Do
you dream of being on Oprah Winfrey's television show? Lots of
people do. An appearance on Oprah is considered by many to be
the pinnacle of success. Authors dream of having bestselling books
as a result of an Oprah appearance. Even David
Letterman staged a long-running bit on his show where he openly
campaigned to be invited on Oprah's show.
Before pitching your story to Oprah, become familiar with how
the show is structured. Oprah changes the show’s focus from year
to year. Watch at least a full week of shows to learn the type
of stories the show features and how regular segments fit into
the show. As you watch, imagine how your story might be told on
The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Don’t send your pitch to Oprah Winfrey. Watch the credits to
get the names of producers who work on the show. If you have a
media kit, send it to the appropriate producer. Tell them why
you think your story is right for the show, and how you see your
story fitting into the format of the show. Include a copy of your
book, a product sample, a short video, or other items that help
make your case. You can get the current mailing address at the
Oprah web site: http://www.Oprah.com/.
The Oprah.com web site is a great resource to help you land a
spot on the show. The web site includes a list of topics they're
working on for upcoming shows, and tells you how to contact the
show to tell your story. There are links for getting your story
into O, Oprah's magazine, too.
You can also use the web site to research regular show features
and the topics of past shows. That knowledge can help you target
your pitch to the show.
Remember that Oprah and her staff watch television, read newspapers
and magazines, and listen to the radio. They are always on the
lookout for great stories. Get your story in other media and they
may find you. Doing lots of other interviews will also be great
practice for when you actually make it to the Oprah set. The Oprah
Winfrey Show is based in Chicago, so you might want to make a
special effort to get publicity in Chicago media.
Know the show. Visit Oprah.com frequently to see what guests
they are looking for. Follow up and contact the show when you
can make a connection with an upcoming topic. And have a nice
time in Chicago!
