All Ears?: 10 Techniques to Become an Active Listener

Photo- Two of my former colleagues at Waikato Uni (New Zealand) conversing. Jenine (l) certainly appears to be practicing active listening.

Are you one of those people who talks so much that others can't to get their point across in a conversation? Is your partner talking to you but you cant honestly say that you are really listening? Are you having a dicussion but you are not really digesting what the other person is saying because you just can't wait for your turn to speak again? I am sure you already know that this is poor conversation etiquette and a non-strategy of effective communication. Poor listening skills is at the root of many conflicts and problems within relationships and in society. If you display an unwillingness to listen and prefer only to hear yourself speak, people will eventually stop listening to YOU, quit talking to you, because - face it - it is a pain to talk to people who don't listen!

Developing proper listening skills is not only for the psychologist whose job it is to hear people out but you would be amazed how your job (no matter what that job is) and your relationships will improve once you begin to acknowledge the voices and opinions of others and giving them a chance to say their piece. For those taking seminars and participating in meetings, active listening is also a vital component of success and efefctiveness. Here are ten ways in which you can become more fully engaged in your life and work and be appreciated by everyone with whome you speak. These summary points have come from a plethora of communication texts that I have come across over time, and my own experience as a communications specialist and trainer:

1. STOP TALKING - One cannot listen while talking. The need to talk while someone else is talking is just poor manners, and no one can possibly hear the other if both are talking at once.

2. PUT THE SPEAKER AT EASE - Break the ice, make people comfortable to converse with you. Only actively listening to your point of view without judgement or impatience can accomplish this. Their language skills may not be on par with yourd but do exercise patience and allow them to feel at ease enough to speak in thir own language and manner, whatever that maybe.

3. SHOW A SPEAKER THAT YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO HIS/HER WORDS AND ACTUALLY LISTEN - This is similar to the point above. It means demonstrating to the speaker through eye contact, not doing other things while the person is speaking; not seeming disinterested etc - that you are fully engaged with what they are saying and you really want to know. This is also relevant to parents with children and nurses with the sick. Most times people merely want to be acknowledged.

4. REMOVE DISTRACTION AND FOCUS ON THE SPEAKER - People lead busy lives and with modern technology, they are talking on the go, and multitasking. It is better to postpone a conversation to a time when you can be fully committed to it than merely say 'ehmm ehhm" and you are not in fact listening. It is discourteous and does not illustrate respect for the speaker or their point of view.

5. SHOW EMPATHY FOR THE SPEAKER'S POINT OF VIEW - Listening is not the same as hearing, so unless you are deaf, we know you are hearing. But are you empathetic to the person's perspective? This is the essence of active listening, being able to fully appreciate the person's point of view without judgement even if you disagree. Empathy does not mean you feign agreement. It means you are fully engaged with the sets of values, motivations and emotions that may lead this person to this point of view. If you cannot fully appreciate where they are coming from, they will not appreciate your objection or disagreement if you have one. Active lsitening, in this sense, fosters mutual understanding.

6. BE PATIENT, ALLOW THE SPEAKER TIME WITHOUT INTERRUPTION - This is the hardest part I know. I too am guilty of interrupting. This techniques requires enormous patience and discipline. Sometimes, the person speaking is making a point and we do not want to forget so we butt in. We also get the point they ahve made but they persist to make it again as if repeating the point will have some further impact on is, so we interrupt to make our point. This leads to argumentation and debate rather than discussion. Active listening requires that you demonstrate patience and allow the speaker to complete his or her point before you continue. There are at times natural breaks in people's speech that will allow for interruption without seeing impatient or disrespectful.

7. HOLD ONE'S TEMPER, DONT LET EMOTIONS INTERFERE WITH ACTIVE LISTENING - Ok, there are sometime heated conversations and controversial issues and topics which derails our ability to actively listen. This is the point where active listening is even more crucual. Exercise patience, do not blow a gasket and do not let your emotions register on your face. Calmly listen to the point of view. I had the occasion once of watching a TV interview on TVone in New Zealand where a close friend, Editor of the Waikato Times, was a participant. I could see that the nature of the discussion had one of the panelists enraged. Yet Bryce maintain such composure I was impressed. I later asked him how did he manage to listen through all that without interruption or obvious distress. He remarked that he was seething beneath but used the time to craft his own responses and rebuttals to the points made. That is discipline and requires concerted effort to get there, but I think my point is well-made.

