move the food business to different locations, in order to find popular locations where people are likely to be hungry. Although a mobile food truck owner may have to travel to several locations when they first start off, they usually find the most popular locations and travel to them at the same time every day.

A mobile food truck or kitchen is a great purchase for anyone getting into the food business, especially since not many have time to sit in a restaurant for a meal anymore. It is a convenient way to sell food and appeal to a wide variety of customers, and it doesn’t require a huge initial investment like a restaurant would. They usually only require one or two people to operate, and can pay for themselves in no time. A mobile food truck and kitchen is a great investment for anyone interested in the food business, and can even transform into a family partnership if it gains enough popularity.

Mark Hirst asked:




Sony Ericsson is known for their walk man mobile phones which made you enjoy your favorite tune anywhere and Sony Ericsson W980i is their recently released product for people who are more musically inclined. You do not need to buy a separate mp3 player; the mobile phone has its innovative application that can play your music in one gadget.

From the moment you see it, the appearance of Sony Ericsson W980i looked more of a music player than a mobile phone because of the keys designated on top of it along with the screen. The screen showed the song being played, battery life, and signal.

To further find out what Sony Ericsson W980i can offer you, read through the mobile review and have a full knowledge on great mobile phone deals or contract in store for the buyer.

Over-all review

If you love music and want to buy a new phone, Sony Ericsson W980i–flip top phone– should be your best option of choice. Sony Ericsson improved the quality of sound and made it easier to control the music through the buttons on top of the phone. It has the capacity to store 8000 songs with its 8GB internal memory.

While Shake control became a newest application for most recently released music phones and music player, SE W980i also acquired one for an easier changed of songs. You do not need to press buttons if you like, you can just shake the phone and songs will change automatically.

When you get tired of the tunes listed on your phone, you can go back to the basic of tuning in to your favorite FM stations. But do not take this application for granted, the built-in FM transmitter can also be used to transfer music into a compatible device while playing songs. Enjoy your favorite tune on your stereo either in your car or bedroom without the use of wires.

Other special features such as: 3.2 mega pixel camera, large screens, and 3G HSDPA handset is also a great catch to consider. You can now check mails, download music online, and use the internet with its high speed connection.

The phone offered 3 options for the connectivity: Bluetooth, USB wire, and PictBridge which gives direct connection to a printer.

Battery life, can last for 12 days in stand by mode or equivalent of 3.5 hours of using it for calling. Of course it will depend upon how you charge and take care of your battery which you need to read more of to have a longer battery life.

Deal or no deal

Mobile phone deals or contracts are a great way to acquire a phone if you cannot pay in one payment. The contract will tell you to pay in 12 months term and you get other advantages as you apply for the mobile phone deals. Like in credit cards, you will receive a monthly payment slip which includes the fixed payment for the phone plus the bills for other services you use such as SMS messages, calls, GPRS, etc. However, you should take note that the costs of calls are more affordable when you apply for a mobile phone deal.

Mark Hirst asked:




The Sony Erickson K200i is available in either metallic black or pale champagne casing. The February 2007 announcement described a highly attractive case and a keypad which has a good feel. There is no opening system. There is a generally solid bar design to the handset which weighs 82 grams including the battery and measures 103 mm by 46 mm by 16.7 mm.

The mobile phone is an ideal size for slipping into a handy pocket or bag at 103 mm by 46 mm by 16.7 mm.
Its slim design arrives with a 65K colour CSTN display screen of 128 by 128 pixels. You can customize with wallpapers or themes to add visual interest. Large keys and keypad make for easy use and access. The family name for this mobile phone is the K220i but it has dissimilar features. The Sony Ericsson K200i and its integrated features will be a pleasure to use.

The Sony Ericsson K200i arrives with a substantial 2 MB of internal memory. This allows for easily saving contact details, messages and photos. The battery allows approximately 900 hours of standby time and 8 hours of talk time from a full charge.

This great mobile phone includes a VGA camera so that the user can capture all the fun and special ingredients in their day. These photos can be shared immediately with friends by using the K200i picture messaging service. The VGA camera has direct interaction with the messaging features of the phone plus dedicated menus for user-friendly use. The screen functions as a viewfinder so that the user can know they are getting snaps of just the image they want.
Video clips can be easily recorded on the phone and stored for later playback.

The provided network is dual bank GSM 9900/GSM 1800.


