The AP reports that the Obama Administration is trying to re-tool its communication strategy. They want to regain their campaign-like discipline from 2008. They have also taken upon themselves to use the White House blog and even twitter. Will it work? See the my video below for more opinions.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions for more topics.

You Are the Media:
How to communicate your messages with style and substance using old and new media
What should be my goals in any media encounter?
How to you look your best if there is video involved?
How do you shape a media message?
How do you answer questions?
How do you speak in sound bites?
What is the best way to do YouTube videos?
How should I prepare for talk radio interviews?
How should I prepare for Internet talk radio shows?
Should I do video blogging?
What is the best way to do a podcast?
How do I do a satellite remote?

US Senator Arlen Specter got into a talk radio fight with Rep Michele Bachmann this week. Apparently both were talking over each other. Finally, Specter said, “I’ll treat you like a lady, now act like one.” Ouch! That’s one way to make the sound bite of the day. Specter grabs attention because his comment was so emotional, attacking, heated and to some, sexist. Both politicians are tough and are no slouches at talking over their opponents, so I don’t think anyone really feels sorry for Bachmann. Specter is all across the map ideologically, so you won’t have the usual hysteria that might occur if a prominent liberal were to make such a comment. Still, it was an interesting clash and a great way of capturing the current level of political frustration coming out of the capital these days.

Do the following:

1. Be interesting.
2. Be passionate.
3. Tell stories.
4. Tell examples.
5. Tell case studies.
6. Look at the audience.
7. Let people ask questions anytime.
8. Tell people why they should give a da*&!
9. Move your head, hands and body.
10. Finish on time (or early)

DON’T do the following:

1. Read your speech.
2. Do a data dump.
3. Show complex slides with lots of words and small graphics.
4. Stare at your slides and avoid your audience.
5. Be abstract.
6. Use big, complex words.
7. Use Jargon.
8. Be monotone.
9. Be boring.
10. Go over your allotted time.

I just stumbled across a website, www.teleprompterpresident.com, which chronicles every single mistake Obama makes on camera (pus it fabricates a few in a funny and mean-spirited way). Even though I suspect that the organizers of the site are avid opponents of Obama, I think they are doing a great service for him. Obama is on notice that every blunder will be magnified and re-played again and again. This would keep anyone on his or her rhetorical toes. And it is a great motivator for practice and speech rehearsal. My only regret about this website is that it can’t be duplicated for every public official in the world, every corporate leader and, indeed, anyone who ever has to speak to more than 3 people in a room.

According to the New York Times today, “Nokia, based in Finland, said it surveyed 9,000 consumers last year and concluded that by 2012 one out of every four consumers will create, edit or share entertainment with friends, instead of getting it from traditional media outlets like television or movie studios.”

The significance? It means the ability to speak–on camera–is going to go from being seen as a luxury skill to a basic, essential skill. 35 years ago, an executive graduating from a top law or business school who knew how to type was viewed as having a special, obscure talent. These days, anyone graduating from any school who can’t type is considered an unemployable fool.

Will the ability to speak clearly and confidently in front of a video capture device some day be considered as basic a skill as today’s typing?

Absolutely! So you better get used to it.

I attended a Web 2.o Conference here in New York sponsored by iBreakfast today. Lots of good speakers, but one big problem: video in presentations. The conference was on advertising and monetizing web content, so it made a lot of sense for marketers and advertisers speaking to show video in their presentation. But speaker after speaker got up, tried to play their video, and then apologized for it not working. The system wasn’t set up properly and there was no audio feed. By my rough estimate, half of the speakers used video and all of them had the same problem.

When you think about it, this really is silly. No one did any of the following:

1. Showed up early to do a rehearsal to see if things worked properly.

2. Tested during a break between speakers to see if their system worked.

3. Paid attention to the fact that the speaker who spoke 2 minutes before they did couldn’t make the system work, so chances are they would be able to either.

Speakers must realize that if you are going to use video in a presentation, you can’t just waltz up to the platform with your flash drive and plug in 2 minutes before speech time. You need to prepare, and rehearse on the actual equipment you will be using; otherwise, don’t bother using video.