8. BE GENTLE WHEN ARGUING OR CRITICISING - If one is able to listen patiently and empathetically to an individual's point of view, in conversation, discussion or debate, then the need to give an angry response is less. Criticism and argumentation is inescapable in everyday living. But part of effective communication is to be able to offer criticism in a way which maintains the relationship, and to have an argument without sounding the death-knell to a friendship or professional relationship. Some people hate confrontation so they dont argue or criticise at all. This is sheer weakness and is not a resolution for the challenges we face in living and operating together. Many times, life requires us to offer our view and to engage in fierce debates. The challenge is to do so respectfully and with professionalism.

9. ASK QUESTIONS - This is the most obvious way of showing that you are listening. And please, be genuinely interested. Do not feign interest - I repeat. I often tell my journalism students that the best interviews are those when the host is genuinely interested in the story being told to them by the interviewee. Oprah is my all time favourite example. Part of her success is that genuine interest in people and their story and their lives. Same if you are on a date, listen and ask questions about people. Again, people just want to be acknowledged and to feel important. Asking questions sjows that you are not only listening but you are empathetic, engaging fully in the time and space of teh conversation and interested in the person.

10. ALWAY REMEMBER THAT ONE HAS TWO EARS AND ONLY ONE MOUTH - A wise person came up with that. I read it somewhere. This requires little explanation but suffice it to say f you have two ears and one mouth, you are naturally meant to speak less and listen more. So take on the challenge. I guarantee that your effectiveness as a communicator will reach stratospheric levels.

Interviewing the Artiste 101 – What Young Entertainment Journalists should know

Photo - Jamaican entertainers, Diana King and Lymie Murray

My Facebook colleague, Simone Harris’ recent post, Communication 101 for artiste, is a critical intervention worthy of industry attention. Indeed, the longstanding inability to locate themselves within a broader entertainment industry in which they operate; to communicate articulately about their career, themselves and, importantly, to interpret their art remains one of the biggest shortcomings of the Jamaican artiste, and a poignant challenge for the industry. However, the flip side is equally aggravating – watching/listening to so-called entertainment journalists interviewing the artiste.

I had the occasion of watching a young entertainment journalist early 2009 at the Shaggy and Friends Concert at Jamaica House conduct an appalling interview with Tony Rebel, an artiste for whom I administered publicity for the last 12 years. The young woman proceeded to ask the artiste a raft of ‘leading questions’ – all doubled and triple-barrelled- about the influence of negative lyrics on the society. Now, Tony Rebel is, by far, one of the most articulate and intelligent artistes in the industry and even he was thrown by the awkward nature of the questions. Nonetheless, he was clever enough to seek clarification and request that particular questions be rephrased (for the purpose of accurate interpretation).

As a journalist, I was disturbed and disappointed but worst was to come. While this interview was being done, I turned to a colleague and expressed the thought that the questions were too complicatedly phrased. Would you believe that the interviewer momentarily paused the interview, turned to me and angrily asked “what did you say about my question”? I kid you not. I was beyond shock – all I could utter was: ‘you are doing an interview, focus on that’.

This kind of unprofessionalism and blatant disrespect for the interview process, the interviewee not only speaks to the declining quality of journalism in Jamaica as a whole, but importantly, underscored the failure to recognise that the ‘celebrity interview’ (read as ‘artiste interview’ here) is a specialised type of interview genre which requires skill, charm and intelligence but also the ability to maintain your integrity and that of the celebrity.

Many young people entering Jamaican journalism want to interview famous people – entertainers, politicians, successful business people, athletes, film and TV stars etc. But this can be a tough test. The really big stars such as Tony Rebel who are accustomed to or like being interviewed will be absolutely charming, gracious, congenial and courteous. But many others, especially if confronted by the disastrous showing by this little known journalist in the above case, they would have been perfectly within their right to decline to continue with that dialogue.

