Leadership has been in question for the past two decades. Both political and business leaders have been under the microscope more than what they have ever been but has there really been a big drop in the level of leadership? Have we just changed? Has social media and technology made it impossible for leaders to lead? This week on The Experts Podcast we talk to a leadership coach, mentor, speaker and a former elite sports person that trains future leaders. 

Craig Johns is up and about with many hats as he traverses through the leadership and the speaker’s world. Craig has a strong coaching and elite sports experience in both field hockey and ironman. He was brought up in an environment where coaching was a big part of his life with family members holding key roles. It was inevitable really that he would head down this pathway.
There are some fantastic observations by Craig on what makes a good leader. 
There certainly has been a shift in leadership and our expectations are very different today. The media and the fact that everyone is walking around with a mobile phone makes all leaders far more accountable all the time. Something that Hawke, Keating, and Howard would never have had to endure and maybe we weren’t as aware of behaviour that would be questionable today. The media tends to want to ask Craig when leadership is poor and rarely looks at positive leadership.

“Political leaders are far too focused in combative mode than in collaborative mode.”

One of the messages that Craig hits home with is that leaders “need to know when to lead and when to follow.” Which we are seeing more of in our family, business, sporting, political spaces where delegation is key. There are other observations that leaders and aspiring leaders can take on to improve their performance in this podcast as the team dives into other leaders both on a local and a global stage.

Craig Johns

#MeetTheMedia

This is the second of two special episodes from Experts Podcast co-host, Carmen Braidwood's key takeaways at the 2023 Women in Media annual conference. 

If you missed it, the episode immediately before this one breaks down Ita Buttrose’s wake up call - encouraging women who’ve built any kind of career in the media to choose to stay and affect change at executive level, instead of giving up.   

In this episode, Carmen takes a look at the keynote address from Day 2, delivered by much-loved Australian broadcaster, and author Leigh Sales. 

Entitled "The Craft of Journalism", Sales' address detailed the lessons learned while interviewing the country's best journalists for her latest book, Storytellers, that we can all use to be better people.  Have a listen as Carmen breaks these down with insights just for media assets to takeaway and implement right away.

Carms at WIM part 2

When you want to understand what the future of media looks like you need to go to where they start. You need to go to the nursery where emerging students today are going to be the media of tomorrow. Our guest this week teaches these students to be broadcasters, newsreaders, journalists, announcers and anything that takes their fancy in the media sector. The success rate of this course is through the roof, and we get to sit down with the person that runs the program.

Andrea Burns is the course Coordinator of the Graduate Diploma of Broadcasting and herself an award-winning journalist, a speaker, a trainer and media commentator. You will hear Andrea describe this as the job that brings her such great joy. The course has such a rich history of stewardship that Andrea details, but it is her own course now. 

We get a chance to go through what are the individual’s characteristics of those looking to work in media. It isn’t just for the youth as there a lot of mature students looking to change up their career path. Life experience is valuable for a broadcaster as you can reach into a greater toolkit of options when it comes to working in the media. Some former students are mentioned and where they have come from, their experiences, their challenges and what they have been able to achieve.

The key to being a good journalist is to be curious. The two characteristics of a future broadcaster is to demonstrate enthusiasm and potential when applying for the course. Right now, the applications are open for the course, and it is a destination course because of its success rate and the practical experience that you get. When listening to Andrea you can hear the passion and the drive that she has inside her belly to continue the success of this remarkable program.

Andrea Burns

How to do TV really well

The longest serving media professional that has been attending the Melbourne #MeetTherMedia from its inception is our next guest on #TheExpertsPodcast. In fact, she has is only second to Nic who has hosted every one of the 35 events that have taken place since 2015. The reason our television journalist is always on the cards is because for years she has been voted as the giving and informative journalist to our experts and attendees of this unique and amazing event.

Kristy Mayr is a Channel Seven journalist for both news and Weekend Sunrise. You can’t miss her, and she will be a regular that you will identify the minute you see her. Kristy covers the light, moderate and hard stories that is put in front of her and listening to her recall the moment that she was first on the scene for the Rosie Batty story. You can hear the pain and the concern for the mother that has lost her son to domestic violence and murder. 

