A sound bite, in TV speak, is a compact, concise-but-impactful point made by an on-air talent. A selection and ordering of words that still grabs attention, makes a point, and leaves an impression.
The length of your “sound bite” depends on the parameters: How long is the segment? How many people are involved? If you’re a pundit on CNN, for example, you may only have 10 seconds to say what you want to say. If it’s a multi-person debate, you may only get a couple of seconds.
In a situation like this, preparation is key. Going into the segment, surely you’ll know your stuff and will have done your research. From there, order the points that are most important. Shrink them into short, digestible sentences while still getting your point across. Your host will appreciate brevity, especially if they need to keep the show moving, throw to a package or break.
A few more suggestions…
Consider doing more writing.I’ve noticed that some of the best talkers on television and podcasts are also terrific writers. Whether or not you actually publish what you write, getting into the habit is a good thing—being able to think of dozens of ways to say the same thing is a practiced, learned trait
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