32 channels of polyphonic ringtones and downloadable customization are available. The vibration mode is included. A substantial phonebook with allowance for up to 300 entries and 200 received, missed, or dialed calls is included.

The GPRS is class 10 with speeds of 32-48 kbps, HSCSD and both a USB and infrared port. SMS and MMS messaging, a WAP 1.2.1 browser and several other features such as games, slide show, stopwatch, timer and of course, built-in handsfree make the Sony Ericsson a prime choice for users.

Jim Hart asked:




If you are thinking about initiating a public relations/media communications effort it makes sense to understand the media markets to help formulate a communications strategy. In this article we will discuss the major media markets and practical considerations associated with a low budget communications plan.

THE TOP-30 MEDIA MARKETS

As mentioned in (Part 1) of this series, there are 30 major cities in America known as the TOP-30 media markets. They are called major media markets because the population levels exceed over one million people across a wide demographic audience and they are:

Atlanta, GA

Milwaukee, WI

Baltimore, MD

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN Boston, MA

New Orleans, LA Chicago, IL

New York, NY Cincinnati, OH

Philadelphia, PA Cleveland, OH

Phoenix, AZ Columbus, OH

Pittsburgh, PA Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

Portland, OR Denver, CO

Sacramento, CA

Detroit, MI

St. Louis, MO Houston/Galveston, TX

San Diego, CA Indianapolis, IN

San Francisco, CA Kansas City, NE

Seattle/Tacoma, WA Los Angeles, CA

Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL Miami, FL

Washington, DC

These media markets represent the biggest bang for the buck if you get booked for newspaper, radio or TV interviews because of the sheer volume of readers and radio and TV audiences. Each of these cities have at least one anchor newspaper organization located in them (The Boston Globe, The Columbus Dispatch and the Chicago Tribune, etc), for example, and even smaller newspapers can reap a substantial amount of response from a simple mention of your project. Do not underestimate any media in these cities or the surrounding areas within a 100-mile radius. If you are looking for big time coverage and major public awareness, these cities are they place to focus your time and resources.

SMALL CITIES

Smaller cities, those that do not appear in the list above, can still generate significant results in areas with populations ranging from about 250,000-750,000 people. While not considered a major media market, coverage by TV, radio and newspapers concurrently can create quite an impact on public awareness. Again, these cities should not be overlooked in the communications planning.

SMALL TOWNS

Small towns include population centers from about 25,000-100,000 people and many times only have a local newspaper organization, some local magazines and a few local radio stations. TV broadcasts are often received from neighboring cities and through cable.

TALKING TO THE MEDIA

Every city, no matter how small or how large, has a natural order within the media; Newspapers organizations are headed up by editors and specialty column writers and the electronic media (radio and TV) all have producers and hosts. When dealing with newspaper organizations you want to target your calls to the appropriate reporters covering your story idea. For example, if you were trying to promote a book on cars, then you would want to talk to the reporter covering the auto motive section, if your story deals with real estate, the real estate reporter, and so forth. In the electronic media (radio or TV), you can either do research at the library, or order a Bacon’s media directory or call the target stations directly with your story idea. Many times the receptionist can guide you to the appropriate producers of the shows most inclined to cover your story idea. A key is to make friends with the receptionist, who is your eyes and ears into the organization. One way to establish a dialog with the receptionist is to simply ask “can you help me” and then briefly describe your story idea and ask to speak to the best producer according to the receptionists opinion. The receptionists know who’s who in these organizations and can save you a TON of time.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

1. If a newspaper has never interviewed you, relax, it’s a breeze. Radio and TV is different though. Many times these are live and you will be exposing your self to a considerable audience. If the media event takes live calls this can be especially nerve racking if you have no experience. In order to be professional, you must know your topic. You must be an expert in your field. When you are on live radio or TV and they plan on taking live calls, it is comparable to sitting in the middle of a packed super bowl football field and having to answer questions from anybody in the bleachers and everybody will hear your answers. Not to much of a problem if you REALLY know your topic. If you don’t know an answer to a caller’s question, be honest and say you don’t know—tell them to leave their name and number with the station and you will call back with an answer. It provides a professional way to maintain your dignity.

2. For this reason, it makes sense to target your first phase of communications towards smaller towns and focus on small newspapers and small radio stations. This way, you will gain experience in smaller venues and, if you make a mistake, you will not destroy your credibility in a large media market.

