The Tip Sheet

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issue of : March 2003

In this Issue

 

prose from the pros

AN INTERVIEW WITH DANA ROGERS/KDFW-TV in Dallas

A conversation with Dana Rogers, the segment producer of "Good Day" at KDFW-TV, the FOX affiliate in Dallas.

  • What topics does your show focus on?
    They're interested in everything from health, interior decorating, finance, celebrities, to news. Seasonal and/or timely topics work too.
  • How do you like to be contacted?
    If you are pitching an author, send the book first and then follow up by email or phone. If not, email first then phone. The best time to reach me is 10:00AM-3:00PM central time. My email is drogers@foxinc.com and phone number is 214-720-3364.
  • What's your lead time?
    3 weeks would be best.
  • Do you take satellite interviews?
    Rarely, unless it's a big name celebrity, otherwise, we prefer in-studio guests.
  • What are your pet peeves?
    When several publicists call regarding the same guest. Also, please don't call to find out if something ran and ask for a tape.
  • What would be your best advice to publicists?
    Visualize the segment first and pitch that idea.

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Surfin'

Heeeere's Johnny! For some late night fun, visit the fabulous "Official Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Website" @ http://www.johnnycarson.com and you'll remember why he was called "the King of Late Night." View clips from Carnac and other hilarious, classic segments, learn the history of the show and its "players", and sign up for the monthly newsletter, "The Carson Chronicles."

An incredible resource site, www.ipl.org, The Internet Public Library site, will lead you to the source you need whether you're looking for a quotation, a calendar or the latest psychology magazine. Especially important in today's times is their reading room for newspapers. This section of the site links you to hundreds of newspapers from all over the world. Find out first-hand how the world views US foreign policy. The direct link is www.ipl.org/reading/news. The only problem is that for some of the papers, you may need a translator.

From the jingles and promos they played in the 70s to "The WABC Top 100 Songs of the Year" lists from 1964 to 1982 (as published by Musicradio WABC), to the recordings and bloopers -- www.musicradio77.com rocks. You can discover everything including why ''The Greatest Top Forty Music Radio Station of All Time'' converted to a TalkRadio format in 1982 and why it seemed that you could hear them "everywhere."

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Tips From the Top

An excerpt from GUERRILLA PUBLICITY: Hundreds of Sure-fire Tactics to Get Maximum Sales for Minimum Dollars by Rick Frishman, Jill Lublin and Jay Conrad Levinson

Sound Bites
These days, no one has the time to listen to the full story. People want a ... capsule of information delivered in a few seconds that is easy to swallow and switches on their mental light bulb. So if you get and opening, you better make it good! "If you can't express what you want and why it's newsworthy in ten seconds, you're off the phone," advised a news director for a major NBC affiliate. Your sound bite must be a "grabber," a memorable message that makes listeners want to buy your products, champion your cause, and fight your wars. If it's short and gets their attention, it buys you more time to sell them. Your sound bite must:

  • Be 30 seconds in length for print, 10-20 seconds for radio and television
  • Explain who you are, what you represent and why you make a difference
  • Be customized for special occasions
  • Seem to be spontaneous and natural, full of excitement not rehearsed

How to Write Your Sound Bite

  • Determine what types of information are currently intriguing the media
  • Think of ways to incorporate the current media interests into your sound bite
  • Write whatever comes to mind without worrying about length
  • Circle every descriptive word you've written and then put these words on a separate sheet of paper in order of importance.
  • Review each word and ask whether they are the most descriptive words available. If not, change them.
  • Draft a sound bite consisting of one or two sentences - using the most important words on your list.
  • Read your sound bite aloud. Change whatever sounds awkward.
  • Practice, practice, practice.

Think of the sound bite as money, because every time you use it, someone considers paying you.

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Look What's Coming Up

Some annual dates that just might relate to a Morning Drive or Satellite TV Tour topic:

May 2003

Get Caught Reading Month
National Barbecue Month
National Mental Health Month
2nd National Day of Prayer
May 6th -No Diet Day
May 6-12th -National Pet Week
May 7th -National Teacher Day
May 11th -Mother's Day
May 12th - 17th -National Etiquette Week
May 24th -Brother's Day
May 26th -Memorial Day

June 2003

National Dairy Month
National Safety Month
June 1st-7th -National Headache Awareness Week
June 9th-15th -Meet a Mate Week
June 14th-Flag Day
June 15th -Father's Day
June 21st -Baby Boomers Recognition Day
June 21st -First day of Summer

July 2003

Cell Phone Courtesy Month
National Culinary Arts Month
July 4th -Independence Day
July 15th -National Get Out of The Doghouse Day
July 21st -National Ice Cream Day
July 24th-30th -National Salad Week

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What Have You Done For Me Lately?

Here's a sampling of our latest bookings:

FORTUNE MAGAZINE

It Happens (Life Path) by Julie Smith

FOX-TV, "FOX AND FRIENDS"

Dr. Fischer's Little Book of "BIG" Medical Emergencies (Barricade) by Dr. Stuart Fischer

LARRY KING LIVE
THE CAROLIN RHEA SHOW

"Talk IBS" Campaign with Lynda Carter (RuderFinn/Novartis)

WNBC-TV, "TODAY IN NY"
CNNFN, "YOUR MONEY"
BLOOMBERG TV "SMALL BUSINESS"
NEW YORK 1 NEWS

Lower Your Taxes - Big Time (McGraw Hill) by Sandy Botkin

AMERICAN BABY MAGAZINE
FIRST FOR WOMEN
FINANCE NOW MAGAZINE

Financial Peace Revisited (Viking) by Dave Ramsey

MAXIM
HEALTH MAGAZINE

How to Be Your Own Therapist (McGraw Hill) By Patricia Farrell, Ph.D.

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