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Executive Media Training: A 1-Day Intensive for Leaders Who Face the Media

Executive media training led by Jess Todtfeld, former ABC, NBC and FOX producer. Master your message and command any media opportunity with proven techniques used by Fortune 500 leaders.

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Jess Todtfeld speaking at a lectern fitted with press microphones, flags hanging behind him
Jess Todtfeld13 years producing at ABC, NBC and FOX
Format
One day, on camera, with playback
Where
Your offices, fully virtual, or the Madison Avenue studio in New York
Who it is for
Department heads, spokespeople, founders and CEOs
  • Guinness World Record holder
  • 13 years at ABC, NBC and FOX
  • Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), held by fewer than 1% of speakers worldwide
  • Trained leaders at Google, JPMorgan, IBM and the United Nations
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Quick answer

Executive media training is a one-day intensive that prepares executives and leaders at every level for press interviews, live TV and hostile questions. Jess Todtfeld, a former ABC, NBC and FOX producer, leads every session. Participants build core messages, practice on camera, watch the recording, and repeat until answers are clear. It runs at the New York studio, at your office or virtually.

Updated

An effective executive media training program does one thing above all: it gives a busy leader the language, the structure, and the on-camera muscle memory to walk into any interview, press conference, or podcast and leave with the message they intended to deliver. Our 1-day executive media training intensive prepares executives at every level, from department heads and spokespeople to founders and CEOs, for the moments that define how they and their organization are perceived.

Built and delivered by Jess Todtfeld, a former ABC, NBC and FOX television producer with 13 years inside the newsroom, this program teaches the 2 part answer (a short answer, then your media ready messages), sound bite construction, and hostile-question handling that journalists respect and audiences remember. Whether you are preparing for a CNBC appearance, a trade interview, an earnings call follow-up, or an internal town hall, you will walk out with a repeatable system you can use for the rest of your career.

Why credentials alone do not carry an interview

The executives who struggle on camera are almost never the ones who lack expertise. They are usually the most credentialed person in the room. The gap is not knowledge. It is the distance between how much someone knows and how clearly it comes across in the few minutes a reporter gives them.

Three things go wrong, and they go wrong predictably:

  • The answer buries the point.

    Long, qualified answers feel responsible in a boardroom. In an interview they push the message past the moment anyone is still listening.

  • The wrong self-talk takes over.

    Nervousness is manufactured internally. A leader auditing their own performance in real time is not present for the audience, and the audience feels it in their cadence and energy before they register a single fact.

  • Nobody rehearsed the hard version.

    Most preparation covers the questions a leader hopes to get. Reporters ask the other ones.

Executive media training closes that gap deliberately, on camera, with enough repetition that the new habit holds when the stakes are real.

What our executive media training delivers

Jess Todtfeld filming a client in a Hot Seat mock interview in front of a studio backdrop

  • Message development

    Craft clear, consistent messaging that resonates with your audience and drives your narrative forward.

  • Hostile question handling

    Stay composed and strategic when facing tough questions during interviews and public appearances.

  • Sound bite creation

    Develop memorable, quotable statements that journalists love and audiences remember.

  • Hot Seat interviews

    Practice with realistic mock interviews, on camera, that prepare you for any media scenario you'll face.

Same facts. A third of the words.

Jess teaches a framework called the Sound Bite Quote System: a quotable answer in 30 seconds or less. Here is one answer, edited the way a producer or writer edits it.

Reporter“Your product was recalled last month. Why should anyone trust you now?”

Executive Take 1: the rambling answer 61 words, 21 seconds

Well, I think it’s important to understand that, you know, we take these things very seriously, and what I would say is that, at the end of the day, we found the problem ourselves, and, frankly, we fixed it in nine days, and going forward we are, sort of, committed to making sure that every customer hears it from us first.

Executive Take 2: the sound bite quote 18 words, 7 seconds

We found the problem ourselves. We fixed it in nine days. Every customer hears it from us first.

Illustrative teaching example, not a client.

In a session you do this with your own answers, on camera, with Jess producing.

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Who our executive media training is for

Executive media training is ideal for leaders who need to represent their organization in media and public settings. Whether you're new to the spotlight or looking to sharpen your skills, this program equips you with the confidence and techniques to communicate effectively under pressure.

Jess Todtfeld coaching a room of executives during an on-camera media training session
  • CEOs & C-Suite
  • PR Directors
  • Government Officials
  • Nonprofit Leaders

In practice, most engagements start with a specific date on the calendar. A chief executive with a first national television booking. A founder heading into an earnings call follow-up or an investor conversation. A public-sector leader who will face a press conference where the questions are already hostile. A newly promoted executive who now speaks for the organization and has never been trained to do it. If a moment like that is coming, the training is built backward from it.

Leading the whole company? Media training for CEOs and the C-suite

Not sure what your team needs? Start a conversation.

A short call is the fastest way to scope the right format, group size, and timing.

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How our executive media training works

Jess Todtfeld running a mock television interview with a nonprofit leader
  1. Step 1

    Discovery and assessment

    We learn about your background, media goals, and current skill level to tailor the program specifically to your needs.

  2. Step 2

    Training and practice

    You'll work through core techniques with real-world scenarios, mock interviews, and immediate feedback from Jess.

  3. Step 3

    Implementation and support

    Walk away with actionable tools and confidence to apply what you've learned in your next media opportunity.

