Answer extracted from the Wealthy and Well-Known Podcast podcast — listen to the full episode below.
What is the strategic framework for becoming bookable on national television?
Getting booked on national television isn't about luck—it's strategic. You need to know your message with clarity so producers can sell you to their team and communicate the value you'll bring, which means thinking through who you are, who you serve, and the expertise you bring to the conversation.
Jamie Maglietta, who has worked as a producer and booker at CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC, breaks this down through a framework called KNOWN. The first pillar is understanding that your pitch must start with knowing your own message. This isn't about credentials alone—it's about how clearly you can articulate why you matter to that particular audience, on that particular day.
The difference between getting ignored and getting press coming to you comes down to preparation. As explained in the episode, preparation allows you to produce, and production gives you freedom. When you've done the work to understand the news cycle, your audience's moment in time, and what makes you genuinely newsworthy, you shift from chasing press to having press come to you.
Relevancy matters more than you might think. You aren't just showing up to talk about your book or your expertise—you're showing up because there's a reason to talk about it right now. Understanding where your audience sits in the current moment, combined with the news cycle, is what separates pitches that get trashed from those that land in front of decision-makers.
"I have so many examples of people that are controlling their brand in a way that's so strategic that they are not chasing press presses coming to them."
Jamie Maglietta — Emmy Award nominated media strategist who has worked as a producer, booker, and line editor at CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC, handling some of the biggest television shows. She holds a degree from Harvard and now helps people become camera-ready and media-ready through her podcast Unknown to Known.
One concrete detail worth exploring: the episode dives into specific mistakes that send pitches straight to the trash, and understanding those pitfalls before you invest in a PR firm can save you time and money.
Before you invest in media training or hire a PR firm, Maglietta recommends you be packaged strategically, know your strategy, and start building your audience yourself. Testing the waters on your own platform first gives you data about what resonates and who your real audience is—information that makes you far more attractive to producers.
The KNOWN framework emphasizes that getting booked is a strategy, not an accident. It requires clarity about your message, understanding of the landscape, and a willingness to produce yourself rather than wait passively for someone else to discover you.
Key takeaways
- Clarity on your message is the foundation—producers need to sell you internally, which means you must be clear on who you are, who you serve, and what value you bring.
- Relevancy is built by understanding both the news cycle and where your audience sits in that moment; timing matters as much as expertise.
- Preparation allows you to produce your own content and build your own audience before pitching to major media outlets.
- Strategic brand control attracts press rather than requiring you to chase it; this shift comes from demonstrating consistent value on your own platforms first.
See also
How does being transparent about leadership philosophy through personal branding help with culture alignment?
When a leader is clear and unapologetic about their values, beliefs, and leadership philosophies, it creates alignment with team members who share those values and helps attract talent that fits the culture.
How does dreaming big as a CEO directly influence team performance and culture?
The CEO must dream twice as big as the team to set an aspirational standard; your people will do half of what you do right and twice of what you do wrong, so vision comes from the top.
What are the four core responsibilities a CEO should prioritize once a business reaches stability?
The four core functions are: chief talent acquisition officer, chief vision officer, chief culture protector, and a leader who models the values and behaviors the organization needs to see.