What is an interview?
An interview is a ‘structured conversation’. It is not your usual conversation where I talk and then you talk. Rather, it is a series of questions and answers where only one party – the interviewer – is asking the questions. In this regard, an interview is only as good as the questions that are asked. It is not an arena to merely solicit responses but an avenue of challenging opinions and orthodoxies; which mean interviews can be entertaining and informative.

Before you start asking 5 critical questions often taught in journalism school – who, what, where, where and how, the most important question, from my experience is ‘why’ - why are you conducting the interview; why do you want to talk to this person; and why will this interview help the story.

When you know why you are conducting the interview, you can decide what questions to ask. It is important for journalists to ask themselves “What do I want to know” and conduct the interview accordingly
 Is it to learn the facts about a news event? = gain information
 Is it to challenge an authority figure? =investigative or adversarial
 Is it to elicit a personal response to an event = an emotional interview
 Is it because of who the person is? = celebrity interview

What is the idea of the celebrity interview?
First, if your journalistic beat is entertainment, your job is to develop friendly but professional relationships with the artistes’ public relations or management people, or, if possible, the artistes themselves. It is about being professional, not about meeting stars; it’s about the ability to see these individuals as people that you can get on-air, that they will something (interesting or controversial) that can add value to your press report or story and enliven your programme. In short, recognise that they will be a good interview.

Second, put your interviewee at ease. Break the ice, pay them a compliment (don’t suck up). This lightens the situation and makes the celebrity more open to listening to you as journalist and definitely more inclined to answer your questions. (Some media savvy celebrities are now keen to find out how much of the interview will be used etc, and use this to gauge whether to give soundbite responses or more expansive comments).

Third, if it is an especially controversial matter – an artiste is accused of rape; is involved in a court proceeding; is embroiled in a controversial situation where he/she needs to defend oneself – then assure them that they will be treated fairly, and that your intentions are sincere. This may mark the difference between you getting the interview or not, or how open the celebrity interviewee prefers to be. Can they trust you would be the question on their mind, but, in my view, the most important question is: can you as the journalist build this trust by the way you approach the interview.

Fourth, if you ask for 5 minutes of their time, do not take 15 minutes. You are there for the interview, not to make friends. Sometimes, if you are interviewing really busy celebrities such as business people, respecting their time is even more essential. Greet them, shake hands, do the interview and leave. In this sense, the celebrity ought to be treated like a press conference (staged media events designed to disseminate news) or a news item.

Fifth, Do your research. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare. This does not mean prepare a list of questions and rehearse them to death. It means do sufficient research on the celebrity. Distinguish fact from fiction. Ask real questions; challenge them; ask interesting questions. I watched Queen Ifrica on TV interview programme earlier this year, and this artiste can talk and tends to be very confident and free in expressing her thoughts. As a result, she assumed absolute control of the interview, to such an extent that I forgot that two interviewees were on set! The interviewees appeared unprepared. They did not seem to have a clear sense of what they wished to ask the artiste; seemed overawed by the artiste’s presence and expressiveness. Again, research is critical to a successful interview.

* Artistes and other celebrities are also citizens. They live in the society. Don’t be afraid to ask them about topic issues on the public’s agenda. You may be surprised that they hold an opinion about the society in which they live and from which they draw inspiration.

Finally, remain calm and unruffled. The best interviewers are those who are able to maintain their composure, act with decorum, and do not become overwhelmed by the presence of the celebrity or the augustness of the celebrity interview occasion. * Just because it is an entertainment programme is no reason to ‘wing it’; scream on top of your lungs, act overly excited, or, lest I forget, dress provocatively.

Mock PSA, Australia Campaigns Against Swine Flu - Are you Protected?

Photos - Australian Kids wearing face masks to protect them from Swine Flu

At present there are 27,663 people in Australia contaminated with the H1N1 or human swine influenza virus.

95 Australians have already died from Swine flu.

People most at risk from the virus are people with lung disease, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, immunosuppression problems, drug treated asthma, pregnant women and children under 5.