3. Concentrate your efforts into one city at a time unless you think you can handle a national PR rollout. I suggest focusing your efforts and money into a city because you want to “spin” the media all at the same time. I mean, you want all your media events to happen in a concentrated manner so that newspapers, radio stations and maybe TV cover you all within a week or so. This way you get in and get out of a city and analyze what happened, both good and bad including results.

Getting media coverage is most often a matter of being honest with everybody you deal with. You will need a professional release (the next lesson in this series) to get people’s attention but beyond that, being friendly and honest is the key to success with media. As long as your topic is informative, controversial or sensational, getting media coverage is relatively easy to do. Stay tuned to these articles, they will be updated daily over the next five (5) days.

To your success! Copyright © 2006 James W. Hart, IV All Rights reserved

Marcus Rollingston asked:




Let us start at the very beginning when we get to know this computer called HP Pavilion Media Center TV m7350n PC. You may be interested to know that this computer has many names and some of its aliases are:

•HP Pavilion Media Center EL406AA

•HP Pavilion Media Center TV m7350n

•HP Pavilion Media Center

•Hewlett-Packard EL406AA

•Or simply as the Hewlett-Packard TV m7350n.

Such technology is expected to be really functional. What’s in the HP Pavilion Media Center TV that makes it unique? For one, the HP Pavilion Media Center TV m7350n PC has an Intel processor with processor class D. It has a processing speed of 2.8 GHz, and a 2 GB installed memory. Its BUS speed is 800 MHz and a cache size of 4 MB. The memory technology is DDR II SDRAM with a maximum memory of 4 GB. The system chipset is Intel 945P Express.

Further, the hard drive has a storage capacity of 250 GB. Its CD Read Speed is 40X, the CD Write Speed is 40X, the CD Rewrite Speed is 32X, and the DVD Read Speed is 16X. It comes with Serial ATA Drive Controllers as well. The 2nd CD Read Speed is 16X.

For graphics and the monitor, you get a plug-in card for video integration and 64 MB of installed video memory. For networking and communications functions, your HP Pavilion Media Center TV m7350n PC has a 56 Kbps modem speed, and both Fast Ethernet and Ethernet for network support.
The interface connectors you get with your HP Pavilion Media Center TV m7350n PC are three forms of line-out: line-out (center/subwoofer), line-out (rear), and line-out (side surround.) On one hand, the expansion slot types of your HP Pavilion Media Center TV m7350n PC accommodate an XD-Picture Card, SD Memory Card, Memory Stick, SmartMedia Card, PCI Express x16, a CompactFlash Card, Memory, Processor, and PCI.

This type of computer uses Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 as its operating system (or OS.)The OS comes with these different software programs:

•Microsoft Office 2003 Student and Teacher Edition (Trial)

•Muvee autoProducer

•HP Image Zone

•RealPlayer

•Sonic MyDVD

•PC-Doctor 5 for Windows

•A 60-day subscription to Norton Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware

•Adobe Reader 7.0

•Sonic DigitalMedia Plus

•Microsoft Works 8.0

•And InterVideo WinDVD 5

Moreover, the keyboard and mouse are the input devices provided. You can buy the appropriate monitor via a separate purchase as an independent unit.

And now that we know all that techie mumbo-jumbo, it brings us to the most important question: what can it do for us? Well, to start with, it makes for an excellent paperweight, especially if you accidentally plug it into the wrong power source which then renders the insides fried and useless. However, that doesn’t justify the expense. Unless you’ll take a closer look at it, you’ll never appreciate this computer. So let us look deeper.

Since this computer is actually a Media Center, that gives those of you who love your entertainment a ray of hope. For one thing, you can record, and create video recordings to a maximum of 170 hours. The Image Zone software (an exclusive technology of Hewlett Packard) permits you to edit, organize, then store and protect any video clips and photos you feel are worth preserving. You can also create personalized CDs and DVDs with this baby. And there is much, much more it can do - but you need to read the manual for that to get at the nitty gritty technical details.

Should you buy this product then? Well, that’s really up to you - if you feel you really need all those high-tech features for both your leisure and work, then this is a great investment. Depending on your usage, the HP Pavilion Media Center is a cool state-of-the art technology for your personal and business needs.

