blog corner marker image

Media and Presentation Training

Fine-Tuning Messages and Improving Delivery: How to Optimize Interviews and Speeches

Grant Perry has extensive experience on both sides of the camera. An award-winning journalist at CNN, Grant has interviewed hundreds of politicians, business and civic leaders, scientists, artists and entertainers. He also has produced many video and audio programs and coached dozens of major public figures on their presentation skills. Grant heads Evolution Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in new media strategies and content development as well as media training for progressive candidates, corporate executives, lawyers and leaders of advocacy groups.

At CNN, Grant was a New York-based correspondent and then anchor of CNN International’s London-based program, World Business Today. As anchor of World Business, Grant interviewed top CEOs and political leaders from around the world, including Margaret Thatcher, French Prime Minister Edouard Balladur, Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez, British Airways’ Colin Marshall, Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Disney’s Michael Eisner, George Soros and Virgin’s Richard Branson. Earlier in his career, as chief political correspondent for two network affiliates in the Midwest, Grant interviewed politicians and candidates at all levels from mayors and state representatives to governors, US senators and representatives, and presidential candidates.

Grant is a visiting professor in communications at Johns Hopkins University and is an adjunct professor at American University’s School of Communications. He teaches courses on the future of journalism in the digital age.

Grant has conducted media and presentation training for among others, the CEO and other senior executives at Adidas,athletes sponsored by Adidas, and executives at pharmaceutical, technology and telecommunications companies, including Cingular (now ATT&T). He has led seminars on public speaking and interviewing at the Harvard Business School Club of New York and Wiley Rein, a leading Washington-based law firm. Grant has also worked with political candidates and, prior to his run for the US Senate, Ned Lamont of Connecticut.

thatcher2.jpghingis.jpgsergio.jpg
From left, Grant Perry with Margaret Thatcher, Adidas athletes Martina Hingis and Sergio Garcia

Individually Customized Programs

  • Evaluation and consultation with staff to tailor program to spokesperson’s strengths and weaknesses
  • Rehearsal of multiple scenarios, e.g. “ambush” interviews, hostile questioning, press conferences and extended “sit-down” interviews
  • Use of videotaping and in-session playback for practice and evaluation
  • Advice on developing and crafting messages that will effectively communicate campaign or organizational themes and optimize control of the message in the media marketplace
  • Debate or forum preparation, including rehearsal
  • Advice on speech writing and delivery
  • Regular follow up sessions via phone, video chat or in-person