The pathway of a broadcaster and a media personality can be varied. The most general source of a radio talkback host or someone heading down that path is a journalist from print, TV or online. There might be a few lawyers or even reality TV stars. AFL footballers aren’t generally the source from which broadcasters are derived unless they are reporting on sport, but this former AFL Premiership player has something special about him. He is intelligent, genuinely inquisitive, doesn’t take himself too serious and really is a good bloke. You will get a lot from listening to this podcaster and broadcaster tell his story.

Will Schofield is a recently retired West Coast Eagles player with a passion for storytelling. His enthusiasm and energy for media is one that many from his industry wouldn’t really celebrate particularly from an early age or early in your career. Will has a reputation for his honesty and speaking his mind. It’s quite refreshing particularly as the AFL industry generally trains their employees to deliver the standard responses. You won’t see a lot of footballers that would be able to do what he is doing. Will puts it down to his parents’ upbringing, conversing with older brothers, and a work ethic that meant he was working for free when he didn’t need to.

One of the interesting discoveries in the podcast is the influence that recently passed ABC broadcaster Russell Woolf had on him. The power of listening to the questions and the interviewees. The skills that he has been able to take from being an elite athlete to broadcasting has been a big influence. Will also believes that because media isn’t something that he has been a big part of until recently that he isn’t restricted by the protocols or the expectations of a traditional broadcaster. This broadcaster won’t be told what he can and can’t say.

“Footy and media is the same… the closest feeling I have got to playing football is working in the media.”

The podcast that is getting a lot of interest and people listening is Back Chat. Real sports insight into the sporting stars around the globe. Asking the right questions and being able to get behind the scenes and ask the questions that audiences and sports lovers want to know. The Andrew Bogut podcast was a classic example of an interview that started awkward and difficult but then opened to an entertaining and informative chat. Will has a big future in broadcasting and his style will resonate with the audiences of today and tomorrow.

Will Schofield

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 Australian Federal Election was it over before it even began?

The cost-of-living election has just got outrageously confusing. Talking to Daily Telegraph journalist James Willis this week on the the podcast we get down to the things that mattered. What the media was focused on. The role of social media and the failure of the Dutton campaign and policies to connect in media.

Has this election turned from a cost-of-living debate to who will do the least damage if elected?
The housing crisis looks to only worsen with the approaches of both parties...
The social media election... They have dabbled with it before but they appear to be all in on this now. 
Future of the Greens? Teals? Trumpet of Patriots? What can they expect?
Which party (if any) is speaking to women in this election?
Any hidden twists, turns, surprises before May 3?

Federal Election Special with James Willis

Suzanne Dodds is a water filtration expert, and the Managing Director of Complete Home Filtration. She joins us for a chat on The Experts podcast to discuss the quality of water in Australia, the additives to our drinking water and the necessity to look after our most precious resource. 

Suzanne discusses the media’s reaction to idea of introducing filtration. It is very clear that their marketing approach is more of an ‘education‘ program rather than a 'scare tactic. This is the key to media success when effectively talking about an issue and particularly a product.

We are very lucky in Australia to have the water quality that we have. It’s the chlorine and fluoride additives in tap water that are seeing many consumers looking to make a choice to extract these by adding filtration in homes and offices.

Suzanne Dodds

Scott Eathorne from Quikmark Media is Nic's guest onthe podcast this week to discuss the art of being a book publicist. Publicity is a very different game to traditional media expert commentary, and Scott is one of the best in the business when it comes to delivering a book to market.

Some of the topics we discuss include:

Hot tips for authors from someone in the know.
Published or Self-published - the good and the bad.
Everyone wants to write a book... Should they though?
What's the process for publishing a book?
Which books/authors do like to read?
Who is your inspiration?

If you're thinking of writing a book,, then this episode is a must listen.

Scott Eathorne

This podcast hosted by media professional Nic Hayes 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.

Will Schofield

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