The swine flu symptoms are simular to those of the seasonal flu. A sudden fever of above 38C and sudden cough accompanied by headaches, tiredness, chills, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, stomach upset, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, aching muscles, limb or joint pain.

Swine flu is spread in the same way as a seasonal flu, close contact, within a metre of a person suspected of swine flu, hands and surfaces where the germs are present.
To prevent the spread of swine flu stay home when sick, when coughing or sneezing cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue disposing of it immediately, and wash hands frequently.

If you believe you have swine flu contact your local doctor, ring 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84). For further, information log onto http://www.health.qld.gov.au/swineflu.

By Tenille de Brueys, Student- Advanced Public Relations
Lecturer, Dr. Hume Johnson

Mock PSA - Australia tackles Swine Flu (Crisis Communication Seminar)

Photo - Noni Hazlehurst, Australian actress

Hi I’m Noni Hazelhurst. As a mum, I know how often kids can come home with a harmless runny nose, but with Australia in midst of a Swine Flu pandemic we parents need to take extra steps to help stop the virus spreading.

While the Federal and State governments are working together to find a vaccine for the virus, it is up to us to ensure that until that time comes, people most vulnerable to the disease are protected.

Swine Flu, like most viruses, spreads easily from person to person, making children and schools especially vulnerable to the disease. Simple contact or being near another child who doesn’t cover their mouth when sneezing can be enough to make your child sick.

If your child shows any signs of fever, headache, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, body aches, tireness or chills, take them to the doctor immediately. Kids should then be kept at home until their symptoms clear up.

You can help protect your child from the virus by making sure that they wash their hands regularly and by keeping them away from people with flu symptoms.

For more information on Swine Flu visit www.healthemergency.gov.au, and help keep Aussie kids healthy.

By Nicole Rushbrooke, Student - Advanced Public Relations
Lecturer, Dr. Hume Johnson

Mock PSA - Australia Combats Swine Flu (Crisis Communication Seminar)

Photo, Australian scientist, Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki

Hi, I’m Dr. Karl. The swine flu has hit Australian shores so it’s time to get in the know about what to look for.

The Australian and state governments are working to minimize the threat to all Australians, and are working towards measures to treat victims.

The swine flu is a tricky one to spot as it carries many of the same symptoms as the regular seasonal flu such as, a high fever, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, muscle and joint pains.

If you have any of these symptoms, contact your GP as early detection is very important to staying healthy.

Swine flu spreads in the same way as the regular flu, so watch out for other people who may be showing signs of the same symptoms.

The most at risk are the elderly, young children, and those suffering from existing respiratory problems, and people whom are recovering from major surgeries.

Experts say that washing your hands regularly can help limit your chance of infection, or spreading the virus to others.

If you think you have swine flu contact your GP or visit www.health.gov.au.

By Slavisha Grabovickic - Student, Advanced Public Relations
Lecturer, Dr. Hume Johnson

Mock PSA, Australian Olympian Tackles Swine Flu

Photo: Stephanie Rice, Olympic Gold Medallist, Swimming, Australia

Hi there, I’m Stephanie Rice. The outbreak of the H1N1 Virus, also know as Swine Flu is now impacting Australia and is a serious public health risk.
H1N1 Virus symptoms include:

1.Sudden fever (38C or above), cough, tiredness, chills, Headache, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing
2.Stomach upset, loss of appetite, diarrhoea
3.Aching muscles, joint pain

The Australian Government is working on H1N1 vaccine and has activated the Australian Health Management Plan to contain the outbreak of Swine Flu. The Virus is spread from person to person by coughs and sneezes. The virus can also be spread when a person touches on another person, object or surface, and then touches their mouth or nose.

If you believe you have Swine Flu, please contact your local GP or call 13 HEALTH.
Protect yourself by avoiding close contact with people who show influenza-like symptoms, and taking the following measures:

•Avoid touching your mouth and nose;
•Clean hands thoroughly regularly;
•Avoid visiting people who have the flu
For more information call 13 HEALTH, or visit the Australian Government Swine Flu website (http://www.healthemergency.gov.au/H1N1virus)

By Mathew Crossley, Student, Advanced Public Relations
Lecturer - Dr. Hume Johnson

Mock PSA, Australia's Next Top Model Talks Swine Flu

Photo, Tahnee, Winner of Australia's Next Top Model, 2009

Do you have a cough? Are you feeling tired or chilled? Do you have regular headaches an upset stomach or aching muscles and limbs? You may think that it is the common cold but you may have swine flu.

