One of the best ways to break into television is to let bookers know you’re free on holidays or early weekend mornings, when they often have to scramble to find a solid guest.
Bonjean, a Republican consultant, owner of The Bonjean Company, and frequent commentator on cable television. “If you have the opportunity to write for a political blog, or write an op-ed, that can be circulated to the television bookers.” If possible, your pitch should also include a link to a previous appearance on television, even if it’s a local television access show or an Internet webcast, to show that you can be trusted on camera.
experience,” says Republican political consultant Tyler Harber of The Prosper Group, who frequently appears on cable television. “You’re talking to a black box, to some- body that you can’t see, you can only hear out of one ear—and you’re expected to act naturally. It is the most unnatural thing ever.” Once you sit down in front of the camera, it’s important to remember that you are visible at all times, warns Allison
From Pundit to President?
Can a stint as a television pundit help fuel a presi- dential campaign? We may find out soon enough, as several potential presidential candidates will be forced to choose between the small screen and one big campaign. At the beginning of the year, at least five potential
Jaime Watt, Executive Chairman, Navigator Ltd., on CBC’s Power and Politics. It’s also important to remember that for a television
booker, availability is among the most attractive qualities in a potential guest. One of the best ways to break into television is to let bookers know you’re free on holidays or early weekend mornings, when they often have to scramble to find a solid guest. Once you have helped a booker out of a jam, they will be more inclined to pay you back with a better time slot down the line. Respond- ing to booking requests as quickly as possible is also key. Even though a booker has asked you to be a guest, they won’t always wait for a response before moving on to someone else. Most importantly, unless you want your e-mails to be
ignored, do not spam bookers with pitches or blind pitch everyone on your list of bookers—especially if they are at different networks. Every pitch should be geared toward the interests of a particular news network.
In the Hot Seat By most accounts, appearing on cable television news is a strange experience, especially when you aren’t in the same studio as the anchor. If that’s the case, upon arriv- ing at the studio, you can expect to be taken into small, storage closet–sized room, where you will speak with the anchor via an earpiece and a live video feed. “It’s a bizarre
Republican candidates were under contract to appear regularly on the Fox News Channel: Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, John Bolton, and Sarah Palin. In early March, the network ended its contracts with Gingrich and Santorum because they were actively considering presidential bids—and vowed to do the same to others if they too got close to jumping in the race. A regular presence on television can help presiden- tial aspirants by sharpening their interview skills, boosting their name recognition with a national audi- ence, and keeping them involved in the national discourse. After all, the message discipline required on television will pay dividends when a candidate is peppered with questions by reporters on the campaign trail in Iowa, New Hampshire, or South Carolina. But any candidate who appears frequently on cam-
era also runs the risk of making a gaffe—for example, Huckabee’s recent comments that actress Natalie Portman’s pregnancy was “troubling” because she is not married yet. Although this occurred on a radio pro- gram, the odds are simple; the more time candidates spend on camera, the more likely they are to put their foot in their mouth. But for the most part, television gigs can help a pres- idential hopeful—especially candidates like Gingrich, Santorum, Bolton, and Huckabee, who might otherwise be out of the limelight. The trick is to go on camera early and often until you officially dive into the race.
June 2011 | Campaigns & Elections 21
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