Archive for October, 2009

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When you consider your first week in any new job, images of systems training and procedures often spring to mind, regardless of position or background. And whilst it is important to be familiar with these operational essentials, I’m much more of a ‘roll your sleeves up and get on with it’ kind of a girl. So on completing my first week at Quest I was delighted that the team share my views.

Hitting the ground sprinting would be a more accurate description of my experience thus far. Travelling around the region and meeting dynamic clients such as Vert and hlw, to get under the skin of their businesses and dynamic success stories. Also covered off on my ‘challenge Anneka’ week was presenting pitches to new clients and directing a spirited photo shoot for Pure Data Solutions… yes, you cheeky chappies know who you are!

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ARE YOU WIRED FOR SOUND?

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

How it used to be done

In today’s fast-moving media environment, the opportunities to build your profile on the airwaves as an authority in your sector with organisations spanning BBC Radio Leeds, Radio 5 Live or independent local radio news – are more prolific than ever.

As a former BBC radio reporter and news editor, I used to interview thousands of people on wide raning subjects and then select the most appropriate ‘soundbite’ to play on the news bulletins. The value to the interview is very powerful as they can appear on 2 to 3 consecutive news bulletins.

In my current capacity as a media trainer, my company is commissioned by public and private sector organisations UK wide (Bradford Chamber and North Yorkshire Police Authority). I always ensure my candidates can conduct both live and pre-recorded radio interviews confidently and competently. Follow the tips below and tell us about your radio debut!

Where and when?

  • Make sure you’re on when someone’s listening. Best times are 7.00am-9.00am, then 1.00pm-2.00pm and 4.30pm-6.00pm
  • Offer to come to the studio and do it live, even if it means getting up early
  • Recording on portable recorders is next best, especially at an interesting location
  • Only agree to a telephone interview as a last resort
  • If the reporter’s coming to you, choose somewhere quiet, unless the ambient noise adds interest
  • Use background noise creatively (remember, the pictures are better on radio!)

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Sharon Cain

With just one week to go to my ITV Wales interview  recalling my memories as an on-screen reporter covering the story of serial murderer Peter Moore, who killed four men in as many months, I wanted to refresh myself on the do’s and don’ts  of appearing on TV. Many of our clients have done storming interviews and looked confident and competent, as a result of the following advice:          

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 crime scene

Things are hotting up following my last post on my forthcoming interview about a story I covered on serial killer Peter Moore when working for ITV Wales.

Having ‘crossed the divide’ from poacher to gamekeeper after 13 years as an on-screen TV reporter and radio news producer for organisations including Sky News, BBC Radio London where I worked with up and coming stars including the new Terry Wogan and have interviewed stars and politicians including Richard Attenborough, Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins, and John Major  - it will be a surreal experience being on the other side of the microphone.

Having conducted media training sessions for private and public sector organisations since launching Quest, I now need to ensure that I practice what I preach to MDs, CEOs, and senior officials across Police Authorities, Chambers of Commerce and Local Authorities.

A priority will be to review our top tips for TV interviews and how to dress for the part. I will be on location in Denbigh and will then be linking up with a former journalist who also covered the horrendous and gruesome roll out of the Peter Moore story.       

But first and foremost, the key thing I need to remember with TV is that appearance is everything and that:

55% of overall impression is based on the way you look

38% down to your delivery

7% is what you say

So this weekend’s quest is to get a hair cut and go shopping – tough I know, but hopefully I’ll struggle through it!

Crime

I am invited to many things in my role as MD of Quest PR – but this week I received a definite one-off. I was contacted by one of my former employers ITV Wales where I was an on-screen reporter, to appear on a series called ‘I was there’ to be aired this November.

The series features interviews with former reporters who reflect on events as they unfolded on major stories they covered. My claim to fame includes a gruesome case of serial killer Peter Moore who murdered and mutilated four men in 1995.

My first encounter with Moore, who was apparently fixated on Jason Voorhies from the Friday 13th movies, took place in the most innocuous surroundings of a local cinema which he had opened along the North Wales coast in a bid to bring family entertainment to the fore with popular favourites such as Mary Poppins and the Tom and Jerry cartoons. My cameraman and I went to interview him for a feature for the flagship evening news programme, feeling instinctively that something was not quite right.

Just months later I was covering Moore’s gruesome murders – in particular victim number 3, Keith Randles, a 49 year old traffic safety manager who was stabbed as he slept in his caravan at roadworks on the A5 in Anglesley in November 1995.

Just writing about this now brings back a flood of memories about the brutality of the scene and the suffering of his victims and their families. At his trial it was claimed that Moore attached more than 50 other men in what the judge described as “20 years of terror”. Justice was served and Moore was jailed for life in 1996. He received four life sentences and the Home Secretary recommended he should never be released.

Just thinking about the horror of these murders makes me question if my forthcoming ITV Wales invitation is one I should have passed down?

pic: Puamelia

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