Hi my name is Tahnee winner of Australia’s Next Top Model and I have been checked for swine flu, have you?

Did you know that swine flu is a respiratory disease and is spreading worldwide.
Symptoms of swine flu is a fever exceeding 38c, a sudden cough, runny nose and sneezing, feel tired or chilled, have an upset stomach which can lead to nausea and/or diarrhoea, have a sore throat or if your muscles and limbs start to ache and joint pain occurs.

Experts say that swine flu is extremely infectious and can be avoided by keeping a distance from people that seem unwell and have these related symptoms. You can avoid this by regularly washing your hands, covering your mouth with a tissue when you cough or blow your nose and disposing of the tissue immediately, cleaning hard surfaces e.g. door handles.

If you or someone close to you has any and/ or all of these symptoms, see your doctor and get protected against swine flu today! I have, so why haven’t you?

By Leah Aitchison student of Advanced Public Relations
Lecturer Dr Hume Johnson

Answers that Could Save Your Life: Swine Flu Q & A

Swine flu has spread across the world since emerging in Mexico and is now officially the first flu pandemic for 40 years. Experts fear millions of people will be infected.

What is swine flu and what are the symptoms?

SWINE FLU SYMPTOMS
Typical symptoms: sudden fever (38C or above) and sudden cough
1. Other symptoms include: Tiredness and chills
2. Headache, sore throat, runny nose and sneezing
3. Stomach upset, loss of appetite, diarrhoea
4. Aching muscles, limb or joint pain

Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by a strain of the influenza type A virus known as H1N1. H1N1 is the same strain which causes seasonal outbreaks of flu in humans on a regular basis. But this latest version of H1N1 is different: it contains genetic material that is typically found in strains of the virus that affect humans, birds and swine. Although the strain may have originated in pigs, it is now a wholly human disease. It can be spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing. Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu.

A fever - which is a temperature of 38ºC (100.4ºF) - is the key symptom, combined with other complaints which may include a cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and aching limbs. Some people with the virus have also reported nausea and diarrhoea. As with normal flu, the severity of symptoms will depend on treatment and the individual. Many people have only suffered mildly and have begun to recover within a week.

People are most infectious soon after they develop symptoms, but they cease to be a risk once those symptoms have disappeared. The incubation period may be as little as two days. Apparently healthy people are dying from the virus. Does that means it is getting worse? Experts say this does not change anything, and that if anything it is surprising that it has taken this long in the UK for someone without underlying health problems to die.

THE AT RISK GROUPS • People with lung disease
•People with heart disease
•People with kidney disease
•People with diabetes
•Those with immunosuppression problems either because of treatment or disease
•Patients who have had drug treatment for asthma
•Pregnant women
•Children under five

Apparently healthy people can die of any flu-related virus if it causes complications such as pneumonia so these latest deaths do not give any extra cause for concern. Indeed, so far, many people who have developed symptoms of infection have not needed drugs to make a full recovery, according to the WHO. Flu expert Professor Peter Openshaw, of Imperial College London, says about one in every three people who become infected will not realise they have had swine flu because they will have had no or only very few symptoms.

"About 98% of people who get infected will recover fully without any hospital treatment so I think the public needs to be reassured." The real fear is that the strain will mutate and become more virulent which would pose a greater threat. This has been the feature of previous flu pandemics. But this has not yet happened - and in any event it is worth remembering that seasonal flu often poses a serious threat to public health - each year it kills 250,000 - 500,000 around the world.

Why are younger people more affected?

In the UK the infection has been found to affect younger people more due to it spreading quickly in schools where there is a lot of mixing and where infections can quickly spread. This is not unusual and children are known to be important in the spread of flu. It is thought that older age groups may have some immunity as they have been exposed to previous H1N1 viruses.