Michael Bustamante asked:




You can qualify for many interesting and respected professions with a degree in Library Science. Library Science degree programs are designed for future librarians to learn diverse occupations that can range from information technician to research librarian to college professor.

There are many colleges and universities across the US and Canada that provide degree programs for people who love books, language and information retrieval. Today’s librarians are expected to be well-versed in not only literature and reference materials, but also various forms of media including CDs, DVDs, websites, visual arts, information technology, and information databases. Certificates, diplomas and undergraduate degrees offer a broad overview of a multitude of topics to qualify for library technician positions. Degree options would include the Associate degree or Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts with an emphasis on Library Science.

Advanced degree programs are usually focused on one specific area of media; in fact librarians are often given the title of media specialists. Graduate students may opt to achieve diplomas such as Master of Library Science (MLS). Those who aspire to a career in research or library administration may enter the top of the field with Doctorate Degrees in Library and Information Science.

The certified librarian is expected to have a Master Degree. Graduate degree programs allow students to focus on a specialty of interest, such as children’s literature, library administration, medical literature, art history, or information technology, just to name a few. The choice of emphasis is up to the taste and professional goals of the individual student.

Undergraduate degrees and diplomas may suffice for entry-level positions, such as library aide; however a degree in Library Science is required for positions of authority. Once you have determined your ultimate goal, you will be able to begin the academic path to success. For instance, if you simply want to learn to be a library technician or media aide, you may be able to achieve it in two years or less with certification or an Associate Degree in Library Technology. However, if your greatest desire is to become the director of a huge university library, you will most likely be required to have a PhD in Library and Information Science.

Take some time to assess your ultimate goal for the future and investigate which degrees you will need to get there.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on our website.

Copyright 2008 - All rights reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

For more help in making a good decision, feel free to contact appropriate schools and universities on our website to request in-depth information about Library Science degrees.

Thomas Murrell asked:




Recent research has shown 12 % of Australian businesses and 39 % of councils have no contingency plans to cope with an emergency or crisis event. Of those that do have plans, I wonder how many have an effective strategy to deal with the media?

During a crisis the media play an important role informing the community of what’s going on.

But not maintaining good relations with the media and not having a plan to deal with them can turn even the most thorough plans into chaos.

For example, in the emergency and crisis media management workshops I run, I give the following two examples to highlight why a plan to deal with the media should be an integral plank to any risk management plan.

Example one is where a fatal accident occurs at a work site and before the organisation can contact relatives a well-meaning colleague is ringing the local radio station dedicating a song and naming the recently deceased work mate.

This illustrates the importance of firstly having a media crisis plan and then communicating internally this plan to all employees. It should be made clear that during a crisis all contact with the media should be through one or two official spokespersons.

The second example illustrates how information often flows to the media through informal channels.

A sick infant is brought into the emergency ward of a busy hospital. The infant is given an incorrect dose of a drug, goes into relapse and subsequently dies.

A nurse working at the emergency ward the night the infant is admitted is studying journalism part time and tells a fellow student of the incident. The fellow student works at a major daily newspaper and tells the editor. Next day it’s front-page news.

How do you stay ahead of potential disaster in circumstances like these?

The most important tactic is to have a media plan and understand the requirements of different media during a crisis or high-risk event.

Understanding different media tools?

In an emergency or crisis situation there are a range of media tools available to the manager. Often the best way of getting your message across to the broader community is to use the media with the widest possible audience. The most immediate is radio news bulletins, followed by TV news and then daily newspapers.

Often, as you are in a crisis situation, the story will have a strong news value. The challenge will be not so much getting media coverage, but managing both the media and the message.

Also in a crisis situation, the story may develop and be ongoing. Journalists will be looking for new angles and developments to “keep the story alive”. Here the challenge is to keep providing accurate, timely information at all times.

Improving your media performance during a crisis.

When the story breaks it is important to develop good relations with the media and manage the way the message is communicated.

For example the Nine Network’s 60 Minutes coverage of the Australian mining company at the centre of the major cyanide spill in Eastern Europe highlights the dangers of appearing on the media unprepared.

The visual images were powerful. Huge fish belly up in the river being pulled out by locals with pitchforks. It is difficult to combat these emotive images.

But the company wasn’t very smart in thinking about and managing the visual image they wanted to portray. The mining CEO was interviewed in a 5-star hotel room and was dressed immaculately in a suit and tie.

