By Danielle McCarthy, Nutrition Talent Co-Founder
I have spent my life learning and applying my knowledge of nutrition and health in so many diverse contexts, including food manufacture, food retail, education and academic research. Recently I took on front of camera media work for the first time. And I was scared, really scared.
I want to share my experience because much as I felt very anxious in the run up to the recording, and even more so when I was alerted it was about to be released on BBC iplayer, I survived! And in doing so I managed to ensure the programme included evidence-based health messages that were delivered in engaging ways for the viewers – a real example of great teamwork. I noted the tips below on the day, more as a note to self (!) but on reflection I have decided to share these in case they help support any other qualified, Registered Nutritionists and academics, who are experts in Food and Health to step forward and have confidence in including their voices in the myriad of information people can access on this topic. When so much of this is unfounded and certainly not in line with any evidence, if this balance is to shift, then as subject experts we need to be bold and speak out, no matter how out of our comfort zones we might feel.
On the morning of filming my 10 year old son was also putting himself out there, giving a speech as part of school council elections. When I asked him how he was feeling his response was “Excited, I’m not scared of making a mistake”. This made me realise what was troubling me the most – fear of making a mistake, of my messages being misconstrued or being judged badly by my expert peers. However, more than this fear, I care about getting the right messages across. I feel this is a responsibility we Registered Nutritionists have. I know I am not the only one who has held back from working in the public eye and with the media, and so I decided to take on the challenge.
What helped me?
- Clarity on key messages: Keep these top of mind throughout the whole process. On the day have a sheet that isn’t the script nearby with your three key messages and what you need to include to serve your purpose. It can be easy to lose sight of this during filming.
- Teamwork: Anna’s experience in working with the media previously helped us identify any potential pitfalls early in the process and manage them accordingly.
- Preparation: We worked with the programme producer ahead of filming to prepare the script, explaining the science and regulatory restrictions right from the start. This ensured the piece moved in a direction we were comfortable with and there was enough time to discuss areas of potential concern.
- Second opinion: We nutritionists are a friendly bunch. I reached out and discussed the piece with a peer. This conversation really helped build my confidence about taking part.
- Producer perspective: A second reflection on the script with a view to understand the bigger picture (we experts can tend to focus on the detail!) was valuable. What overall point are the production team trying to get across? Do you feel comfortable with that? If not, explain why and offer suggestions to steer the piece.
- Build a good rapport with the presenter: Being energised and friendly really helps keep things light. Sharing any script feedback you gave the director can also be really helpful for the presenter. Don’t assume they have been briefed on any pre-filming material.
- Be attentive: Things will change during filming and time will inevitably run out. Even if you aren’t in the shoot, watch, listen and provide guidance as the wider context is important for scientific accuracy.
- Fuel up: Bring snacks and hydration! Filming can mean a very long day.
- Take your camera and build your own portfolio of images.
- Ask for feedback: I was delighted to receive the feedback I was given, and it will absolutely encourage me to keep feeling the fear and working with great production teams to get good information out there in really engaging ways.
“Nutrition Talent were full of really helpful, specific nutritional information that ensured we were keeping inside best practice guidelines, giving peace of mind to production when creating the concept for our segment. The breakdown of information provided to production for the purpose of script writing was really useful.
Danielle was great on our filming day, she brought a positive and upbeat energy to the set and was flexible with filming scheduling. Danielle delivered key nutritional information in a relatable, engaging and accessible manner which makes our work a lot easier!”
Job well done!
You can watch the end result and Danielle’s TV debut on BBC iplayer here: BBC iPlayer – Food Fest Northern Ireland – Series 1: 4. Newcastle
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