Why has the UK been more affected than other countries?
The UK has a comprehensive flu surveillance system, hence more cases may be identified in the UK than in other countries with less comprehensive monitoring services. Also, the spread of the infection in the early stages was linked to flights out of Mexico. With Mexico being a popular tourist destination for British tourists, Britain was one of the first countries alongside America and Canada to start seeing cases. As the UK was affected earlier than some other countries the infection has spread to a higher number of people.

What should I do if I think I have it?
Anyone with flu-like symptoms who suspects they might have the swine flu virus are being advised to stay at home and contact the National Flu Service on 0800 1 513 100 or via the internet at www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu The service allows sufferers to get access to anti-flu drugs without the need to consult a GP. However, those with underlying health conditions, the under ones and pregnant women are still being advised to contact a doctor.

The GP route is also open to anyone who does not want to use the service. In the initial phase of the outbreak, lab testing was done to diagnose the flu but this is no longer happening routinely.

How is it treated?
Two drugs commonly used to treat flu, Tamiflu and Relenza, are effective at treating infection, reducing the length of the illness and cutting the chances that people will have serious complications. Use of these drugs may also make it less likely that infected people will pass the virus on to others. However, the drugs must be administered at an early stage to be effective.

The UK government already has a stockpile of Tamiflu, ordered as a precaution against a pandemic. However, there is concern that if too many people start taking anti-virals as a precaution, it could raise the risk of the virus developing resistance, reducing the drugs' effectiveness. There is however no evidence at present that this is happening.

In any event there is little point taking these drugs as a precaution as each tablet only provides a day's worth of cover. Given that the virus may be with us for many months - or indeed years - taking a regular pill is ill-advised as the long-term side effects are not known. The drugs can have side-effects, most commonly nausea and vomiting.

What measures then can I take to prevent infection?
As yet there is no vaccine, but manufacturers are trying to develop one. Good progress is being made and the first doses may be available in the UK by August. However the NHS says it may be next year before everyone can be immunised.

FLU PANDEMICS
1918: The Spanish flu pandemic remains the most devastating outbreak of modern times. Caused by a form of the H1N1 strain of flu, it is estimated that up to 40% of the world's population were infected, and more than 50 million people died, with young adults particularly badly affected

1957: Asian flu killed two million people. Caused by a human form of the virus, H2N2, combining with a mutated strain found in wild ducks. The impact of the pandemic was minimised by rapid action by health authorities, who identified the virus, and made vaccine available speedily. The elderly were particularly vulnerable

1968: An outbreak first detected in Hong Kong, and caused by a strain known as H3N2, killed up to one million people globally, with those over 65 most likely to die

Older people and those under 16 - as well as health workers and those with existing clinical conditions - will be given priority. It is hoped that even if the virus mutates in coming months, the vaccine would still confer a high degree of protection against related strains.

In the meantime, avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough. General infection control practices and good hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including the human swine influenza.

This includes covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible and disposing of it promptly. It is also important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people, and cleaning hard surfaces like door handles frequently using a normal cleaning product. In Mexico masks have been handed out to the general public, but experts are sceptical about how useful this is. Some suggest it may even be counterproductive.

What is the advice for pregnant women?
The Department of Health has clarified its advice on how expectant mothers should protect themselves following a series of apparently mixed messages. Concerns were heightened after a woman with swine flu died last week shortly after giving birth prematurely. Pregnant women are among the groups at increased risk from swine flu. It is important that they follow the advice about hand hygiene. They may also want to avoid very crowded places and unnecessary travel, but experts stressed people should use their own judgement and should carry on with their daily lives.

Where can I get further advice?
Further information and advice on swine flu can be found at websites of leading health and research organisations around the world. The World Health Organisation gives background information on the virus. The UK's government services website is carrying regularly updated health and travel information. The Health Protection Agency advises the public about what to do if returning from an affected area. NHS Choices outlines how swine flu is different from other flu.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is another good source of information. The US government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is counting the number of cases in the US. You can also track spread of swine flu reports using unofficial sources. Google is mapping search term data as an indicator of flu activity both across the US down to state level and in Mexico. Healthmaps maps viruses using news reports. Social media guide Mashable lists a range of ways to track the virus.

