Guinness World Record Holder  ·  Former NBC, ABC & FOX Producer  ·  20+ Years Training Executives Speak with Jess
About Jess Todtfeld

The trainer Fortune 500 companies call when it really matters.

Media training is a structured coaching program that teaches executives and spokespeople how to communicate effectively during press interviews, on-camera appearances, and high-pressure public communication situations. Jess Todtfeld spent 13 years as a television producer at NBC, ABC, and FOX Television, booking guests, running segments, and watching thousands of executives succeed and fail in front of a camera. Then he turned that insider knowledge into a training practice that has served hundreds of organizations across most major industries.

Guinness World Record Holder CSP: Top 1% of Speakers Globally Author of Media Secrets Former NBC · ABC · FOX Producer
Work with Jess
Jess Todtfeld, Media Trainer
🏆
112
Guinness World Record
Most Media Interviews in 24 Hours
June 2009 · full story
20+
Years training senior executives
112
Guinness World Record story
13
Years producing NBC, ABC & FOX Television
500+
Customized programs for executives and teams
The background

Why executives trust Jess, and not just any media coach

Most media trainers were never in the room where it happens. Jess was. For 13 years, he worked as a television producer and booker at NBC, ABC, and FOX Television, the person deciding which guests made air, which messages landed, and which executives came across as credible under pressure.

That background shapes everything about how Jess trains. He doesn't teach theory. He teaches what actually works in front of a camera, a reporter, or a room full of skeptical stakeholders, because he's spent years on the other side of the lens deciding who gets the benefit of the doubt.

"The goal isn't to make you sound polished. It's to make you sound like yourself, at your best, under pressure."

In June 2009, Jess helped set a Guinness World Record for most media interviews given in 24 hours. The team completed 112 radio interviews in a single day, and 96 were officially certified by Guinness. It wasn't a stunt. It was a demonstration. Jess had mastered the art of delivering a sharp, credible message in any format, any context, with any interviewer, repeatedly, without losing clarity or composure. Read the full story behind the record.

That same discipline is what he builds into every executive he trains. Whether it's a Fortune 500 CEO preparing for a 60 Minutes segment, a nonprofit director facing a hostile local reporter, or a financial advisor learning to close on camera. The methodology is the same: clear message, confident delivery, no surprises.

Jess holds the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation, placing him in the top 1% of professional speakers worldwide. He is the author of multiple books on media and communication, including the international bestseller Media Secrets: A Media Training Crash Course.

Credentials

What sets Jess apart

  • Guinness World Record holder for 112 media interviews in 24 hours
  • 13 years as TV producer and national media booker at NBC, ABC, FOX Television
  • CSP (Certified Speaking Professional), awarded to the top 1% of speakers globally
  • Author of multiple books on media, communication, and messaging
  • Clients include Google, JPMorgan, American Express, LinkedIn, ASPCA, and the United Nations
  • Programs delivered live and virtually across 12+ core industries
  • New York City training studio on Madison Avenue, two blocks from Grand Central, available for intensive programs

Books by Jess Todtfeld

Media Secrets: A Media Training Crash Course
#1 International Bestseller
Secret to Foolproof Presentations
Proven strategies for high-impact presenting
Media Training A to Z
The complete A-to-Z guide to media mastery
Presentation Training A to Z
The complete guide to high-stakes presenting
High Stakes Presenter (Coming Soon)
12 Strategies to Master any Speech or Presentation
Media & Recognition

Jess has appeared on and been featured in

NBC
Television
ABC
Television
FOX
Television
Fast Company
Featured expert
Investor's Business Daily
Featured expert
The New York Times
Featured expert
Work with Jess
HSP: High Stakes Presenter Methodology

How Jess trains, and why it works

Every program Jess delivers is built around one belief: communication under pressure is a skill, not a talent. It can be learned, practiced, and owned by anyone willing to work at it.

The approach is practical from minute one. No lengthy theory sessions. No generic frameworks that could apply to any industry. Every tool is tested against real scenarios your executives will actually face.

  • 01

    Diagnose first

    Every engagement starts with understanding your specific situation: the interview, the audience, the risk, the message. Nothing is generic.

  • 02

    Build the message architecture

    Jess's proprietary Sound Bite System gives executives a repeatable framework for structuring any answer under any conditions.

  • 03

    Drill under pressure

    Real practice with hostile questions, off-topic pivots, and camera situations that mirror what your executives will actually face.

  • 04

    Walk away ready

    Every participant leaves with specific, personalized talking points and a set of tools they can use immediately, not someday.

Media training with Jess Todtfeld: what do people ask most?

What is media training?

Media training is structured preparation for media interviews. It combines message development, on-camera practice, and playback-based coaching so spokespeople deliver clear, quotable answers under pressure. Our programs are led by Jess Todtfeld, a former NBC, ABC, and Fox producer who knows exactly what journalists are looking for and how to handle them.

Who is media training for?

Media training is for any professional who communicates on behalf of their organization in high-stakes situations. That includes C-suite executives, board members, spokespeople, investor relations teams, government officials, attorneys, physicians, nonprofit leaders, and anyone who might face a press interview, on-camera appearance, Congressional hearing, or crisis situation. Jess has trained leaders across 12+ industries including finance, healthcare, technology, pharma, government, and nonprofit.

Will I work directly with Jess or with an associate trainer?

You work directly with Jess. Every session, whether it's a one-on-one executive coaching session or a team workshop, is personally led by Jess Todtfeld. There are no associate trainers, no junior coaches, and no bait-and-switch. When you hire Success in Media, you get the person whose name is on the door.

Is the training on camera?

Yes. On-camera practice with instant playback is the core of every program. Participants answer real interview questions on camera, watch the recording immediately, get specific coaching, and repeat the exercise. Mistakes happen in the training room, not in public, and improvement is visible within the first few rounds.

What organizations has Jess worked with?

Jess has trained executives and teams at hundreds of organizations including Google, JPMorgan, American Express, the United Nations, LinkedIn, AARP, Land Rover, IBM, Edelman PR, and leaders across Fortune 500 companies. His client base spans 12+ industries including finance, healthcare, technology, pharma, government, defense, energy, nonprofit, sports, and entertainment.

How much does media training cost?

Media training typically ranges from $1,000 to $15,000 per engagement depending on group size and scope. A focused session for one spokesperson sits at the lower end, while multi-day team workshops with recorded practice sit higher. See our media training questions page for a full breakdown of what drives pricing.

See what this would cost your team

Answer a few quick questions and get a tailored recommendation with pricing. It takes about two minutes.

Get Pricing