Media Information


How to Book Guests:

Tech Nation Media produces four Tech Nation-related radio productions on an ongoing basis. They are:
  • The one-hour weekly interview program Tech Nation
  • The five-minute weekly commentary Five Minutes with Dr. Moira Gunn
  • The 2-minute daily Tech Nation modules
  • The weekly segment BioTech Nation

All enjoy both national syndication on over 200 domestic public radio stations, and international syndication three times weekly to 177 countries via American Forces Radio International in the long form with nearly 20 airings of its shorter modules. In addition, there is distribution over the Internet. The one-hour weekly "Tech Nation" and its regular segment "BioTech Nation" also air six (6) times per week nationally on the NPR Channels NPR Talk and NPR Now on Sirius-XM Satellite Radio, three (3) additional times on Sirius-XM Internet Radio, and four (4) times each weekend on NPR’s 24-hour program stream (Click on “Listen” at npr.org).

Two of these productions provide an opportunity to book guests:
  • The weekly Tech Nation program
  • The weekly BioTech Nation segment, which airs regularly within Tech Nation

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 special focus areas tend to shift periodically. Current active producers are Oliver Beers, Linda Bernardi, Christie Dames, David Ewing Duncan, Mike Fisher, Matt Gardner, Nicole Hamilton, Olga Levin, Nivanka Paranavitana, Kevin O'Malley, Chris Sahley, Howard Sypher, Bob Wild, and Allison Young.

To book a guest on Tech Nation

To book a guest on BioTech Nation


Tech Nation MEDIA INTERFACE

Tech Nation long-form interviews focus on the impact of technology on society, while BioTech Nation features a short interview with specific focus. Both are used as source material to additionally produce the daily two-minute Tech Nation modules.

Occasionally, separate guests are scheduled with the sole intention of producing Tech Nation modules. This is a rare exception and is done either when the topic cannot sustain a long interview, or the general topic has already been covered extensively in the weekly program. In this last case, only a distinguishing or unique aspect would be discussed in this shortened interview.

Guest Selection Criterion:
In general, publicists (or the potential guests personally) need to pitch "guests" followed by the "story" they have to tell to Tech Nation or BioTech Nation. Each has distinct contact requirements, and they are separately described below:
For Tech Nation, a guest (and his or her story) should attempt to meet five (5) criteria:
  1. The person and his story has good human interest appeal
  2. The person and his story is relevant to the vast majority of people, or be of national or international interest
  3. There is a technology or science hook
  4. The guest must be able to sustain a compelling interview for 20-30 minutes
  5. The guest must be able to be present in the studios of KQED in San Francisco for recording purposes

The following should be noted:
  1. No Product Pitches
  2. No Late-Breaking News
  3. No Announcements
  4. No Local or Regional issues that have no value beyond the geographic area in which they are present
  5. No Giveaways
  6. No Contests
  7. No Telephone Interviews

Basic Steps to Booking Tech Nation Guests:

Step 1. Send MEDIA KITS and MATERIALS to Tech Nation Media:
Producer
Tech Nation Media/KQED-FM
2601 Mariposa Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
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 would include books, media coverage, organization media kits, published articles and reviews.

Step 2. Follow up with a call to the Media Office: 415.386.2710, to determine status of guest proposal, arrange interview dates and possibly to discuss further or alternative strategies.

Step 3. With few exceptions, guests are scheduled for taping during normal business hours Monday through Friday. Preferably, allow one hour for the interview guest to be on the KQED premises, although the production staff is happy to work with tight connections when informed as early as possible.

Guests who are driven by escorts or drive their own vehicles may park in the KQED garage. The entrance to the garage is on the York Street side of the building. Pull in, identify the guest and appointment time for the Tech Nation taping, and internal staff will handle the guest and/or escort from there.

For additional assistance, the day of the interview:

Receptionist in KQED Front Lobby: 415.553.2110
Faith Nee, KQED-FM: 415.553.2316

Successful Strategies For Booking Guests:
  • A detailed biography of the guest is essential. Traceable credentials are a must.
  • Avoid people and stories best suited for the trade press.
  • 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 Chairman and/or the Founders. Occasionally, the technology innovator is interviewed, if he or she has had mainstream media experience.
  • Late-breaking news items are not appropriate. Tech Nation is more suited to the long view.
  • Guests who reflect the changes in our society over time and/or the effect on society of past technologies are also eligible.
  • Science qualifies as a technology hook - all science has a basis in technology.
  • Remember: psychology is a science.
  • Do NOT send email pitches, unless by mutual agreement
  • Do NOT send fax pitches, unless by mutual agreement
  • Do NOT provide web links for the production staff to view media materials -- web pages need to be printed out and sent with media materials for consideration during Tech Nation Production meetings.

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BioTech Nation MEDIA INTERFACE


For BioTech Nation, a guest and story should meet the following criteria:
  1. There is a clear biotech hook;
  2. The guest must be able to deliver a compelling short interview in the range of 7-10 minutes; and
  3. In the United States, the guest must be able to present either in our home studios of KQED-FM in San Francisco, or at a public radio studio affiliated with National Public Radio (NPR). International on-air guests may also be able to record via ISDN if a sufficiently quiet recording environment exists at their end.
The following should be noted:
  1. No Product Pitches except where they represent unique breakthrough technology
  2. No Late-Breaking News for immediate release
  3. No Announcements
  4. No Local or Regional issues that have no value beyond the geographic area in which they are present
  5. No Giveaways
  6. No Contests

Basic Steps to Booking BioTech Nation Guests:

Step 1. The preferred method for sending MEDIA KITS and MATERIALS to Tech Nation Media is via PDF file attachment to the email address: biotech@technation.com. Due to the proliferation of viruses, we will not open non-PDF documents unless we have previously agreed that you will send in that format. Materials may also be submitted in hardcopy to:
BioTech Nation Producer
Tech Nation Media/KQED-FM
2601 Mariposa Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
Essential in the materials to be submitted is:
  1. the idea behind the story;
  2. a detailed biography of the proposed guest, identifying relevant experience and education; and
  3. Other standard materials including materials, relevant media coverage, authored articles and reviews.


Step 2. Follow up with a call to the Media Office: 415.386.2710, to determine status of guest proposal, arrange interview dates and possibly to discuss further or alternative strategies.

Step 3. With few exceptions, guests are scheduled for taping during normal business hours Monday through Friday. Preferably, allow a half-hour for the interview guest to be in-studio, whether on-site at KQED or off-site at a remote recording location.

Successful Strategies For Booking Guests:
  • A detailed biography of the guest is essential. Traceable credentials are a must.
  • Avoid people and stories best suited for the trade press or science journals.
  • Avoid any story that is really just a product push. 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 scientists and researchers, the President & CEO, the Chairman, \0xCAand/or the Founders. \0xCA
  • Late-breaking news items are not appropriate. BioTech Nation is more suited to the long view.
  • Guests who reflect the changes in our society over time and/or the effect on society of past technologies are also eligible.
  • Do NOT send fax pitches, unless by mutual agreement
  • Do NOT provide web links for the production staff to view media materials -- web pages need to be converted to pdf or printed out, if sent with hard copy materials.

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