Information and links to useful websites are being shared on Twitter, the micro-blogging service, while social networking website Facebook is tracking swine flu discussion amongst users. Further questions from our readers have been answered by a UK-based expert. And the BBC's medical correspondent, Fergus Walsh, is filing regular entries on his blog on H1N1.

HOW SWINE FLU OUTBREAK EMERGED
Flu viruses mutate over time causing small changes to proteins on their surface called antigens. If the immune system has met a particular strain of the virus before, it is likely to have some immunity; but if the antigens are new to the immune system, it will be weakened.

Master the Craft of News Presenting: Useful Tips for Radio and TV Presenters

My last post on how to become an effective broadcaster touched on a nerve for many a broadcaster - the news. Is the news special? Does it require a different style and manner; a different register and voice? Can one learn to become an effective presenter? Does reading well means you are naturally a good 'news' presenter? These are all valid questions which are I will try to address below. These suggestions are based on my own experience as a Specialist News Presenter and as a current trainer of young Broadcast Journalists and Presenters in Australia.

Let me pause to say congratulations to my former student, Jason Schwabb, who has progressed from a drama-infused news presenting style which sounded artificial and off-putting to a polished credible news presenter at the end of 13 weeks. Jason is now a news reporter/presenter on Australian news Channel, WIN News. Proud of you Jason!

As a point of departure, let me inject a caveat: The news is one of the central and sacred institutions of broadcasting. It is important to both government and commercial broadcasters globally that the audience retains confidence in its integrity, and belief in it as a source of information and education. Sustaining public trust in the news does not only hinge on the trustworthiness of news content but also on the credibility of the persons charged with the responsibility of presenting the news. The following guidelines are designed to help presenters become more comfortable behind the camera or the microphone, and become more effective presenters. The basic principles apply equally to radio and television, but I have included some tips specific to television.

1. Try to get your script at least ten minutes before news time, and read the copy aloud to yourself. Check for errors, omissions and flow (does it read well; can you pronounce all the words accurately etc?).There will be times that you get the news just as it is news time. Don't panic, practice sight reading, that is read with an alertness and a consciousness about what you are saying. Use audio clips breaks to flip through the following story. If there is a commercial break, use this time wisely to ensure you catch up on what your other stories are. There is no excuse for excessive mistakes in your news cast.

2. Understand what you are reading. Understand each story. You should be able to tell someone what the story is about without looking at your script. In short, ensure you know exactly what the story is about, and be sympathetic to its content . If you don’t understand the story, then your listener or viewer will not.

3 Do not simply read the words off the page or teleprompter. Effective news presenting is about “telling” your audience about an occurrence. So “tell” the information. Make it a conversation between you and a trusted friend (represented by the microphone or the camera). Read with pace, as this gives your viewer or listener time to absorb, understand and react to what you are saying. Remember that the audience was not at the scene of the event you are telling them about, so they must BELIEVE that what you are saying is in fact so.

4. Speak clearly by opening your mouth and speaking deliberately. Clenching the teeth while talking is not good practice for any speaker, and this is surprisingly common among even highly trained broadcasters. We need to capture the words so open your mouth and say it. A great example of someone who allows the words to come freely from her mouty is Lucy Hockings of BBC World News (my all time favourite female TV newscasters). Do not SHOUT. Allow your voice to emerge from your diaphragm rather than your throat. This will require regular breathing exercises so as not to run out of breath.

5. Watch your intonation. Do not sing (provide unnecessary emphases and inflections). Attempt to end each sentence flatly, rather than giving a high tone. This lends credibility to the story and gives the reader more authority. I was guilty of this during my early days at FAME FM (Jamaica), until a respected broadcaster, the late Neville Willoughby stopped me one day in the corridor and told me what to do to sound more credible and authoritative. It took concerted efforts on my part to become conscious of what I was doing, but over time and with practice, I managed to shift into a new gear at the end of the sentences.

