How to Make the Most out of Every Media Appearance [Paperback]

George Merlis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 26, 2003

Tips for saying the right things when the cameras are rolling and the reporters are taking notes

In today's media-saturated business arena, "good press" is vital for everything from proactive public relations to post-disaster damage control. One wrong move, or slip of the tongue, can be fatal. How to Make the Most Out of Every Media Appearance shows anyone how to face the public through the media, and represent his or her business or industry with poise, confidence, and the ability to deliver a positive message without being sidetracked or distracted.

Written by George Merlis, an Emmy-award-winning network television producer and top media trainer, this situation-specific book is filled with fascinating examples of how to say the right--and wrong--thing. It outlines a step-by-step program for:

• Defining a message and making it media-friendly
• Understanding what a media outlet is really looking for
• Concisely and accurately delivering a message--and no more

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

George Merlis an Emmy awardwinner, is the former executive producer of "Good Morning America", "CBS Morning News," and other network programs. He has been involved with more than 10,000 interviews and on-camera demonstrations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (September 26, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071416714
• ISBN-13: 978-0071416719
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #372,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

George Merlis is an author, media trainer and crisis communications consultant who uses his forty-year print and broadcast media career as the basis for his books, workshops and consultations. Over the last two decades, Merlis has trained spokespersons in commerce, science, government and entertainment. As the go-to trainer for NASA and the popular music sector his clients have ranged literally, from rocket scientists to rock stars. ABC News morning anchor Diane Sawyer said of him: "George Merlis knows everything about blasting through the back-ground sound and making your point. He is not just a great coach for acing a media interview - his rules work for all of life." He is the author of "How to Master the Media." As a TV producer, Merlis has been nominated for nine national Emmy awards and has won one. He has been executive producer of "Good Morning America," "The CBS Morning News," "The Dick Cavett Show" and "Entertainment Tonight." He has conducted or overseen more than 10,000 interviews, the vast majority of them on live television -- the most demanding situation for both interviewer and interviewee.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helped Me With An Interview, January 21, 2004

By 

Mitchell Brewer (Santa Ana, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Make the Most out of Every Media Appearance (Paperback)

I am in politics and have done a fair number of media interviews. One thing that set me off in the book was a quote from a journalist that politicians were no good at media. (The actual language is a lot stronger). At first I took offense, but after reading Merlis' book, I realized that most of us in the political arena are being overly formula-driven, canned, artificial and that this only adds to public disillusion with the political system.

So I followed the advice in the book. I prepared an agenda for my next interview, I remembered who I was talking to (NOT the reporter, but his readers) and banished the usual evasions from my encounter with the reporter.

What a difference! At the end of the interview, the reporter thanked me for being "frank" and for the "great quotes."

I recommended the book to several of my political friends, and -- in fact -- logged back on to Amazon.com to buy a colleague a copy -- which occasioned this review. Now if we only keep the other party from finding out about it.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strong Media Tips Here, November 26, 2004

By 

TJ Walker "Author, 'Presentation Training A-Z... (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Make the Most out of Every Media Appearance (Paperback)

The author gives simple and easy-to-use tips here on exactly how to prepare for an interview. It is an excellent job of de-mystifying the whole interview process.