Barry Nash & Company

12/13/2025

https://substack.com/

12/13/2025

🎄A little holiday reminder that Barry Nash & Company's Substack is the only one devoted exclusively to on-air journalists and their performances on camera.

If newscast performance and delivery interests you, subscribing is free, fast, and guarantees you'll be on the leading edge of the industry conversation about communicating powerfully on camera.

We hope you'll consider it a gift worth giving to yourself this season! 🎅
Subscribe here: https://substack.com/

12/12/2025

This week, I took a closer look at a powerful idea:

👉 If you're using your phone to multitask during the newscast, you may be only about 60% of the anchor you think you are. Literally.

I shared the story of an anchor who believed her ratings went up when she put her phone down. Then I dug in on one journalist's deep-dive on the related research.

If you haven’t read the full blog yet, here’s the link:
Better Off Stoned: Social Media and the Anchor Brain
https://open.substack.com/pub/tvheadcoach/p/better-off-stoned-social-media-and?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Here's hoping the holiday season is gifting you with all good things -- and a little extra breathing room!

Research has shown that our ability to sustain attention has been declining for decades.

12/09/2025

Could checking your phone be making you dumber on-air? Literally?

A few years ago, an anchor I coached told me her ratings improved after she made one simple change: She stopped posting to social media during the newscast.

I wasn’t convinced… until I dug into the research on multitasking, focus, and memory.

What I found was eye-opening — and it may change how you think about connecting to social or any other distracting activity while you work on-air.

If you're truly committed to being and doing your best on-air, there's information here you can't afford to ignore. 👇
Better Off Stoned: Social Media and the Anchor Brain
https://open.substack.com/pub/tvheadcoach/p/better-off-stoned-social-media-and?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Research has shown that our ability to sustain attention has been declining for decades.

12/09/2025

We’re now on Substack — get our insights delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe today:

Founder and Head Coach of Barry Nash & Company, a firm specializing in coaching journalists and other professionals to communicate authentically and powerfully on camera.

11/21/2025

In case you missed it:

This week we explored how CNN’s David Culver achieves conversational authenticity with viewers on TV and social. From dynamic eye contact to physical freedom to working in tight partnership with producer Evelio Contreras, it works because it pulls the viewer into the story instead of leaving them on the outside looking in.

Catch up on the full breakdown and video examples here:

The Art and Practice of Authenticity

11/19/2025

What makes someone truly authentic on camera?

This week’s blog looks at CNN’s David Culver and why his reporting feels like a real conversation — not a performance. His partnership with his producer/photographer Evelio Contreras is a master class in creating an experience that draws the viewer in.

It’s a powerful reminder: people don’t just want to watch a story… they want to experience it.

Check out the full post and video examples here:

The Art and Practice of Authenticity

10/24/2025

Friday Recap: Reporter Empathy: When Kindness Counts

As we wrap up the week, we’re still thinking about what the Pew Foundation’s research revealed — and what most headlines about the project overlooked.

Yes, honesty, authenticity, and intelligence matter in journalism. But 66% of people also said kindness matters.

In this week’s One Great Thing blog post, I explore why empathy isn’t a soft skill — it’s a trust skill. Viewers notice when journalists care not just about what’s happening, but about the people it’s happening to.

If you missed it earlier this week, you can enjoy a couple of great examples and review The Empathy Factor post at the link below. It’s a reminder that showing you care is one of the most powerful and important tools in the reporting toolbox.

Read it here: https://barrynashandcompany.com/one-great-thing-the-empathy-factor/

Empathy may be considered toxic in some political circles, but when it comes to delivering the news it's the coin of the realm -- especially when viewers are in a state of anxiety and crisis. In research, when we ask people to describe an anchor they would trust and love watching, they almost invari...

10/22/2025

Reporter Empathy: When Kindness Counts

When the Pew Foundation released its study on what people value in journalists, headlines focused on honesty, authenticity, and intelligence. But 66% of people also said kindness mattered.

I dive into why viewers value talent who care — and highlight powerful examples from CNN’s Isabel Rosales and Clarissa Ward.

🎥 Watch my short video and read the full post here: https://barrynashandcompany.com/one-great-thing-the-empathy-factor/

10/11/2025

This week's blog focused on anchor authenticity and featured a clip that's a timeless reminder that true authenticity on air isn’t a "style." It's a function of substance, curiosity, leadership, and teamwork.

The clip -- The Queen of Anchor Authenticity -- features legendary Atlanta news anchor Monica Kaufman Pearson. You can see it and review my detailed assessment here.
👉 https://barrynashandcompany.com/the-queen-of-anchor-authenticity/

Discover how legendary anchor Monica Kaufman Pearson embodies anchor authenticity through expressive delivery, emotional leadership, and teamwork. Learn practical takeaways for on-air talent to elevate credibility and connection.

10/08/2025

What makes an anchor truly authentic?

A couple of decades ago, I added a clip of Monica Kaufman Pearson to my teaching library. I still use it today — because it’s timeless proof that authenticity isn’t a style you can perform. It's a function of preparation, curiosity and teamwork.

In my latest blog -- The Queen of Anchor Authenticity — I feature the clip and explain what every anchor working today can learn from studying it.

👉 Read it here: https://barrynashandcompany.com/the-queen-of-anchor-authenticity/

09/19/2025

What we learned this week: Decoding Authenticity

Authenticity isn’t about achieving some kind of performance perfection. It's about doing the hard work of making real connection.

Full blog
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