“Captain, I canna change the laws of physics!” All devotees of the original Star Trek series are familiar with that line from U.S.S. Enterprise’s chief engineer, Montgomery Scott, as he was facing a matter/antimatter crisis in the episode “Naked Time” (of course, he somehow DID find a way to change the laws of physics and […]
Beware of the Lip Sync
It’s hard to tell if the biggest buzz from President Obama’s inauguration came from the agenda he outlined in his speech or the controversy over whether Beyoncé lip synced the Star Spangled Banner. Fortunately, both the leader of the free world and the superstar singer provided some excellent instruction on media strategy. Mr. Obama knew […]
A “Rush” to Media Success
I don’t watch a lot of movies, but I really enjoy the zany detective/martial arts series “Rush Hour” with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. One of my favorite scenes is from the first installment when Tucker meets Chan for the first time and not knowing if he understands English, says to Chan very slowly and […]
Creating Your Media Reality
“There is no reality…only perception.” Understanding that “Life Law” from TV guru Dr. Phil is really the Holy Grail for you to succeed in the media. And it helps explain why it’s so important for you to have a media strategy. Check out those people (such as Dr. Phil) who are extremely successful in using […]
The List You Want To Be On
One thing you can count on with the coming of a new year is the plethora of “lists” created to tell us what were the best, worst, biggest, most important, etc. for just about every topic imaginable in the previous year. One of my favorites is the List of Words to be Banished from the […]
Rex and King Media
When former Major League Baseball player Al Oliver, never known for modesty, was asked about his braggadocio, he replied: “It ain’t bragging if you can do it.” Maybe so, but woe to those who don’t. Which brings me to the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets. Or more specifically, Jets head coach Rex Ryan. Ryan arrived on […]
Coach Wooden and the Winning Interview
I have a friend who is an author and historian, and as such he’s oftentimes contacted by his local paper to comment on a news story related to his expertise. Recently he was quoted in a story, and when I asked him about it he grumbled, “The reporter talked to me for 45 minutes and […]
Responding to a Tragedy
Punking is a staple of entertainment radio. Duping someone on the air by pretending to be a famous person or eyewitness to a news event has been a favorite of radio jocks for years. Howard Stern’s program is famous for its irreverent punking. Usually, it’s just harmless fun for a cheap laugh. That changed last […]
A Media Strategy Fit for a King (or Queen)
Looking for a brilliant media strategy? Check out the House of Windsor. The House of Windsor??? ! Hard to believe, but it’s true. The British royal family has done a remarkable job of going from handling their public image in a bumbling, ham-fisted manner to a smooth as silk operation in just a few years. […]
“Dancing” with the Media
I’m a big fan of Tom Bergeron. The host of “Dancing with the Stars” is a great model for anyone who wants to succeed in dealing with the media. Why? Because he is both entertaining AND credible. Those two qualities are like a magnet for bookers, producers and reporters…they can’t get enough of those kinds […]