(646) 233-1424 Book a 15-minute call (opens in a new tab)
Get Pricing
Menu
Get a quick quote

Prefer to talk? (646) 233-1424

About Jess Todtfeld

The media trainer nonprofits and foundations call when the mission is on the line.

Media training for nonprofits is the preparation that helps mission-driven leaders tell impact stories with specifics, handle accountability questions about overhead and outcomes, and turn earned media into support. Jess Todtfeld spent 13 years as a television producer at NBC, ABC, and FOX, booking guests, running segments, and watching which spokespeople earned public trust and which lost it. Since then he has trained hundreds of nonprofit leaders, executive directors, and communications teams to deliver their mission with confidence, clarity, and impact: whether facing a local reporter, a board meeting, or a room full of major donors.

Get Pricing Book a 15-minute call
Jess Todtfeld seated on a stool between two studio lights, smiling at the camera
Jess Todtfeld13 years producing at ABC, NBC and FOX
Quick answer

Jess Todtfeld is the founder of Success in Media, an executive media trainer and presentation coach in New York City. He spent 13 years as a television producer at ABC, NBC and FOX, is a Guinness World Record holder, and is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), held by fewer than 1% of speakers worldwide. He wrote the bestseller Media Secrets.

Updated

From the producer's chair to the training room and the stage

Nine scenes from Jess's career: the network years, the record, the training room, the book and the stage. Pick a scene, drag the playhead, or use the arrow keys.

  1. Producer13 years at ABC, NBC and FOXTelevision producer and booker. The person deciding which guests made air, which messages landed, and which executives came across as credible under pressure.
  2. Jess Todtfeld pointing at the framed Guinness World Records certificate
    The recordGuinness World Record, June 2009112 interviews completed, 96 officially certified, in a single day.
  3. Jess, in silhouette, filming a client against a white studio backdrop
    TrainerOn camera, with instant playbackParticipants answer real interview questions on camera, watch the recording immediately, get specific coaching, and repeat.
  4. Jess in profile at a camera rig with a shotgun microphone and an equipment rack behind him
    TrainerEvery session led by JessNo associate trainers and no junior coaches. You work directly with Jess.
  5. Jess teaching at a blue studio backdrop while participants with notebooks watch
    TrainerIn the training roomMistakes happen in the training room, not in public, and improvement is visible within the first few rounds.
  6. AuthorMedia SecretsA Media Training Crash Course, the #1 international bestseller. One of multiple books on media and communication.
  7. Jess speaking to a room with a projected slide behind him
    SpeakerCertified Speaking ProfessionalGiven by the National Speakers Association and held by fewer than 1% of speakers worldwide. Earned with 300+ documented speeches and presentations, 10 years of financial records, and a committee video review.
  8. Jess on a ballroom stage in front of blue curtains, audience tables in the foreground
    SpeakerLive, in the roomPrograms are delivered live and virtually across 12+ core industries.
  9. Jess at a lectern with several press microphones and flags behind him
    SpeakerAt the press lecternPreparing spokespeople for press interviews, on-camera appearances, and high-pressure public communication.

Client results

What Nonprofit and Foundation Leaders say about working with Jess

Thank you so much for your work with our entire team. We saw noticeable results and were able to make on-the-spot adjustments. I look forward to receiving your post-training materials and seeing what you have in store for us.

Tim WollermanVP, Outreach, AARP

I brought Jess in to AARP to do multiple staff training sessions on media and presentation training. The staff were all subject matter experts but needed to be taught how to present the material to large audiences, both live and over web streaming events. Not only was Jess very knowledgeable on his topic, but the staff uniformly said that the courses were interesting, extremely helpful, and enjoyable. They also said they would like additional training sessions with Jess.

Scott GouldSr. Agile Coach CSP, CSM, SAFE SPC 6, PMP, AARP

The way that Jess broke everything down into pieces and focused on them one at a time made me feel more comfortable. The drills and the instant replay were very helpful.

Jesse WintersCommunications Team, ASPCA

I will no longer just stand in one place and read a speech. I now know how to appear more comfortable to the audience, that will help me be more effective.

Pat O'NeillNational Representative, UFCW International Union

I gained a fresh perspective on image, content, speaking patterns and the impact of getting my message out. Seeing my presentation on videotape and getting critical feedback was most helpful.

Linwood J. OglesbyExecutive Director, Newark Arts Council

Why executives trust Jess, and not just any media coach

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.

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 ABC, NBC and FOX, 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 result, in a single day: 112 interviews completed, 96 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, held by fewer than 1% of speakers worldwide. It is a special designation given by the National Speakers Association, and it has to be earned: Jess documented more than 300 speeches and presentations, submitted financial records covering a 10-year span, and had his speaking reviewed on video by a committee of fellow CSPs.

He is the author of multiple books on media and communication, including the #1 international bestseller Media Secrets: A Media Training Crash Course.

Jess has appeared on and been featured in

Television

  • ABC
  • NBC
  • CBS
  • CNBC
  • FOX
  • FOX News
  • The Daily Show

Print and news

  • The New York Times
  • The Washington Post
  • Forbes
  • Fortune
  • The Associated Press
  • Fast Company
  • Inc.
  • Investor’s Business Daily
  • The Washington Times
Cover of Speaker magazine, October 2014, the Media issue, with Jess Todtfeld on one of three television screens
On the coverSpeaker magazineOctober 2014, the Media issue. The magazine of the National Speakers Association.

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.

  1. Diagnose first

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

  2. Build the message architecture

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

  3. Practice under pressure

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

  4. Walk away ready

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

Nonprofit media training: what do mission-driven leaders ask most?

How does media training help nonprofits specifically?

Nonprofits rely on earned media to build awareness, trust, and donor momentum. Media training for nonprofits prepares leaders to tell impact stories with specifics, handle accountability questions about overhead and outcomes, and turn every appearance into fundraising and mission progress.

Can you media train our executive director and program staff together?

Yes. Many nonprofit engagements combine an executive session for the director with a group workshop for program leaders and communications staff. Everyone practices the same story framework in recorded exercises, so the organization tells one consistent, compelling story to donors, reporters, and the public.

Do you train nonprofit board members and volunteer ambassadors?

Yes. Board members and volunteer ambassadors often speak publicly with almost no preparation. Training gives them a shared message, a simple interview framework, and enough on-camera experience that they represent the organization consistently. Remote delivery over Zoom works especially well for boards and program leaders who are geographically distributed.

Do you work with small nonprofits that have limited budgets?

Yes. Group sessions, half-day formats, and virtual delivery make real, high-quality training accessible to small and mid-sized nonprofits. Jess prioritizes practical skills and on-camera reps so every dollar translates into visible progress. A working nonprofit leader can be noticeably more effective after a four-hour session.

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 helped mission-driven organizations turn earned media into funding, volunteers, and support.

How much does nonprofit 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.

Find out how this training could help you

Set up a quick call with Jess. Tell him what is coming up, and he will show you how he would get you ready for it.

Book a 15-minute call Get Pricing

Not sure what to ask for? Answer a few quick questions and get a tailored recommendation in about two minutes. Get a recommendation

Personal reply from Jess’s team within one business day. Prefer the phone? Call (646) 233-1424.

Get a quick quote Book a call
Watch on YouTube instead (opens in a new tab)