Speak Up

Whatever your role, this easy-to-use guide will empower you to step up to the microphone, tell your story and make an impact.

Theresa Miller has spent decades working as a journalist and now media trainer, coaching people across all industries—from CEOs and academics to climate campaigners, entrepreneurs and artists—to communicate confidently, clearly and concisely. In Speak Up, she shows you how to successfully share your expertise and experience with an audience—whether it's creating an inspiring work presentation or media release, blitzing a job interview or nailing your message on a podcast, panel, TV or radio interview.

'Theresa Miller is very good at what she does: training people to speak in the media. Speak Up is not a substitute for her coaching, but it does provide a step-by-step guide to getting your message across. Miller manages to cover everything, from having an idea to tailoring it for the audience. And it's a quick, easy and informative read.' — Richard Aedy, podcaster and former Radio National presenter

'Theresa Miller sets out clearly and concisely how to deliver a speech and handle a media interview. I loved that she not only explained what to do in these situations, but also what not to do. The book is an outstanding guide to public speaking from an experienced practitioner.' — Tim Dunlop, speaker and author of Why The Future Is Workless

'Great speakers aren't born, they're made: here's a clear guide for anyone who wants to ditch the nerves and conquer public speaking.' — Catherine Fox AM, commentator, award-winning journalist and author of Breaking the Boss Bias: How to get more women into leadership

'Theresa Miller has been working at the media coalface for decades and knows better than most how to cut through the jungle of noise, nonsense, and hollow corporate spin. Speak Up is jam-packed with smart, simple, practical tools to empower even the most reluctant speaker. Far from complicated, great communication flows easily when you understand the core principles of storytelling, as laid out in this highly accessible book. Once read, it's a book you will frequently return to for a pep talk reminder!' — Virginia Haussegger AM, award-winning journalist, gender equity advocate and author of Unfinished Revolution: The feminist fightback

'I wish I'd found Speak Up at the beginning of my public speaking journey.' — Dr Terri Janke, Indigenous lawyer and author of True Tracks: Respecting Indigenous knowledge and culture

'Speak Up is refreshingly practical. Miller doesn't just tell you to "be confident"—she provides the actual structures, from the "point, reason, example, so what?" framework to crisis communication protocols tested in real-world situations. Her examples range from scientists explaining pandemic modelling to lawyers navigating media scrutiny, making the advice relevant across a range of areas... Speak Up gives the tools to share your message effectively.' — Kim McKay AO, Director and CEO of the Australian Museum

'As a journalist, I've interviewed hundreds of people who know their subject inside out but freeze the moment a microphone appears. Speak Up explains exactly why that happens—and, more importantly, how to fix it. Theresa Miller writes with the authority of someone who has lived on both sides of the media divide: as a reporter under deadline pressure and as a coach helping people survive those encounters with their credibility intact... What I value most about this book is its honesty. Theresa doesn't glamorise the media or oversimplify public speaking... For journalists, academics, leaders and anyone who believes facts still matter in public life, Speak Up is both a reality check and a generous guide.' — Sandra Sully AM, senior journalist and presenter for 10 News First, Sydney and Queensland