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

The media trainer government and public-sector leaders call when every word is on the record.

Media training for government leaders is the preparation that readies elected officials, agency heads, and public information officers for press conferences, legislative hearings, constituent meetings, and crises. Jess Todtfeld spent 13 years as a television producer at NBC, ABC, and FOX, on the other side of the camera, deciding which public officials communicated with authority and which lost credibility in the first 30 seconds. Since then he has trained federal agencies, city government teams, state representatives, and public-sector communications directors to deliver their message with clarity under any level of press scrutiny.

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
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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 Government and Public-Sector Leaders say about working with Jess

Jess Todtfeld and his company, Success In Media provided training for our senior managers at the Social Security Administration. While I was expecting a lecture, I was happy to see that his program was interactive. We enjoyed being able to have hands-on practice which made the material come alive. I have also found his post-training video resources to be important and has helped us remember what was learned. I appreciate Jess Todtfeld's work with the team and recommend him to others.
Carmen MorenoRegional Communications Director, Social Security Administration
The on-camera work gave me validation that I can do this. Strategies for preparing better to be more effective with the media were important. I like the concept of controlling the reporter, not worrying about the questions but using your answer system to get my messages across.
Eve J. RappoportCommunity Services Supervisor, City of Glendale, California
Jess did an excellent job! It was a well-paced presentation. The on-camera experience was the most helpful part of the session, and non-threatening!
Dwight D. Walth, D.M.A.Director of Grants Services and Community Initiatives, City of Phoenix
The techniques Jess gave me are invaluable for effective messaging.
Don PhillipsState Representative, Missouri House of Representatives
Jess provided hands-on, concrete strategies to improve my comfort and skill working with media. I learned tips, e.g., posture, dress, talking points, language, and voice inflection, that I put into practice right away. I would definitely recommend Jess as a trainer on how to effectively work with the media.
Laurie BechhoferTraining Participant, Michigan Department of Education
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.

Government media training: what do agency leaders ask most?

What does media training for government leaders cover?

Media training for government leaders prepares elected officials, agency heads, and public information officers to communicate during press conferences, legislative hearings, constituent meetings, and crises. It emphasizes plain language, bridging, and on-camera composure. Crisis communication for government agencies is built into the program, and Jess has trained teams through storms, public-safety events, and budget crises.

Can you prepare officials for Congressional or oversight hearings?

Yes. Hearing preparation is one of the most requested services for government clients. Officials face recorded practice exercises that simulate hostile committee questioning, interruptions, and five-minute rounds, so they learn to stay on message, protect agency positions, and avoid the sound bite that becomes the headline.

Do you train career staff as well as agency leadership?

Yes. Engagements regularly combine executive sessions for agency leaders with group workshops for press officers, regional directors, and public affairs staff. Everyone leaves with the same message framework, so the agency speaks with one voice during crises, policy rollouts, and routine media inquiries.

Can training be held on-site at an agency?

Yes. On-site delivery is common, including realistic press-conference mock setups and committee-hearing simulations. Public information officer training is a regular engagement and is often combined with executive training so the agency speaks with a consistent voice. Most public-sector leaders reach strong on-camera performance after a one-day intensive.

Who leads the training?

Every session is led by Jess Todtfeld, founder of Success in Media. Jess spent 13 years as a television producer at NBC, ABC, and Fox, and holds the Guinness World Record for the most media interviews given in 24 hours: 112 completed, 96 officially certified. He has prepared officials and agency communicators at every level of government.

How much does government 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

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