Table Of ContentVIRTUAL PRESENTING
Responding to the widespread and continued acceleration of virtual working
practices in recent years, Virtual Presenting provides a clear guide to producing,
presenting, and broadcasting in a remote context.
Unlike traditional studio production where a presenter is surrounded by a crew
and cameras, the virtual presenter is often isolated or connected to a remote crew.
Virtual Presenting explains how to make an authentic connection across great
spaces, linked only via the Internet. Topics covered include how to build a virtual
setup; how to appear on camera; how to appear confident and comfortable; and
how to optimize your presentation voice. The authors demonstrate how to tell
effective stories across the entire new media landscape of webcasting, webinars,
livestreams, and virtual events. Finally, success stories and case studies from
teachers, students, and professionals are interwoven to show how these guidelines
translate into best practices.
Virtual Presenting will be a valuable resource for students of media production
and remote broadcasting as well as professionals looking to become stronger
communicators and visual presenters.
James (Jamie) Cohen is an Assistant Professor at CUNY Queens College
teaching Media Studies. He is a digital culture expert and educator, as well as a
writer, speaker, and producer. Jamie holds a PhD in Cultural and Media Studies
specializing in Internet literacies and media making.
Michael (Mike) Sorrentino is a Producer and Entrepreneur. He founded
Sorrentino Media in 2016 and has grown it into an industry leader in remote video
production. His early career began in producing news and he has taken many of
those methods and technologies into live-streaming content for global brands.
VIRTUAL
PRESENTING
A Guide to Formats, Production,
and Authentic Delivery
James Cohen and Michael Sorrentino
Designed cover: bounward / DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images
First published 2023
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 James Cohen and Michael Sorrentino
The right of James Cohen and Michael Sorrentino to be identified as
authors of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78
of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
ISBN: 978-1-032-27185-9 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-25777-8 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-29171-8 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003291718
Typeset in Bembo
by MPS Limited, Dehradun
Jamie—
To my wife Nickie, my constant and forever adventure partner, and my
beautiful daughter Vera.
Michael—
To my wife and rock, Annie, and to our daughter Rose. Rose, I can’t
wait to see what amazing things you do in life.
CONTENTS
List of Figures viii
Preface ix
Acknowledgments x
1 Introduction 1
2 Presentation Basics 13
3 What Is Authentic Delivery? 44
4 Multi-Platform Preparation and Pre-Production 81
5 Virtual Events, Webinars, Livestreams, and Calls 111
6 Voices from the Field 183
7 Conclusion 202
Glossary 210
References 213
Index 216
FIGURES
1.1 Annie Scranton sits with her laptop ready to do a virtual
presentation 8
2.1 The floors of presentation success 14
2.2 Jesse VandenBergh demonstrates Correct Posture 22
2.3 Correct posture. Notice the shoulders and space between the
seat and back 22
2.4 Jamie using his small office space with a wide angle camera 28
3.1 Undersea cable map (2015)—http://www.cablemap.info (cable
data by Greg Mahlknecht released under GPLv3) 53
4.1 Sorrentino media remote production kit 100
4.2 Sorrentino remote production kit 101
4.3 Correct setup for indoor presentation—courtesy Omar Lopez 107
4.4 Example of an incorrect setup for indoor presentation—courtesy
Omar Lopez 107
4.5 Example of correct setup with a cellphone—courtesy Omar
Lopez 108
4.6 Example of an incorrect setup with a cellphone—courtesy Omar
Lopez 109
4.7 Example of correct setup with a laptop—courtesy Omar Lopez 109
4.8 Example of an incorrect setup with a laptop—courtesy Omar
Lopez 109
5.1 Jamie’s set-up for a 6-hour, 3-keynote, 24-guest virtual event 138
7.1 Wrap around high-resolution video walls as seen at the National
Association of Broadcasters Convention 2022 207
PREFACE
The Story
Once upon a time, we advanced to a point in history where we could produce
video content, but not all be in the same place. We’ve had this ability for some
time, but it, unfortunately, took a global pandemic to make it necessary. However,
we had no preparation and we, well, sort of winged it.
But Media Production is a skill. It has rules, it has grammar, it has conventions,
it has a long history.
In the world of remote media production, we still apply those concepts. How
do we do it properly? How do we enhance our skills? How do we be better on
camera and how to we help those who are on camera present as well as possible?
What is the tech involved? What else can we use?
In this book, we’ll take you in order through the steps to become better at
virtual presenting - from you to the cameras that capture us.
First, we’ll go over the basics of presentation, next we’ll discover the nuance
embedded in the way we appear on camera and how we can help those on camera
learn those techniques (we’ll also be incorporating the tech), next we’ll introduce
all the ways in which we engage with each other on all the different platforms and
media distribution, both accessible (Zoom, Teams, etc.) and advanced (remote
production kits). Finally, we get to put it all together in the form of productions,
virtual events, livestreams, webinars, calls, and major productions.
It’s also important we hear how you did it. We have a chapter that collects real
case studies of remote production. There’s a lot to learn from those with
experience.
Soon, you too will be an expert.
