When you think TV, don't just think Oprah, Rosie and the nightly news with Peter Jennings. Think about the many local news shows that need compelling guests. Those include the early-morning feature shows, mid-morning talk shows, noon and nightly news shows, and weekend public affairs programs. Authors, speakers, consultants, successful small-business people and anyone who has an interesting story to tell are all likely prospects.
TV producers want good visuals to go with the story. That’s the most important thing you can offer a TV station. Without visuals, you stand a far less chance of making them interested in your story.
That means you must be well-groomed and dressed correctly. It also means that interesting props increase your ability to get booked on a show. Let’s say you've written a book about cosmetic surgery and you can offer the producer before-and-after photos of people who have had various procedures done and who have given their permission to appear on TV. The producer will be more interested than if you simply offered the cover of your book as a prop.
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What TV News Assignment Editors Want
- The local angle to a national story. If gasoline prices are skyrocketing, and your service station is undercutting the competition and seeing lines a mile long, let your local TV stations know.
- The local angle to network movies. Keep your eyes open for upcoming movies on topics that tie into your company or non-profit organization. If the network features a movie on domestic violence, for example, administrators at local women’s shelters are often interviewed for the lead story that same night on the local 10 or 11 o'clock news. Be sure you call a week or two in advance.
- Free advice. If there’s a hot story in the news and you can provide tips or free advice that will help viewers, offer yourself as an expert source.
- Great visuals for upcoming events. If your service club will be mixing huge vats of pancake batter for the community pancake breakfast this weekend, call the assignment editor. They love great visuals.
- People stories. On slow news days, TV news shows often feature profile stories of interesting people who have achieved a goal, overcome a handicap or simply made the community a better place to live. If you know of someone, suggest the idea to the assignment editor.
Visit Special Report #32: How to create valuable TV coverage for lots more tips.
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