He’s done an OK job in a difficult position, but there is one vital media training tip that will help Beast of Blenheim Lawyer Andrew McKenzie come across a lot better of TV. Improving his body language is the best media training advice he could take at the moment. He may have conflicting personal views on the debate about what should happen to his client after his release. If so, this is showing because he is communicating conflicting signals. His words are showing empathy for both his client and the public of Wanganui. This is good. But from a media training standpoint, these words are not being supported by his body language. It’s like telling someone you like them with your fists clenched. The tone of his voice is lacking any emotion. This is partly because he is not moving. Lots of people tense up on TV. They stop moving their hands and body, which in turn prevents their voice from showing emotion and enthusiasm. This turns people off and often leads them to reject the message. It may surprise you that only 7 percent of what we remember about a person is their words. The rest is body language and tone of voice. This shows how important it is. We all use our hands to express ourselves in relaxed environments, but in tense situations like live TV, or even our media training sessions, as soon as the camera is switched on, we tense up. This is exactly why media training is necessary. It’s best to get it right in a training environment, rather than on national TV. But all due respect to Andrew McKenzie. He’s doing OK in other areas, particularly in fronting up. Lots of lawyers would refuse interviews and leave their client unrepresented. He’s one of many business professionals who have been suddenly thrust into the media spotlight. Could you be next?