Do you care how 'dietitian' is spelled?

Published over 3 years ago • 3 min read

Hi Reader!

Food comas, festive recipes, food safety and (sadly) indulgent holiday calories are topics that are on fire in headlines this time of year. But not all of these stories are worth celebrating!

I love when I’m called upon to do holiday media stories because I try to bring some sense into those senseless “good food/bad food” pieces. This is a time when we should be feeling thankful for whatever we have, and celebrate even the smallest wins without focusing on restrictions or negativity.

It's also the perfect time to let you know that I am truly thankful for you year through! 🙏🏻 I so appreciate your comments when you reply to these emails and for being a part of this BTD Media Maker community!

Wishing you a warm, delicious holiday --

My best to you and as always,

Bon

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Bonnie's Sound Bites

How To Dress For A Head Shot vs A Body Shot

Me to TV Producer: Will this interview be filmed as a headshot or full body shot?
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TV Producer: This will be a headshot.
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Me to myself: (Dress for a full body shot!)
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When you go into a TV studio to do an interview, you are never in charge of HOW they film you. You are only in charge of WHAT you say. (And that’s where my media training can prepare you!)
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So to be camera-ready for any shot, be sure to be fully dressed from head to toe. Save your slippers for zoom calls from home — but for in-studio appearances, assume your shoes will show! 👠

And don't be disappointed if you wear your favorite heels and then they decide to shoot you only from your shoulders up! I've been there! I once did a segment for Cinco De Mayo for a brand I was working with and I schlepped a giant festive basket filled with gorgeous avocados to the set only to find that they only did one of those talking head shots on the air.

Although I was so disappointed, everyone in the newsroom was thrilled because i gave them all the avocados before I left!

To dress for success -- come fulled dressed (including makeup) for any TV or video spot (no matter what the producer tells you!) Media is a very last minute business so...you have to be ready for quick modifications.

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Hey -- want to see how I typically answer questions that reporters ask me? Check out my Media Monday posts @BTDmedia on Instagram. 📰

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You Asked, I Answered:

Question:

Does it bother you when dietitian is spelled with a C instead of a T?

Answer:

To be honest, I don't really care. But...

Dietitians usually get pretty upset when people spell our profession with a C, so I generally will correct a reporter or producer that spells our title 'incorrectly'. In the case above, however, I was just thrilled to be on a TV show and I never even thought to ask about how they were going to mention my title. I learned from this experience, I ALWAYS tell the station how I like to be cited and that never happened again.

Back in the day, and even now, I’m just happy that the word “dietitian” is being mentioned and referred to by media as the nutrition expert.​​​​​​​​ When I was a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics for six years, in every media interview I had to mention that I was a "registered dietitian" because no one even knew who we were or what we did!!
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And as long as we’re being confessional here… I will tell you that I never even liked the word dietitian. That word diet always had a negative connotation so as a title, I prefer nutrition consultant or nutritionist. The problem is that anybody could call themselves a nutritionist… but only people who have gone through years of education, rigorous training, and exam taking can obtain the RD (registered dietitian) credentials.​​​​​​​​
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What’s your take? If you had to pick a title for this profession, what do you think it should be? Dietitian? Nutritionist? Nutrition Influencer? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Don't miss out on your free copies of the Better Than Dieting News Digest HERE to see the exact topics journalists are looking for.

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Media & Marketing News You Can Use:

​Keep Up With The Social Media Trends For 2023​

​Latest For Twitter: Dividing Your Posts Into Threads​

​Is Your Marketing Approach Mindful?​

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Ever wonder what it really takes to see your name in a byline or your expertise featured in the media? It’s not luck. It’s strategy. I’m a registered dietitian nutritionist, award-winning author of Read It Before You Eat It – Taking You from Label to Table, founder of BetterThanDieting.com, and a media expert with thousands of appearances across TV, radio, podcasts, print, and digital platforms. While many know me for my nutrition expertise, my true passion is helping professionals communicate what they know clearly and confidently. After more than 30 years working with editors, producers, brands, and audiences, I’ve learned what makes messages land — and what gets ignored. Join my newsletter for practical media insight, behind-the-scenes lessons, and the kind of real-world guidance I wish someone had shared with me earlier. Whether you want to be on camera or behind the scenes, I’ll help you build credibility, confidence, and opportunities that last. Let’s get started.