6. Pause at the end of each story . This allows the listener and viewer time to focus on the new story. This need not be a long pause. Broadcasting is not sympathetic to too much 'dead air'. The idea is not to race through the newscast but to allow the material to be digested. The audience acnnot digest the information if its coming at them without pauses.

7. Be alert. Do not slouch. This advice is for both radio and TV news presenters. It is important to maintain good posuture while reading so that your breathing is not obstructed. I will share the advice that I benefitted from: Sit up, and forward with your feet firmly planted on the floor. This is not uncomfortable by any means. Indeed, besides allowing me to free my breath for better voice production, it also helped me to stay alert throughout the newscasts, and not to slip into a pedantic perfunctory style (of merely calling words on a page).

8. Speak with authority and confidence. This is not mean you should shout. It simply means that you are the owner of this piece of information. You know it is true - it really happened, and your job is to share it with your audience. Your audience must believe that you know what you are talking about. It is important that they believe what you tell them.

9. If you make an error, apologise, read it again, and carry on. Mistakes are normal in news broadcasting. Do not panic. This is the sheer adventure of 'live' television or radio. If a clip does not play due to technical error, do not scream 'oh shit' as one of my students did last year during her 'live' news reading examinations. Be calm. Inform your listeners of your error, apologise and carry on. To panic is to lose your credibility and undermine your audience’ confidence in what you are telling them.

Presenting News on Television

Television is a visual medium. Your audience is not only hearing you but seeing you. It is therefore important that you both sound and look professional. Recall that as a TV presenter, you have become a guest in people’s homes and obliged to treat them with courtesy and respect. The following tips are specific to TV news presentation.

1. Dress simply, neatly and elegantly. Garish,shiny customes and irrelevant adornments are distracting. I should know. I used to wear scarves around my neck. Nver wnat to see those tapes every again! Keep your clothing; hairstyle, accessories and make up simple. Overdressing will only distract the viewer from the content of the news, and undermine your authority as a newscaster.

2. Maintain good posture by. Sitting up with your back straight and forward forward helps you to react more easily to changes in camera angles and gives you presence and authority when you speak. Of course, it is important to be relaxed in your body so as not to appear stiff on camera.

3. Guard against frowning. This advice was given to me in a rather brutal training session by trainers, Alma Mockyen and Leonie Forbes years ago. I was slapped on my forehead by one of these women in an effort to get me to quit frowning. The idea is to relax the face and the jaws, It is also VERY IMPORTANT that your eyes dont seem too focused on the teleprompter. Try instead to give your face a pleasant countenance. Cameras are sensitive to changes in facial expressions and personal moods.

4. Be true to your story. If it’s a sad story, e.g. crime or disaster, do not smile or display glimmer in your eyes. Be empathetic to the content, but don’t overdo it. In other words, let your feelings show to some degree. If you are being conversational, and if you understand your story, then your own natural feelings will become evident in your presentation.

5. Always try to read ahead. Absorb as much of the information as you can manage and deliver it to the camera without looking at the script. Try to make sure that the most significant pieces of information are delivered to the camera. If you do not have a teleprompter, rehearse your script and deliver as much of the content (particularly the opening lines) to the camera as you can. Remember that the lens of the camera represents your respected friend. Eye contact with the camera is the same as eye contact with your friend. Maintaining eye contact is crucial to your credibility.

6. Always follow on the script while you read on the teleprompter. Don't assume that the technology will always be working. It can fail in the middle of the newscast. In case the teleprompter fails during a live broadcast, you should be able to quickly pick up from your script.

7. Try to be comfortable and alert. Focus only on the job at hand. TELL your story, Do not READ it. Use your facial and body movements to help you tell the story. Being conversational makes the news come alive, it enhances your words and gives life and meaning to your presentation. Of course, don’t OVERDO it. Remember that the news is sacred, you are telling your audience about actual events that impact on all their lives.

If you take these suggestions and tips into account and practice, practice, practice practice, while making a concerted effort to improve on your weaknesses, you will notice a considerable change in your style and confidence over time.

___________________________________
Dr. Hume Johnson is the co-founder of the Communication Workshop. She teaches Journalism and communications at James Cook University, QLD, AUSTRALIA