Articles
The Terri Ammerman Group pairs decades of communications and media experience with relevant, current perspective. We understand the ever-changing needs and scenarios faced by companies, executives, and media professionals. Part of our training involves examining communications scenarios in real-time, so participants can clearly see what to avoid when speaking and what to say when delivering a clear, convincing message. Our team regularly offers perspective and insights on current situations through the articles posted here.
3 Reasons You Need Professional Media Training in Dallas
The Ammerman Experience has been offering media training in Dallas and beyond for decades – so, suffice to say, we’ve seen our share of both positive and negative media interactions. Along the way, we’ve made media experts out of complete newcomers, and helped executives with solid media skill foundations hone their skills as spokespeople when it...
Taking a Presentation from Boring to Soaring (Part Three)
In two previous issues of this newsletter, we discussed a number of techniques that can improve the content of your presentations: Stories: narratives that describe events which unfold over time Anecdotes: short accounts of real or fictional incidents or characters Examples: something that’s typical of its group or something worthy of imitation...
How to Keep Jargon From Killing Your Presentation
One of the most common issues we deal with in our presentation training sessions is the misuse of jargon. We once worked with a participant who was representing a nuclear power plant. The plant had recently been targeted over the perceived danger of its facility to the surrounding area’s water supply, and as its representative, our client was...
What We’ve Learned from 40 Years of Experience Media Training in Houston
Media training is still a relatively new field of expertise. That being said, The Ammerman Experience has been one of the pioneers of the industry, providing media training in Houston and around the world since our founding in 1973. We’ve had decades to observe what works and what doesn’t work, and we’ve seen time and time again what can make or...
Expressing Empathy: It’s Worth Doing and Doing Right
Following the suicide death of one of its football players, The Ohio State University issued this statement to the news media: “The Ohio State University Department of Athletics was shocked and saddened to learn today of the death of student-athlete Kosta Karageorge, a senior from Columbus. Our thoughts and prayers are with the...
Why Your Doctors Won’t Talk To The press
Hospital healthcare PR professionals face a very unique challenge when it comes to media relations. Hundreds of newsworthy stories take place inside their own buildings, yet all too often the doctors who are the protagonists of these stories are uncomfortable speaking to the media. The prescription to this epidemic is the alignment of the story...
Is Executive Presentation Training Worth It?
Presenting is a critical skill, and it can be learned. Learn how presentation training can help executives set their companies up for success.
Why Don’t People Trust Oil & Gas Executives? Some Ways to Change Public Perception
The oil and gas industry and the companies and executives in it are not usually found at the top of a “most trusted” list. Instead, they are frequently the objects of suspicion and criticism by Americans, despite the fact that energy is critical to our quality of life. In the 1970s, for example, many people were convinced that petroleum shortages...
Why Corporate Communications needs to have a place at the table during a crisis
When crises strike in the corporate world we look to those we trust to help us take the critical first step in responding. For many companies in the wake of a crisis, inviting a communications person into their closed-door sessions is the last thing on their mind. Yet we’d like to propose to you that this is the single most valuable person you...
Media Training for Executives
Executives are the faces of their companies. For better or for worse, when the media turns to your company for a statement or a response, executives will be the spokespeople who tell the company’s story. In today’s world of social media and the 24/7 news cycles, communicating well with the media can seem like an overwhelming task. Fortunately, communication skills, like other skills, can be learned and improved.