Morning Shows
If you want to appear on a morning show you have to be able to pitch your story in a way that will make the reporter want to have you on their show. You cannot just ask to be on the show and then expect to be accepted because you asked. What you do is key to their decision of whether or not to bring you on their show.
They are too busy to find out about you and find out about your qualifications. They are too busy to sit and listen to you tell them your story and tell them why it should be published. They are just too busy. All they can do is read your pitch, decided whether not they like it and then take the steps to get you on their show if they do like it.
If you are going to get on you have to view them as bait and you as a fish. Bait has nothing to do with what the fish does. It just floats around doing its stuff and being bait. It is your job as a fish to seek the bait out and use it.
No you are not going to be "eating" this reporter or talk show host. The point is that they are going to sit in one place doing their business, and it is your job to seek them out and do what is necessary so that you will be heard.
Before you pitch your story or do your follow-up call you want to be sure that you will be doing it in the right style. You have to know about the show you are trying to get on and now what they like and do not like. If they talk to you and they do not feel that you know anything about their show then they will not want you to be on their show. So get to know them by watching their shows, reading reviews about them and such.
After this, the first step is to deliver a very interesting story pitch. Your pitch needs to be short and to the point. Reporters will not take time to read fluff because they do not have time to read fluff. If you provide them with something interesting that they can learn about quickly, they will be a lot more interested in you.
If you have a great pitch then the reporter will be more willing to listen to you when you make your follow-up call. If you do not follow-up then they will forget about you. It is not their job to chase you; they are the "bait." It is your job to chase them because you are the fish.
When you do your follow up call you want to have the same feeling that you had in your pitch. You do not want to pack it with fluff. You want it to be packed with concrete information that they will listen to, be interested in and decide to publish on their show.
Even if they do not pick up the phone, you have to leave a message that is straightforward. Something that will interest them so much that they will want to call you back. You have to catch their attention since they will not search for something interesting; it has to be presented straight to them.
As a part of all this, you need to make sure that the morning show you are trying to get on is the type that goes well with your story. For instance, if you have a story that should appear on America's Funniest Home Videos you will not want to try and get it onto a serious talk show. You have to consider the show, consider the audience, and present your story before the best person.
For information on getting onto morning talk shows you can also view these web pages:
http://101publicrelations.com/morningtv.html?s=prideas&c=morning_tv_talkshows
http://www.publicrelationsideas.com/never_pitch_without_knowing_the_media_000020.html
http://www.publicrelationsideas.com/nailing_the_talk_show_preinterview_key_to_getting_000021.html
http://www.publicrelationsideas.com/pitching_morning_shows_how_to_handle_the_brushoff_000008.html
