Oprah! How To Get On The Oprah Winfrey Show
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, counselors imagine
becoming the next Dr. Phil, and even celebrities get giddy about
sitting next to Oprah.
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 directly to Oprah Winfrey. Watch the
credits to get the names of producers who work on the show. Send
a pitch and media kit 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.
The Oprah.com web site is the best 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 looking for great stories. Get your story told 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!