Kristy delivers so much great advice through the podcast on what experts can expect for the news. The tips are so straight forward that anyone can apply that to their media. The most appealing characteristic of Kristy is that she is so human in her approach to everything. The perception that media professionals are angry, cynical, and heartless is so further from the truth with Kristy. She is a mum, a wife, a fantastic storyteller and so giving.

If you have ever been to #MeetTheMedia Melbourne, you will have met Kristy along with dozens of other fantastic journalists from Victoria. There is a saying when you are on a good thing stick with it and I like to think that with Kristy and you get the feeling she feels the same when it comes to educating, meeting, informing the experts of tomorrow. Nic is fully aware that he is not supposed to have media favourites, but I think you will find that Kristy is up the top somewhere.

Kristy Mayr

What if you are trying to get awareness for an event? Trying to make a day out for the family in the media? Trying to get the third most popular pet in the world a moment in the media. It’s not easily done without the right help and support but when you can pitch a story that is relevant to the media’s audience you will be a hit. Our next guest is the President of the South Australia Budgerigar Association, and he is a breeder, owner, and ‘budgie’ enthusiast.

Troy Holmes is a robotics expert by trade, but his hobby and passion is budgerigars. We start off the podcast discussing his negative experience with media a long time ago when it came to a valuation of his business. The experience was aggressive, intrusive, and not particularly nice. This far too common for many businesses and it could have been a major roadblock if Troy wasn’t able to put that aside to promote his upcoming event “Budgie Fest”.

Nic and Carmen talk to Troy about his amazing ‘earned media’ success and walk through some of the hits that he got. Everything from getting David Penberthy of Fiveaa Breakfast on the judges’ couch to doing a cross from the Qantas Lounge toilet to Mix 102.3 Ali Clarke Breakfast Show. The media interest was enormous and the major hook for the story was the unique quirkiness and the ‘family friendly’ element. The biggest hook in the end was the natural character of Troy and the way he has engaged with media. 

It is a great reminder to all experts and business owners that you can attract media and amplify stories if you pitch the story with audiences in mind. The other big asset you have is that the story is family friendly, it is personal, it is a real human story that connects. The website engagement on the Budgerigar Association after the Ali Clarke Show went through the roof. Previous attempts to get people interested saw 52 people tun up to an event. Budgie Fest had over 800 people walk through the doors because of a successful media campaign and Troy’s determination to make this event known.

Troy Holmes

Michael Duregon

Creating memorable and quality content is the goal for content creators... It is a challenge for so many reasons other than just the skill of being able to develop, write and produce content it is also connecting and engaging audiences. This classroom series with Nic and Carms works through ideas you can implement in making your content memorable.

Create Memorable Content

This is all about your ability to generate stories on your own. You are a story generator if you know how to do this. If you don't ask WHY? Get busy finding your assets and those that can help you find your audience.

Fuel it up.
Get the motor running.
Your #Storytelling engine.

Become a Content Engine for media

The whole Australian media world is discussing the CEO of Woolworths performance on ABC Four Corners on Monday. It was the classic media training video that will be used for years on what not to do. Everyone has had their say on the topic but Carmen and Nic thought we might break it down a little differently. The real issue with a story like this might send other CEOs and leaders of industry back into the bunker. 
The reality with this performance and the announcement of the retirement of the CEO is a little too much to take in one week for the media. The connection between the interview on Monday and the plans to leave in September is just too close to see how it can be any other way. It is just not a good look either way from Australia’s biggest retail supermarket and employer.
Nic and Carmen walk through the good and the bad of the interview. What CEOs and leaders can learn from the experience and where they might take confidence that they will not be thrusted into the spotlight for a seriously silly and avoidable mistake. Messaging, good advisors, preparation, practice, and a little bit of humility and empathy is going to go far in scenarios like this. 
Do not let this incident put you off from engaging media. Instead use this as an opportunity to advance yourself, your people and those in the communications of the brand to get some media training. Work on this as it is not natural to have a microphone and camera thrusted in front of you, but it can be managed.

The lessons from the Woolworths Walkout

This podcast hosted by media professionals Nic Hayes and Carmen Braidwood is all about getting the education and motivation to work with media. Understanding the drivers, the tips, the very skills required to make it in the media makes this a must listen podcast for all communicators and business owners.

The lessons from the Woolworths Walkout

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