John and Bobbi Robinson of Vanderbilt, PA write: “Unity, a Journey of Hope, is our nonprofit that grants wishes to adults with a life-limiting illness. “We take them to concerts and sporting events, introduce them to people they want to meet, send them on vacation with a friend or family member, or send them on… Read More
TV & Radio
NPR host says pitch your idea to one show at a time
National Public Radio, with its hundreds of shows, offers opportunities galore for people to pitch a story about their product, service, cause or issue. But here’s an important caveat: Don’t pitch to more than one show at the same time. That was one of several tips from (Ms.) Alex Cohen, a reporter and local host for… Read More
Author needs a good ‘hook’ so she can repitch Oprah
Jennifer Louden of Bainbridge Island, Wa. writes: “I’m a best-selling author and my last book, The Life Organizer: A Woman’s Guide to a Mindful Year, got a call back from an Oprah producer in March 2007. They called us saying, ‘We love the book but don’t know how to use it. We will be in touch.’ “Nothing since,… Read More
Which of these author TV-interviews-from-hell is the worst?
I love showing you clips of TV interviews that are perfect examples of how NOT to act on camera. This week, you get not one, but two videos. Each can best be described as, uh, a “teaching moment.” Both authors start stumbling, right out of the gate. In the first video, author Uri Man’s comments… Read More
Writers, pitch your idea to TV producers, agents on Tuesday
If you dream of writing for TV—comedy, drama, reality, or alternative—but you’re not sure you’ve got what it takes, you can pitch your idea to a literary agent and TV producers next week and hear their feedback on your pitch. And it’s all free. Chad Gervich, author of the book Small Screen, Big Picture: A Writer’s Guide to… Read More
Want your own radio show? Discover how on Thursday
If you write books, or you want to write one, don’t even think about catching the attention of a major publisher unless you have what’s called platform. The bigger your platform, the greater your influence and following. It’s that simple. You can build your platform dozens of ways online and offline. One way is by having your own… Read More
Happy Birthday, Oprah! Here’s how we’re celebrating
Oprah, make your 53rd birthday your best ever today! To celebrate, many of my Publicity Hounds will be devoting 90 minutes to learning what they must do to land a spot on your show as a guest WITHOUT pestering your producers. They’ll be participating in a call that Steve Harrison is hosting with Michelle Anton, your former guest booker.… Read More
My #1 tip for getting onto ‘Oprah’ & other big TV shows
At least 7 out of 10 Publicity Hounds who beg me to help them get booked on “Oprah” or other big TV shows have no business being there. Either their topic isn’t a good fit for the show, or they can’t articulate a convincing pitch in 15 seconds or less. Yet they continue to flood… Read More
NPR canceling ‘Day to Day,’ ‘News & Notes’
National Public Radio is canceling “Day to Day,” and “News & Notes” March 29 and laying off 7 percent of its staff, after experiencing sharp declines in funding, especially from corporate sponsors. Twenty-two journalists will lose their jobs, including hosts Madeleine Brand and Farai Chideya. The shows are both based in Culver City, Calif., at NPR West, a… Read More
When TV/radio talk show guests cancel, hosts need fill-ins
If you’re angling for some free publicity this holiday season on radio or TV talk shows, here’s a tip that I included under the headline “…And Build the Relationship” in Tuesday’s issue of my ezine, “The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week.” It generated reponse from several readers. Contact radio and TV talk show hosts and… Read More