Jim Laurie accepts a wide range of speaking engagements and provides consulting services to television broadcasters and corporations.  Details below on Speaker Topics, Television Consultancies, and Media training:

Speaker Topics

From August 2010, for five months, Jim Laurie will be working out of his home near Boston, Massachusetts - permitting a greater emphasis on consulting projects and speaking engagements on the U-S East Coast.  Details coming soon.

Television consultancies

 In the effort to further develop television news and current affairs channels in the Asia region, we have provided consulting and training services since 2001.

 Among the television operations we have worked on are Al Jazeera English in Kuala Lumpur, China Central Television in Beijing, the STAR News channels in Mumbai, Aaj Tak’s Headlines Today channel in Delhi, Times Now in Mumbai and Ariana TV in Kabul Afghanistan.

We have also provided voice and on-air presentation coaching to CNN, CNBC,  Bloomberg TV, and Radio Television Hong Kong [RTHK]. 

Convergence and the changing international television news industry are among the wide range of our speaking topics at regional and international conferences such as the Asia Media Summit  in Macau, the Arab Media Forum in Dubai, The Eurasia Media Forum in Almaty, and earlier Newsworld summits in Europe and Asia. 

Among the services provided  

• Writing workshops
• On air voice and presentation coaching
• Producer training
• News broadcast critiques
• Reporter training
• On air look and feel
• Multi-tasking in a digital world    
• Overall channel positioning, promotion, and strategy

 With a team of associates including Jim Gaffey, formerly of FOX News New York, Ken Einhorn, control room director CBS News, and Rob McBride, specialist in videography and multi-tasking, I develop tailor made sessions to strengthen television news operations and enhance skills across a range of television production disciplines.

Through a wide network of connections across Asia, I am able to offer strategies for investment in the growing media markets in the region.

While I have been involved in the launch of new news channels like STAR News and Times Now, I subscribe to the belief that maintaining a strong TV news organization is a continous process of renewal, adaptation, and appropriate training. 

Media Training

 For corporations in need of advice in dealing with the media - comprehensive one to three day workshops on effective communications through video and television. 

•  Preparing for television interviews
•  On camera: lights, cameras, microphones, impact
•  How to look, what to say, and how to say it

Companies which have taken advantage of these services include Deloitte Touche, Huntsman China, and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL).

Consulting History  

From September 2008 through June 2009, - Acting Asia Bureau Chief for the Al Jazeera English channel as it went through a transition period and sought temporary management and advice on re-structuring its Asia operations.                    
Al Jazeera English launched in November 2006.  Today it presents a strong 24 x 7 alternative to the international news channels BBC World News and CNNI.  
Distribution has grown slowly since 2006.  In Asia it has developed a strong foothold in Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. It is currently scaling back its Malaysia broadcast center and re-distributing its news gathering assets in the region.  

Since 2007, China Central Television in Beijing has been a client.   In late April 2010, its English language channel [CCTV 9] was relaunched as CCTV News.  The channel is seeking to redefine itself and join other English language news offerings in what is an increasingly crowded market.  Since 2005, Al Jazeera English, NHK World, Russia Today, and France 24 are among the channels developed to promote new agendas.

In India, after working on the launch of STAR News in 2001, we have been engaged to assist in the development of the other Indian news channels:    Times Now channel in Mumbai in 2005 and Aaj Tak’s Headlines Today channel from 2006-2008.

In the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks of November 2008,  Times Now became the most watched English channel in India.   After our extensive consulting sessions Aaj Tak [already the nation’s leader in Hindi news], saw the “time spent” ratings figures more than double on its English language channel.  

Anyone interested in short intensive or long term training and coaching programs [news writing, reporting, production, anchoring, speech and presentation] should contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or fill out the feedback form on this website.