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4 Tips to Get on Top TV Talk Shows
Copyright (c) 2002 - 2010 by Susan Harrow. All rights reserved.
I'd like to share with you an excellent example of how
timing and persistence can influence your career.
This is a story of how my client, an ex-Jesuit priest, John
Bollard, landed a story on the CBS program 60 Minutes. It
was called *Above the Law?*
For seven years Bollard studied in the seminary to fulfill
his dream of becoming a man of the cloth. During this time
he was often sexually harassed by a number of his superiors
within the hallowed halls of priesthood. After his sexual
harassment suit against the Catholic Church was lost, he
brought the sordid details of his experiences from behind
Jesuit walls to the public eye. His mission became clear --
to help prevent men and women from suffering a similar
ordeal.
Since it's one of the first cases of it's kind, and sexual
harassment against men is a new angle for the topic, CBS' 60
Minutes decided to run the story. How did Bollard get chosen
to be on this prestigious program that has a viewership of
20 million people a week?
He did his homework.
First he decided he didn't want to be on any of the TV news
magazine programs that would take a sensational angle. He
wanted to be represented in a dignified and fair manner.
Next he wrote letters to the 60 Minutes program producer
outlining his experiences in the Jesuit community, backing
his claims with concrete examples, witnesses and
photographic evidence. And he cited the subsequent lawsuit
whereby the Catholic Church claimed to be above the law in
accordance with Title 7.
He followed up with phone calls and letters for months with
detailed examples of his compelling case. Once 60 Minutes
agreed to cover his story he contacted me for media
coaching. We worked intensely to prepare him for the
grueling questioning we expected from Mike Wallace.
Then he set up a special phone number for reporters to call
him after the show aired. And one last thing: he told Morley
Safer (who ended up replacing Wallace at the last minute)
that his life plans and boyhood dream were ruined by his
experiences, but he was now dedicated to creating a new
model of Christian ministry. How is that for a memorable and
moving conclusion?
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When you have a news breaking story you want attention
for, your letter should line up your facts clearly and
strongly.
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Make a compelling personal case by charging your story
with emotional elements that move your audience.
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Persist with phone calls explaining why your idea is
timely and relevant to the show's audience.
-
Prepare for a fast-paced, confrontational interview with
a media coach. And make sure what you plan to convey will
help people.
Don't miss your chance to appear on the top TV talk shows.
Learn the secrets of the pros. In this special report
discover what it takes to make the cut when you get that
coveted call from the producer. Go to:
http://www.prsecretstore.com
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Susan Harrow, CEO of
http://prsecrets.com, is
a top media coach, marketing strategist and author of
Sell Yourself Without Selling Your Soul® (HarperCollins),
The
Ultimate Guide to Getting Booked on Oprah, and
Get a 6-
Figure Book Advance. Clients include Fortune 500 CEOs, bestselling authors and entrepreneurs who have appeared on
Oprah, 60 Minutes, NPR, and in TIME, USA Today, Parade,
People, O, NY Times, WSJ, and Inc. |
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