Industry Vets Establish Media Maverick

Vernell Hackett

Media Maverick LLC, a media training company, has established offices in Nashville. The company trains entertainers, CEO’s, business executives, government officials and other people who must interact with the media.

The three partners in Media Maverick have more than 50 combined years of experience in print, social media, radio and television, and video production. Broadcast executive Clark Taylor partners with music journalist Vernell Hackett and photographer/videographer John Lee Montgomery III to offer a broad range of expertise for those who wish to expand their interview skills.

Taylor has been involved in broadcast journalism since his early days as a deejay. He was the developer of radio and television news for the Department of the Army and the Pentagon, Soldiers Radio and Television (SRTV), in Washington, D.C. As part of his duties, he trained men and women to testify in front of Congress, talk to the national media and speak before various government committees.

“We have a combined experience that is needed to develop the skills to provide our clients with the confidence they need to talk to the media,” says Taylor. “I am excited about making Nashville the home base for this company.”

John Lee Montgomery III

Hackett covers Nashville’s music industry as an editor and freelance journalist. Montgomery photographs numerous major entertainment and political figures as well as works on various film crews for commercials, music videos and interview shows.

“I can recall many interviews where the person I was speaking with answered in very short, non-descriptive sentences which left me with very little to work with as I was writing my story,” Hackett says. “I look forward to working with people who want to broaden their skills during an interview situation in order to convey their message to the journalist they are interviewing with in order to give them everything they need so they can write their story or edit their radio or television show.”

Montgomery brings extensive work as a videographer and still photographer to Media Maverick LLC. He worked in Nashville’s music industry throughout the 1990’s, then went on travel and work with video production teams that captured numerous political events as well as various advertising campaigns. He has also worked on artist videos and television shows.

“Media Maverick training offers a personalized, adaptive and interactive session with highly diverse and experienced radio, print and TV professionals teaching individuals to more effectively handle themselves when conducting press conferences or business meetings,” Montgomery says. “I personally look forward to helping people understand what goes on behind the camera so as to be better prepared them to be in front of the camera.”

Media Maverick provides personalized media training, with every one-on-one training session customized to meet the needs of the individual. The team of professionals can work in the client’s office or they can provide a training area in which to meet. Instructors teach individuals to more effectively handle themselves in front of journalists, TV and radio personalities and when conducting press conferences or business meetings.

Members of the Media Maverick team will continue in their individual roles of journalist and photographer outside of their duties with the newly formed company.

Media Mavericks LLC has branches in Washington, D.C. and New York City, and plans to open one in Los Angeles in the near future.