What happens during the one-day intensive

Every program is built around the interviews you are actually walking into, so the schedule flexes. The arc of the day, though, stays the same: build the language first, then put it under pressure on camera until it holds.

  1. Segment 1

    Message development first

    Before anyone sits in front of a camera, we build the three to five messages everything else will flow from, written around your real business situation and your actual exposure. Getting this wrong makes every rep afterward less useful.

  2. Segment 2

    Hot Seat interviews, recorded

    You are interviewed repeatedly in realistic scenarios. Repetition is the point. Habits that are invisible in a conference room become obvious on the second or third take.

  3. Segment 3

    Immediate playback

    We watch the footage right away, while the choices are still fresh. Seeing what helped and what hurt is faster and more persuasive than being told.

  4. Segment 4

    The hard questions

    We rehearse the questions you hope nobody asks: the layoff, the lawsuit, the number that moved the wrong way. The 2 part answer is drilled here, not explained in the abstract.

  5. Segment 5

    Sound bites you can use

    Quotable lines get written down in advance, not improvised. Print reporters compress an hour into two sentences, and this is how you keep control of which two.

  6. Segment 6

    Format-specific work

    A ten-second broadcast hit, a long-form podcast, and a print interview reward different behavior. We train the formats on your calendar rather than a generic average of all of them.

Training runs at our Madison Avenue studio in New York, on-site at your offices with a mobile studio, or fully virtually with the same recording and playback structure. A sample itinerary can be included with your proposal.

A studio field monitor shows Jess Todtfeld presenting, while he stands at a table on the set behind it
On set, the way a producer sees it: the monitor shows what the camera sees.

Why a former producer trains executives differently

Jess Todtfeld spent 13 years inside newsrooms at ABC, NBC and FOX, booking and producing segments. That is a different vantage point from a coach who has only ever been a guest. It means the training is built around what the person on the other side of the camera is actually trying to get.

Producers are not looking for the most complete answer. They are looking for the piece that plays: the line that lands, the story that holds attention, the guest who makes the segment work. Executives who understand that stop trying to say everything and start giving the interview a reason to use what matters most to them.

Jess went on to become a Guinness World Record holder for Most Media Interviews in 24 Hours, is a Certified Speaking Professional, and has trained leaders at Google, JPMorgan, American Express, Gartner, IBM, LinkedIn, and the United Nations.

An expert whose heart was pounding

Dr. Deb Carlin holds a PhD in psychology and had decades of experience advising people through their hardest moments. Then she walked into a television studio. In her own words:

“When I first got into the studio, I thought my heart was leaving my body, it was pounding so hard.”

Dr. Deb CarlinPhD in psychology, on her first studio interview

What she found is what most accomplished experts find: the nerves are normal, and knowing the subject and communicating it are two separate skills. She learned to get to the point quickly, to replace the self-auditing monologue with a deliberate internal script, and to put her attention on the audience instead of on herself. She went on to appear across television, radio, print, and podcasts widely enough that she eventually started her own.

Read the full case study

Results our clients report

“The audience was laser focused. It was unbelievable... we closed a million dollar [deal] assignment.”

Les RichmondHay Group / Build America Mutual
Les Richmond, in his own words 0:23Play video, testimonial, 23 seconds

“Jess is a pro at media training. He has broken it down to a science, but allows each person to find their unique way to deliver their message. He put me at ease as a novice. When I finished working with him, 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. Thanks Jess!”

Virginia “Ginny” ClarkeConscious Leadership Expert / Speaker / Influencer / Executive Coach

“Jess knows how to make CEOs look great. I received coaching from him and was also interviewed by Jess on a national business TV show. He is a professional who understands that the goal of interviews is to drive more business.”

Daniel MilsteinCEO, Gold Star Family of Companies
Client video review Chief executive review 1:02Play video, 1 minute 2 seconds

See it on camera

Chief executive, Executive media training

A CEO describes walking in unfamiliar with the media and unsure of herself, and leaving with real confidence on camera.

Watch more client video reviews

Ask about executive media training

Have a question about format, group size, or fit? Tell us what is coming up and we will point you to the right program. Jess reviews every inquiry personally.

Prefer to talk? Call (646) 233-1424 or book a call with Jess.

  • Personal reply from Jess’s team within one business day.
  • You work directly with Jess. No associate trainers.
  • Every program includes the 365-day support program.

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Frequently asked questions

How long is a typical session?

We design every program around your specific needs. While most clients choose a one- or two-day intensive, we also offer blended formats that combine virtual prep sessions with in-person training. Reach out and we'll recommend the format that fits your goals.

Can this be done virtually?

Absolutely. Training can be delivered fully virtually via video conference, or in person at our NYC studio or your location. Virtual delivery is just as effective as in-person sessions.

What media formats do you cover?

We cover all media formats including TV interviews, radio, podcasts, online publications, and print media. Training is customized to the specific formats most relevant to your role and industry.

Is this for first-timers or experienced spokespeople?

This program works for both beginners and experienced media professionals. Jess assesses your current level and customizes the training accordingly, whether you're preparing for your first interview or refining advanced techniques.

How much does executive media training cost?

Executive media training typically ranges from $1,000 to $15,000 per engagement, depending on how many people are being trained and the level of customization. One-on-one intensives, small groups, and full-team programs are all custom-quoted. See the full cost breakdown, or get instant pricing guidance.

Walk into your next interview ready.

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

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