Why you should think
like a journalist
when planning
presentations
Five insights
A Confidence Tricks concoction

Why you should think like
a journalist
when planning presentations
(Five Insights)
@simonmossman
Ex-print newshound &
photographer, video
journalist & TV producer,
internet journalist and
now media & communication
advisor and executive presentation
skills coach and mentor.
CONFIDENCE TRICKS – Practical
Presentation Skills Coaching
You are your stories. That’s how you are
remembered.
Effective presentation is vital to your
ability to be influential.
Confidence Tricks can help you improve.
Presenters and public speakers in any
setting, be it …
•
•
•
•
•
Industry conference keynote;
The Board of Directors;
Community town hall meetings;
Tender contract procurement panels;
(the list is endless!)
… can borrow a trick or three from the
press corps when it comes to preparing
to front their audience.

i
Journalists
believe
in themselves
(and their story):
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

They are
supremely
confident
(even to the point of cockiness);
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

They stick determinedly
to THEIR agenda
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

ii
News writers …
are accustomed to
brevity to get
the message across:
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

Brevity in headlines
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

Journalists inherently
understand the power
of the pithy statement
(a.k.a. key messages in PR parlance)
a.k.a. ‘quotable
quotes’;
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

Don’t use 10 words when
two will suffice.
The same rules that
reporters learn at
journalism school …
… apply to you, too.
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

iii
Journalists develop
writing styles &
broadcast mannerisms
& defined approaches
to structure & delivery
…
and they stick to
that tried and
tested script:
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

Which for you, the presenter
and public speaker, translates as:
Repetition.
Repetition.
Repetition.
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

By routinely
practicing
content
development
as much as
regularly
rehearsing
delivery…
… you can develop
confident,
influential
speaking skills
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

iv
Specialist
journalists
–
such
as
columnists, writers on regular key topics
(e.g, politics, finance) - develop authority
and set agendas which their readers
-
YOUR audience
absorb (even if they dislike the sentiment):
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction
-

People choose the
facts they want
– and they will read a
journalist even if they
don’t like his/her work;
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

The same
applies to you.
While your job
is to win over
your audience,
you won’t get
them all.
BUT….
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

… you will develop greater selfdiscipline by:
i staying on message,
ii being consistent in
thoughts, words and actions
… which helps YOU develop a clear
style and persona, a frame on which to
carve a confident presenting career.
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

v
And the clincher?
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

Journalists are
notorious for
telling their
war stories
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

Often unprompted, old news
hacks love to launch into
their tales from the trenches
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

Like a raconteur propping
up the bar, never scripted,
always ad-libbed
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

They speak
from the
heart –
because they know the subject
matter inside and out.
Why you should think like a journalist when planning presentations – Five Insights
a Confidence Tricks concoction

THANKS
for your
ATTENTION
If you liked this inaugural Slideshare presentation
from Confidence Tricks, please share your comments
here or online at www.confidencetricks.com.au.
And if you enjoyed it THAT much, please send the
link to your colleagues, bosses, training managers
and anyone else who’ll appreciate our concoction.
Oh, and get them to subscribe to our newsletter, our
blog and follow us online. Here’s how >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

CONNECT with Confidence Tricks
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phone
email
www.confidencetricks.com.au
0451 660 980 (simon mossman)
0438 553 052 (richard meredith)
simon@confidencetricks.com.au
richard@confidencetricks.com.au
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Why you should think
like a journalist
when planning
presentations
Five insights
A Confidence Tricks concoction

Credits, notes and fairly important stuff
All this content is copyright, either of Confidence Tricks or the original
photographers featured within.
All images were sourced via appropriate Creative Commons licences but if you
think differently or believe any image has been misappropriated here, do the
right thing and let me know so I can do something about it.
On a separate and personal note, while knocking this preso together I was
bothered by the lack of evident women journalists who could equally inspire
these five insights.
If you can offer any suggestions (with where I can find available images), I’ be
d
chuffed to update this preso, ‘ os I sure as heck had a challenge trying to find
c
anything / anyone suitable!
Cheers,
@simonmossman
Co-Founder & Executive Coach @confidencetrix