Writer's Digest: Getting Media Attention

Paula Rizzo's presentation from the Writer's Digest Conference 2024 titled "How to Get and Keep Media Attention for Your Book & Brand" For more go to paularizzo.com/10qwd

1. How To Get &
Keep Media Attention
WITH
FOR YOUR BOOK & BRAND
PAULA RIZZO
@LISTPRODUCER
Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

2. What the Media Wants from Authors
Best Ways to Engage with the Media
Keep Getting Asked Back
Q&A
What We’ll Cover
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3. Who Are You?
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4. What the Media
Wants from Authors
01
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5. Hundreds of pitches a day
Pitch review has a small window
Don’t need you til they need you
Evergreen stories are killed for breaking news
THE REALITY OF THE NEWSROOM
Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

6. Blogs
YouTube
Social media
Other media - Media Begets Media!
Their contacts
WHERE THE MEDIA IS LOOKING
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7. Always need fresh content
Always need topical ideas
Always looking for the “breakout” star
They have a job to do
WHY THE MEDIA NEEDS AUTHORS!
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8. RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
Lead with one thing
What do other people see?
(Tip: First impression audit)
Why are you the one to call?
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9. THINK BEYOND PROMOTION
Bigger than the book/business/
product
What are you trying to change or
improve?
How is this helpful to others?
What mission are you on?
Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

10. Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

11. Mo Gawdat - Author, Solve For Happy
“Two days after Paula’s coaching, my
interview with Channel 4 News in the
UK went viral on social media with
more than 100 million views.
This really opened my eyes to ways I
could be even more effective in
spreading my message of
happiness.”
Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

12. Emmy-Award Winning TV Producer | Media Trainer
Best-selling Productivity Author | Speaker | ContributorPaula Rizzo
Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

13. Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

14. Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

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16. Publishers
I’ve worked with…
Chef Todd Richards
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17. Cache
Exposure
Attention
Book Sales*
WHAT AUTHORS GET!
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18. Best Ways to
Engage with the Media
02
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19. KNOW THE GOLDEN RULES
Put yourself in the media’s shoes
Who is their audience?
Get to know the show/anchor
Be open to collaborating
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20. Look at the news through your
professional lens
Pitch angles that you haven’t seen done
Share your unique perspective and
opinion
UNLEASH YOUR EXPERTISE
Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

21. WORDS
Wise
“Be of Service!”
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22. PITCH LIKE A PRODUCER
Why does the producer care?
Why does their audience care?
Why now?
Why you and not a different author?
How is this different?
Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

23. TYPES OF PITCHES FOR PRINT MEDIA
Byline / Contributor
Op-Ed
Expert Interview
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24. TYPES OF PITCHES FOR RADIO/PODCASTS
Guest Segment
Co-host
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25. TYPES OF PITCHES FOR TV/VIDEO
In-studio interview (2-8 minutes)
Package (1 -3 minutes)
Do-it-yourself soundbite
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26. Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

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28. TIPS FOR PITCHING VIDEO
Think visually!
Think fast
Think table tops & demos
Think experiences/transformations
(before and after)
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29. Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

30. Non-Fiction

31. New trends in yoga
Segment on body positivity
Panel member about how to
let go of fear
In Studio
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32. PITCH ELEMENTS FOR IN STUDIO
Video clips
Solid talking points
Table top/demo/show and tell
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33. In The Field — Package
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34. Fiction

38. Keep Getting Asked Back
03
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39. HOW TO BECOME A GO-TO AUTHOR
Say YES!
Show up Soundbite Ready!
Always pitch what THEY need
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40. Common Pitch Problems
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41. Pitch problem
Bad Subject Lines
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42. Subject: Can I pitch you?
>>Don’t Ask A Journalist A Question
When The Answer Could Be No
LINES
Deadly Subject
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43. Subject: Are you interested in this?
>>Give Them A Reason To Be!
LINES
Deadly Subject
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44. Subject: Expert available
>>Yes We Know. Tell Us More!
LINES
Deadly Subject
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45. Subject: What are you working on?
>>Don’t Give Them More Work!
LINES
Deadly Subject
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46. Pitch problem
No Video Clips
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47. Pitch problem
Unclear pitches
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48. What Is A Pitch?
An email to a media
gatekeeper that explains
what and how you can
contribute to their outlet.
Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

49. THE ELEMENTS OF A PITCH
The hook
The twist
The takeaway
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50. Your blog posts
Your social media posts
Your podcasts & video
Your other media interviews
Your BOOK!
Media Pitches
TURN YOUR CONTENT INTO
Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

51. Step One: Research Outlets
Step Two: Watch / Read Them
Step Three: Brainstorm Ideas
Step Four: Write An Awesome Pitch
4 STEPS TO CREATING A COMPELLING PITCH
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54. THE ELEMENTS OF A PITCH
The hook
The twist
The takeaway
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55. Subject: Ditch Your Ex’s Stuff
this Valentine’s Day
The Hook
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56. Dear Paula,
Hope you're doing great! I loved your recent segment on winter
wardrobe decluttering.
Did you know that most breakups happen within two weeks of
Valentine's Day - that's according to the Official Journal of the
International Society for the Study of Individual Differences.
Since it won't be all roses and candy hearts for everyone, why not
focus on how to move forward after a breakup and reorganize
your space for happiness?
The Twist
Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

57. My name is Tracy McCubbin and I'm a professional organizer in
Los Angeles and author of the book, Making Space for
Happiness.
I'd love to share some tips with your viewers to get their lives and
space on track after a breakup including:
•The most important item to get rid of first
•How to decide who keeps what in two minutes
•What time is the best to clean out your space
•How to reorganize your new space for happiness
The Takeaway
Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

58. Here is a clip of a recent appearance I did on the KTLA Morning
News talking about decluttering in the new year. And this video
about how to declutter in five minutes on my Instagram account has
gotten over 80,000 views.
I've also been regularly featured on Hallmark's Home & Family,
have a column on MindBodyGreen, and has regular declutter
segments on Fox 5 and ABC Eyewitness News, KCAL9, and Good
Day Sacramento. My company dClutterly has also been featured in
Real Simple, Women's Day and Home and Gardens.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Best,
Tracy McCubbin
Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

59. Subject: Ditch Your Ex’s Stuff this Valentine’s Day
Copyright © 2024 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

60. Subject: Ditch Your Ex’s Stuff this Valentine’s Day
The Hook
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61. Subject: Ditch Your Ex’s Stuff this Valentine’s Day
The Twist
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62. Subject: Ditch Your Ex’s Stuff this Valentine’s Day
The Takeaway
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63. Pitch Checklist
Double check the name / outlet
Clear, specific subject heading
15 seconds to “skim and get”
Short, concise, clear
Bio, website, book title!
Video clip links (!!)
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64. Reasons You Didn’t Hear Back?
They’re overwhelmed
It wasn’t a fit
They didn’t understand your pitch
You were just another author…
Other things you’ll never know
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65. How To Connect With Media
LinkedIn
Twitter (X)
By lines / bios
Source of Sources (SOS)
Your contacts
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66. Follow up
Start a conversation
Make a connection
Be a resource
Create your own content
A Response
THE GOAL IS
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67. Bonus!

68. Know your talking points
Be Decisive - Stake Your Claim
Always give value but be brief
Use the Accordion Method
Speak In Soundbites
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69. Copyright © 2023 Paula Rizzo - All rights reserved.

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