Even if you didn’t hear what he was saying the visual message was one of being aloof, uncaring and remote.

They missed a golden opportunity to do the interview on location at the site of the spill, sleeves rolled up and giving the impression of doing something about the situation and being in control.

In fact the image just reinforced typical community perceptions of the mining industry reaping huge profits while being dirty, dangerous and environmentally unsound.

The keys to performing well in such a situation are planning and preparation. When a crisis occurs know the exact status of it and every fact available. For example who are the people involved, what are the circumstances and what is the latest information?

Also act decisively. A crisis is no time to dither. Get as much information to the media as quickly as possible. If you don’t take control of the information, the media will look for other sources to provide a ’sound bite’ or ‘news grab’ and these may not be accurate or reliable contacts.

Often in a crisis, rumour, emotion and incorrect information can quickly fill the information void. Continually update the media as information comes to hand.

When presenting and planning your media response think of the target audience and what words will reassure them. Be involved and take a ‘hands-on’ approach. Do television interviews on location rather than in a comfortable office remote from the crisis and audience.

Know how to use control phrases to introduce your agenda. Be diplomatic, confident and refrain from becoming angry with journalists.

10 Tips for Managing the Media during a Crisis

From my experience as a reporter, presenter, executive producer and manager I now advise and train organisations on how to manage the media during a crisis.

Here are 10 tips I consider essential:

1. Plan for a crisis in advance.

2. Clarify your communication objectives.

3. Determine your spokesperson and road test their skills prior to a crisis.

4. Identify the best channels of communication.

5. What is your key message?

6. Stick to the facts. Show empathy with those affected.

7. Develop an open and honest relationship with the media, avoid “No Comment” and be proactive.

8. Build your case.

9. Use the Three Golden Rules (Know your Topic, Be Prepared, Relax) to perform at your best.

10. Seek professional help.

© 2001 Thomas Murrell 8M Media & Communications

Tulika Dube asked:




The rapid evolution of social media has led to consumers controlling brands rather than marketers. Influencing news coverage through press releases and media relations is far more difficult now with news channels creating and shaping stories hand-in-hand with the general public. 30 percent of frequent social networkers trust their peers’ opinions when making a major purchase decision, but only 10 percent trust an advertisement (1). 77 percent of online shopper’s read consumer reviews before making a purchase (2).

Participatory websites like YouTube, Wikipedia, and Flickr now account for 12 percent of all web traffic (3). Content generation on social media sites is still low, with Hitwise report findings suggesting that less than 1 percent of internet users are generating content, with the rest only viewing the generated content(3). Sites that are simpler to edit like Wikipedia see user participation (editing/uploading) to the tune of 4.38 percent. However, content generation on video and photo sites is low (less than 1 percent).

Social Media spending was 7.8 percent of the total Online Marketing Budget allocated by US Marketing Professionals in Q3 2007(4). Brand marketers are realizing the importance of social media. Monitoring social media sites like news and blogs to check any negative publicity and support positive publicity is crucial. Further, companies should keep track of emerging trends on social media sites and modify business strategy accordingly.

Social sites are also realizing the need for better advertising and tracking platforms. Google’s OpenSocial platform and Facebook’s SocialAds are steps in this direction. Google’s recently launched OpenSocial platform has been grabbing a lot of attention. Social gadgets built using the OpenSocial platform will work across many popular social networking sites including Orkut, MySpace, hi5, LinkedIn, Ning and SalesForce. Google’s portable social gadgets are poised to give tough competition to the widely popular Facebook platform.

References:

JupiterResearch Press Release [http://www.jupiterresearch.com/bin/item.pl/press:press_release/2007/id=07.03.12-social_network_sites.html/] Jupiter Research - “Retail Marketing: Driving Sales Through Consumer-Created Content” Hitwise US 2.0 Research Note: Measuring Web 2.0 Consumer Participation, June 2007 Coremetrics , “2nd Annual Face of the New Marketer”, provided to eMarketer, October 30, 2007

Thomas Murrell asked:




Media training is a ‘must do’ professional development program for any serious leader or manager.

Media interview training provides you with the skills to effectively deal with the media.

Media relations training, with a specific focus on media presentation training for television can be seriously nerve wracking for first timers.

Here’s why you should consider doing a media training course and some essential tips from our media skill training courses.

