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It's not easy to even get your foot in the door with staffers from MSNBC. In fact, it has taken us weeks to track down producers - with minimal help from the PR staff. Once you've found that crack, however, you'll be able to get the inside scoop about which shows are pitchable and which ones to avoid. Producers from the shows Imus in the Morning and the daily news segments were more than generous with their tips and tactics for pitching to the shows. They do stress however, that taking no for an answer may be more important than practicing that perfect pitch.
SECTIONS: IMUS IN THE MORNING
Imus can be heard and seen since the program is broadcast on radio and as a T.V. show. Host Don Imus interviews guests on an array of topics ranging from politics to the media. He's also known for interviewing authors of new books.Executive Producer
EDITORS/LEAD TIME: Terry Irving Phone: 201/583-5695
Address: 34-12 36th Street
Astoria, New York 11106
Lead Time: one week
METHODS: Mailing pitch letters to Imus himself works best. Irving says he doesn't read email or return phone calls, so slap a 33-cent stamp on your letter and hope for the best.
COMMENTS: "The key word is Don Imus," Irving says. "He does the show and decides what's going to happen."
Imus makes all decisions on the shows' topics and also reviews all of the pitch letters. Another key contact is Producer Dana Cavanaugh who works closely with Imus.
SECTIONS: DAYTIME PROGRAMMING
The daytime programming runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Programs include Morning Line, Watch It with Laura Ingraham, Judge and Jury, NBC News Today in America, NBC News At Issue, News Front and News Chat. Be familiar with each of the programs before calling.Senior Producer, booking
EDITORS/LEAD TIME: Izzy Povich Phone: 201/583-5180 Fax: 201/583-5692
To contact the other bookers, go to the Web site, http://www.msnbc.com, and click on their e-mail addresses.
Lead Time: one week
METHODS: Faxes only. Just call Povich's voice mail and find out for yourself how she likes to take story ideas. She states clearly on her voice mail - absolutely no pitches by phone.
COMMENTS: All daytime programming focuses on the day's biggest stories and then expands on them. Povich oversees the booking department, which books guests for the various shows. Her biggest pet peeve? "PR people who clearly don't know the shows. They pitch us hard business news, which is what CNBNC does," she says.
The sheer volume of calls (about 40 per day) makes it impossible for a phone pitch. "I swear I look at all faxes," she says.
Editorial Contacts at MSNBC
Main Number: 201/583-5000
Jeremy Newberger Associate Producer, Imus
[email protected]
Dana Cavanaugh Executive Producer, Imus
718/706-7690
Bernard McGuirk Executive Producer, Imus
201/583-5000
Recent Guests/Shows
Mary Matalin, James Carville and Tim Russert were on Imus in the Morning last Wednesday.