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

The media trainer authors, speakers, and thought leaders use to make every appearance count.

Media training for authors and speakers is the preparation that turns a book, a talk, or deep expertise into interviews that get booked, land the message, and build a reputation as the go-to voice in your field. Jess Todtfeld spent 13 years as a television producer at NBC, ABC, and FOX, the person who decided which authors and experts got booked, which came back, and which never got a second call. He has since trained hundreds of authors, keynote speakers, coaches, and subject-matter experts to pitch confidently, deliver sharply, and build the kind of media presence that drives book sales, speaking engagements, and consulting work.

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 · 96 officially certified
June 2009 · full story
20+
Years training senior executives
112
Guinness World Record story (96 certified)
13
Years producing NBC, ABC & FOX Television
500+
Customized programs for executives and teams
Client results

What Authors, Speakers, and Thought Leaders say about working with Jess

Jess has proven to me more than once that he can synthesize your thoughts and ideas into meaningful actions. He took a book pitch I was preparing and transformed it into a winning introduction that landed me many interviews. You will get excellent results and value from Jess.
Stuart GustafsonAuthor and Speaker, America's International Travel Expert
Jess really helped me refine my on camera appearance and presentation of facts so that the audience saw me as credible, knowledgeable, and personable. I have appeared on numerous TV and radio programs, some local, some national, and some international. Because of the training and attention to details Jess stressed during training I have even landed an interview on one of the largest national Christian TV programs, the 700 Club. The results I've gotten from that two day training session have been absolutely amazing!
Brian MackertAuthor
Jess is an absolute professional and an expert in media. He was instrumental in helping me get onto FOX News and coached me along the way. Jess is a people person and will go out of his way to be there when you need him. I trust him and consider him a real wingman.
Waldo Waldman, MBA, CSP, CPAESpeaker Hall of Fame Inductee, NY Times Bestselling Author
He put me at ease as a novice. When I finished working with Jess, I felt like a pro and ended up doing a recurring TV spot for a local network news station and numerous radio interviews. I have recommended him to several friends who have also had great results.
Virginia "Ginny" ClarkeConscious Leadership Expert and Executive Coach
Jess and Jo were great! Within 1 year, I was able to do 8 TV news segments and also got featured in several print media outlets. I highly recommend his services.
Alice FongHealth and Wellness Professional
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: 112 radio interviews, 96 officially certified in a single day. It wasn't a stunt. It was a demonstration: mastering the art of delivering a sharp, credible message in any format, any context, repeatedly, without losing clarity or composure. Read the full story behind the record.

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, 96 officially certified
  • 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, available for intensive programs
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 team 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

    Practice under pressure

    Real exercises 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 for authors and speakers: what do people ask most?

When should an author start media training?

Ideally 2-3 months before your book launch. This gives you time to develop and practice your key messages, talking points, and interview technique before the publicity cycle begins. Authors need to inspire people to get excited and buy their book, and writers are not always comfortable asking others to make a purchase.

Can media training help me get booked on podcasts?

Absolutely. Media training teaches you to pitch yourself effectively, deliver compelling interview performances, and build the kind of reputation that gets podcast hosts reaching out to you. Podcasts are worldwide media, and at this moment most podcasts are video-first, so you must be prepared to look and sound your best and have clear goals you can measure each appearance against.

I am an expert in a niche field. Will media training still help?

Absolutely. The more specialized your knowledge, the greater the gap between how you think about your subject and how the public understands it. Media training bridges that gap and makes you the go-to voice in your field. Training also covers media positioning strategy, so you learn how to make yourself discoverable and valuable to journalists looking for expert sources.

What format does the training take?

Training is available as a one- or two-day intensive or custom format, tailored to your book topic, target audiences, and upcoming media opportunities. On-camera practice with instant playback is the core of every program: you answer real interview questions on camera, watch the recording immediately, get specific coaching, and repeat the exercise.

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.

How much does media training for authors and speakers 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