If you go to the archives of any commercial television station and pull out footage from a news bulletin from the 1960s and view that footage with a stopwatch, you will find the average length of the quote (known as a sound bite or news grab) from the person being interviewed for the story is around 60 seconds.

If you watch commercial television tonight with your stopwatch at the ready, and measure each sound bite or news grab, the average length will be seven seconds.

This is why its being called McNuggett News! Its quick, slick, fast and tasty, but not very satisfying.

There are three reasons for this shortening of length.

1. Increased competition for our ever diminishing attention spans,

2. Increased choice, noise and clutter in our lives, and

3. The merging of information and entertainment dressed up as news.

So how do you get your message across about a complex, detailed issue through the media in seven seconds?

Well, you need to work out your key message and deliver it flawlessly as a media friendly quotable quote.

Remember, you have only one chance to get it right. The professional TV news crews I work with are constantly telling me about people who ring them after the interview and say “can you come back, I forgot to say this and that?”

Of course, the media are so time poor and deadline driven they never come back.

So you only have one opportunity to maximise your media moment.

How do you do this, especially for TV? Here are my Top 10 Tips:

1. Dress Well.

In the powerful visual medium of television you will be judged by your appearance. Clothing patterns and colours will contribute to the impact of your on camera interview. Avoid clothes with lots of designs or patterns. A dark jacket (blue, black, charcoal or navy) with a white shirt/blouse always looks good on camera. Take your cue from what TV newsreaders are wearing. Heed my mother’s advice: “it is better to pay the extra and buy one really good suit than have many of inferior quality.”

2. Warm Up Your Voice.

Tiger Woods wouldn’t go and play a championship round of golf without warming up. You, as a professional communicator and official spokesperson should never engage with the media without warming up your voice.

3. Speak With Increased Energy.

Speak at a higher volume, range, tone and pitch than you would normally. Imagine having a conversation with someone and speaking at a slightly more animated level than you would normally.

4. Anchor Your Feet and Slow Deliberate Movements.

The more you move around the more your body language will distract from your message. Doing interviews standing, even radio interviews, will change your whole physiology and give your more energy and authority. Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart and firmly anchored to the ground. It is hard to sound credible standing on one foot.

At the book launch of Understanding Influence For Leaders At All Levels, I learnt from co-author Des Guilfoyle that slow, fluid and deliberate movements will give you more referent power, charisma and personal magnetism.

TIP: Watch your interviews with the sound off to get a better idea of what your body language is doing in the interview.

5. Keep Calm.

Assertive, aggressive, even angry reporters will fire off questions at you quickly, like bullets spitting from a machinegun. Their speech patterns will be intense and fast. Do not get drawn into mirroring and matching these patterns. In these situations, take a breath and speak more slowly than the interviewer.

6. Memorise Your Three Key Points.

You must be able to deliver these flawlessly without reading notes. Firstly, write them down. Writing things down helps fix them in the mind and seeing them written down also helps. Then compose a visual picture of the actual words. Visually place them in the top left part of your brain. When remembering these points, look to the top left hand part of the brain and they will come to you instantly like magic.

In technical terms, brain experts have shown the left-side of the prefrontal cortex (just behind the forehead) experiences increased blood flow as new information enters our episodic memory. In fact, the brain’s thesaurus is dispersed in many separate parts of the left cerebral hemisphere (Source: The Odd Brain by Dr Stephen Juan, Harper Collins, 1998).

7. Never Say No Comment.

Journalists will believe ‘where there is smoke there is fire’. Say no comment, but back this up with a valid reason.

8. Drink Plenty Of Water.

Keep hydrated and avoid caffeine and milk prior to an interview. Milk gums up your saliva glands leading to a dry mouth. This manifests itself in the common nervous habit of licking dry lips.

9. Get In The Moment.

Elite athletes talk about and practice getting in the zone to achieve peak performance. You need to do the same.

Try this: Relax, close your eyes and take three deep breaths, focussing on clearing your mind. Then visualise a moment in the past where you felt very motivated and very confident. Capture this moment in your mind and anchor those feelings. Place this mental picture inside your right hand and clench making a fist. Cover this fist with your left hand. Repeat this process until you can instantly put yourself into a state of peak performance.

10. Review, Evaluate and Improve.

After each media interview always review:

What worked well?

What could be improved?

What will I work on for next time?