HOW TO BOOK GUESTS:

PITCHES

Pitches can be emailed to technationmedia@gmail.com.

Qualifiers for the overall Tech Nation program may be viewed below under "Guest Selection Criteria".

Author interview pitches are best received ELECTRONICALLY. Please send press materials to technationmedia@gmail.com. Books may be sent electronically or mailed to Tech Nation Media, 6 Loraine Court, San Francisco, CA 94118.  

Pitches for other interviews, both generally for Tech Nation and for BioTech Nation, should be sent ELECTRONICALLY. Please send bio, story, organization information, etc. Please email to technationmedia@gmail.com.

Please see "Guest Selection Criteria" below for appropriateness of guests. stories, and other tips.

INTERVIEW SITES

Interviews for Tech Nation and BioTech Nation are conducted remotely with the guest of their home/office studio. It is necessary to meet audio quality standards, and a quick  audio test can be performed prior to actual interview. The best results can be achieved with microphone and wired earphones on the guest's computer.

GUEST SELECTION CRITERIA

Publicists (or even the potential guests themselves) need to pitch "guests" followed by the "story" they have to tell. Each production has distinct contact requirements, and they are separately described below:

For Tech Nation, a guest (and his or her story) should attempt to meet six(6) criteria:

                - The person and his story has good human interest appeal
                - The person and his story is relevant to the vast majority of people, or be of national or international interest
                - Technology and/or science is a part of the story
                - The guest must be able to sustain a compelling interview for 20-30 minutes                                         - The guest has appropriate credentials to talk about the story
                - The guest must be able to be either (1) present in our studios in San Francisco, or (2) be present in a remote professional studio with engineer. For remote intervies, publishers or sponsors must be prepared to cover the cost at the remote site (approximately $125-$150). Tech Nation Media will handle the costs for the local San Francisco studio and engineer, as well as the communications line.

For BioTech Nation topics, the focus of the interviews are issues covering all aspects of biotech and its impact on society. Efforts can be anywhere in the sicence-to-product life cycle.

Interviews are normally conducted at KQED in San Francisco or at the International BIO conference each spring, and are usually 7-25 minutes in length depending on content. Please contact technationmedia@gmail.com with essential information about the guest to be interviewed and ...

     1.       What is the problem they are trying to solve, or the product(s) they are trying to create?

     2.       What is the emergent technology and/or breakthrough science involved?

     3.       Where are the biggest risks? Largest challenges?

     4.       Where is the effort in the science-to-product life cycle?

     5.       What is its status today? 

Essential in the materials to be submitted is a detailed biography of the proposed guest or guests, identifying relevant experience and education. Other standard materials could include books, media coverage, organization media kits, published articles and reviews.

Successful Strategies for Booking Tech Nation Guests:

    A detailed biography of the guest is essential. Traceable credentials are a must.

    Avoid stories and guests best suited for the trade press or the financial media sector.

    Avoid any story that is really just a technology product. Products may get exposure from time-to-time if the person is interesting and the product has some unique impact on our lives.

    Avoid suggesting marketing or sales personnel as guests, as well as regional personnel. Appropriate interview guests are generally the President and CEO, the Founder(s), the Chief Scientist, the CTO, etc. Business development personnel without the appropriate scientific or technical credentials are not acceptable.

    Late-breaking news items are not appropriate. Tech Nation is more suited to the long view.

    Guests who reflect the changes in our society and/or the effect on society of past technologies are also considered.

    Scientists and science stories are always welcome. (Remember: psychology is a science.)

    Other than that, you can always ask!

DISTRIBUTION

Tech Nation Media produces the one-hour weekly interview program Tech Nation (TN), and the BioTech Nation segments. All topics are welcome as they relate to the impact of science and technology. Additional topic areas include health, biotech and privacy/security. 

Tech Nation has both national and international syndication. Domestically,  Tech Nation airs each week on the NPR Channel on Sirius-XM Satellite Radio with nationwide coverage, on the NPR Program Stream through the NPR News app, through the NPR One app, and on domestic public radio stations. International syndication includes four times weekly to 177 countries via American Forces Radio International and in podcast form on multiple podcast streams, including NPR One iTunes, and Stitcher, as well as amazon Alexa. 

As individual producers may work on varying aspects of the Tech Nation and BioTech Nation productions, we ask that they not be contacted individually with regard to booking guests as their focus areas often shift. Current active producers are Christie Dames, Mike Fisher, Matt Gardner, Nicole Hamilton, Olga Levin, Paul Lorton, Stephanie Martin, Nola Masterson, Kevin O'Malley, Roxy Shafii and Howard Sypher.