Speaking tips for print, non-verbal journalists

So your boss wants you to record a podcast or get on camera and you've got the shakes? No problem. These tips culled from personal experience and the teachings of media trainer/stand-up comic Marilyn Pittman should give you an added boost of confidence.

Stand up
It's amazing how much a person sounds if they are standing up rather than sitting when they talk. Sitting is like speaking from a comfort zone. Standing gives your voice more authority and personality.

Talk to someone
Picture a person that you are reading to: a listener, your grandmother. Pretend you are reading it to the person for the very first time. Your voice will carry the natural intonations of a conversation rather than a script.

Mark it up
Instead of just reading from the script, take a few minutes to indicate where you will place emphasis, pause or stop. Visual cues will help you from turning the page into a run-on sentence.

Breathe
The biggest mistake most speakers make is rushing through the copy. Exhale before you begin. Relish each word as you read it. Take breaths in between sentences. Don't worry, you'll be fine.

Labels: audio