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Jim Laurie provides a range of consulting services and welcomes seminars, coaching sessions, and public speaking engagements. Services are provided both to the broadcast news industry and to the wider corporate world beyond.
In the effort to further develop television news and current affairs channels in the Asia region, I have provided consulting and training services since 2001.
Among the television operations I 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.
I 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 topics I speak on 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 I provide are
- 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.
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To corporations in need of advice in dealing with the media, I have developed 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 our services include Deloitte Touche, Huntsman China, and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL).
Consulting History
From September 2008 through June 2009, I served as Acting Asia Bureau Chief for the Al Jazeera English channel as it was going through a period of transition and needed advice on the management and structure of 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. The channel maintains a broadcast center on the 60th floor of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and employs more than 140 people across the Asia region.
Since 2007, I have provided consulting services and coaching sessions to China Central Television in Beijing. CCTV 9 in Beijing seeks to improve the quality of its English broadcasting and expand the content and influence of its international news and current affairs programming. CCTV's expansion into French, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic broadcasting requires a rethinking of assets, priorities, and logistics.
In India, since my initial channel building opportunity in 2001 at STAR News, I have been engaged to assist in the development of the 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.
Speaking
A further note on speaking. If your interest is piqued by any of the topics introduced on this website, I am available for speaking engagements on any of them.
All talks are accompanied by video selections.
Talks given in the past range from sessions on the changing media scene in China or India, to talks on historical developments over the past 40 years in Cambodia or Vietnam.
The talks have proved particularly popular among tourist-study organizations and business groups seeking different perspectives on the fastest growing region of the world.
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