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About Jess Todtfeld

The trainer Fortune 500 companies call when it really matters.

Jess Todtfeld spent 13 years as a television producer at ABC, NBC and FOX, booking guests, running segments, and watching thousands of executives succeed and fail in front of a camera. Then he turned that insider knowledge into a training practice for leaders across finance, healthcare, government and other industries.

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Jess Todtfeld seated on a stool between two studio lights, smiling at the camera
Jess Todtfeld13 years producing at ABC, NBC and FOX
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Jess Todtfeld is the founder of Success in Media, an executive media trainer and presentation coach in New York City. He spent 13 years as a television producer at ABC, NBC and FOX, is a Guinness World Record holder, and is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), held by fewer than 1% of speakers worldwide. He wrote the bestseller Media Secrets.

Updated

From the producer's chair to the training room and the stage

Nine scenes from Jess's career: the network years, the record, the training room, the book and the stage. Pick a scene, drag the playhead, or use the arrow keys.

  1. Producer13 years at ABC, NBC and FOXTelevision producer and booker. The person deciding which guests made air, which messages landed, and which executives came across as credible under pressure.
  2. Jess Todtfeld pointing at the framed Guinness World Records certificate
    The recordGuinness World Record, June 2009112 interviews completed, 96 officially certified, in a single day.
  3. Jess, in silhouette, filming a client against a white studio backdrop
    TrainerOn camera, with instant playbackParticipants answer real interview questions on camera, watch the recording immediately, get specific coaching, and repeat.
  4. Jess in profile at a camera rig with a shotgun microphone and an equipment rack behind him
    TrainerEvery session led by JessNo associate trainers and no junior coaches. You work directly with Jess.
  5. Jess teaching at a blue studio backdrop while participants with notebooks watch
    TrainerIn the training roomMistakes happen in the training room, not in public, and improvement is visible within the first few rounds.
  6. Cover of Media Secrets: A Media Training Crash Course by Jess Todtfeld
    AuthorMedia SecretsA Media Training Crash Course, the international bestseller. One of multiple books on media and communication.
  7. Jess speaking to a room with a projected slide behind him
    SpeakerCertified Speaking ProfessionalThe CSP designation is held by fewer than 1% of speakers worldwide.
  8. Jess on a ballroom stage in front of blue curtains, audience tables in the foreground
    SpeakerLive, in the roomPrograms are delivered live and virtually across 12+ core industries.
  9. Jess at a lectern with several press microphones and flags behind him
    SpeakerAt the press lecternPreparing spokespeople for press interviews, on-camera appearances, and high-pressure public communication.

Why executives trust Jess, and not just any media coach

Media training is a structured coaching program that teaches executives and spokespeople how to communicate effectively during press interviews, on-camera appearances, and high-pressure public communication situations.

Most media trainers were never in the room where it happens. Jess was. For 13 years, he worked as a television producer and booker at ABC, NBC and FOX, the person deciding which guests made air, which messages landed, and which executives came across as credible under pressure.

That background shapes everything about how Jess trains. He doesn't teach theory. He teaches what actually works in front of a camera, a reporter, or a room full of skeptical stakeholders, because he's spent years on the other side of the lens deciding who gets the benefit of the doubt.

The goal isn't to make you sound polished. It's to make you sound like yourself, at your best, under pressure.

In June 2009, Jess helped set a Guinness World Record for most media interviews given in 24 hours. The result, in a single day: 112 interviews completed, 96 officially certified by Guinness. It wasn't a stunt. It was a demonstration. Jess had mastered the art of delivering a sharp, credible message in any format, any context, with any interviewer, repeatedly, without losing clarity or composure. Read the full story behind the record.

That same discipline is what he builds into every executive he trains. Whether it's a Fortune 500 CEO preparing for a 60 Minutes segment, a nonprofit director facing a hostile local reporter, or a financial advisor learning to close on camera. The methodology is the same: clear message, confident delivery, no surprises.

Jess holds the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation, held by fewer than 1% of speakers worldwide. He is the author of multiple books on media and communication, including the international bestseller Media Secrets: A Media Training Crash Course.

Jess has appeared on and been featured in

Television

  • ABC
  • NBC
  • FOX

Featured expert

  • Fast Company
  • Investor's Business Daily
  • The New York Times

Work with Jess

HSP: High Stakes Presenter Methodology

How Jess trains, and why it works

Every program Jess delivers is built around one belief: communication under pressure is a skill, not a talent. It can be learned, practiced, and owned by anyone willing to work at it.

The approach is practical from minute one. No lengthy theory sessions. No generic frameworks that could apply to any industry. Every tool is tested against real scenarios your executives will actually face.

  1. Diagnose first

    Every engagement starts with understanding your specific situation: the interview, the audience, the risk, the message. Nothing is generic.

  2. Build the message architecture

    Jess's proprietary Sound Bite System gives executives a repeatable framework for structuring any answer under any conditions.

  3. Drill under pressure

    Real practice with hostile questions, off-topic pivots, and camera situations that mirror what your executives will actually face.

  4. Walk away ready

    Every participant leaves with specific, personalized talking points and a set of tools they can use immediately, not someday.

Media training with Jess Todtfeld: what do people ask most?

What is media training?

Media training is structured preparation for media interviews. It combines message development, on-camera practice, and playback-based coaching so spokespeople deliver clear, quotable answers under pressure. Our programs are led by Jess Todtfeld, a former ABC, NBC and FOX producer who knows exactly what journalists are looking for and how to handle them.

Who is media training for?

Media training is for any professional who communicates on behalf of their organization in high-stakes situations. That includes C-suite executives, board members, spokespeople, investor relations teams, government officials, attorneys, physicians, nonprofit leaders, and anyone who might face a press interview, on-camera appearance, Congressional hearing, or crisis situation. Jess has trained leaders across 12+ industries including finance, healthcare, technology, pharma, government, and nonprofit.

Will I work directly with Jess or with an associate trainer?

You work directly with Jess. Every session, whether it's a one-on-one executive coaching session or a team workshop, is personally led by Jess Todtfeld. There are no associate trainers, no junior coaches, and no bait-and-switch. When you hire Success in Media, you get the person whose name is on the door.

Is the training on camera?

Yes. On-camera practice with instant playback is the core of every program. Participants answer real interview questions on camera, watch the recording immediately, get specific coaching, and repeat the exercise. Mistakes happen in the training room, not in public, and improvement is visible within the first few rounds.

What organizations has Jess worked with?

Jess has trained executives and teams at organizations including Google, JPMorgan, American Express, the United Nations, LinkedIn, AARP, Land Rover, IBM, Edelman PR, and leaders across Fortune 500 companies. His client base spans 12+ industries including finance, healthcare, technology, pharma, government, defense, energy, nonprofit, sports, and entertainment.

How much does media training cost?

Media training typically ranges from $1,000 to $15,000 per engagement depending on group size and scope. A focused session for one spokesperson sits at the lower end, while multi-day team workshops with recorded practice sit higher. See our media training questions page for a full breakdown of what drives pricing.

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