Media Darling – Joanne McCall Book Publicist

The Fastest Way to Sound Defensive

Joanne McCall — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:00:13 +0000

A while back, I watched an interview where the host got a key fact wrong about the guest’s work. Not maliciously. Not even carelessly. It was just one of those normal human moments where a detail gets flipped and something is said incorrectly. You could actually see the guest’s brain light up, and then they had a choice. Option one: jump in with a correction that’s technically right…

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The #1 Reason Brilliant People Stumble in the Media

Joanne McCall — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 16:00:37 +0000

Speaking in the media requires more than just knowing what you’re talking about. It also requires that you sound like you know what you’re talking about. There’s a big difference. Of all the different types of clients I have worked with, academics often have the hardest time transforming themselves into true Media Darlings. Don’t get me wrong! They’re brilliant, dedicated, and deeply informed…

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The Myth of the Overnight Success

Joanne McCall — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 16:00:38 +0000

I once had someone say to me, “Wow, that author you worked with really hit it big overnight.”I nearly spit out my coffee. Overnight? Really? Hardly. What they didn’t see were the months of building relationships, refining the hook, showing up consistently, and saying yes to opportunities large and small. They didn’t see the stack of local interviews that created a ripple effect.

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The #1 Media Mistake Authors Still Make

Joanne McCall — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 16:00:43 +0000

Shawn, an author I have gotten to know this past year, was beyond excited to land a spot on a well-known podcast recently. He had pitched it himself, and it worked! The host loved his message and invited him to be a guest on the show. Shawn called me before the interview for a pep talk and a few good tips he could use, and one of the things I reminded him of is the fact that the interview is…

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You’re Not Being Difficult; You’re Being Clear

Joanne McCall — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:00:27 +0000

Several months ago, I was helping an author prepare for a live morning show. She had everything all set to go including the segment outline, key talking points, her outfit (Yes, we planned that too!). She was excited and ready to shine, and I was really happy for her. We’d been working toward this for a while. Then two days before her appearance, I received an email from the producer asking if the…

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What a Media Darling is NOT

Joanne McCall — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 17:00:36 +0000

I have to admit, I am having a great time doing podcast interviews. There are several more that will be dropping in the next few weeks, including an interview with Ana Melikian on the Mindset Zone Podcast, Louie B Free, on Brainfood for the Heartland, and this one with Bonnie Stevens on Zonie Living. It is live right now, and you can tell we just had a blast doing it. Interviews can be fun and…

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What is a Media Darling?

Joanne McCall — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 17:00:06 +0000

Things are getting very exciting around here as my book, Media Darling: Shine Through Every Interview, is now with the editor. I thought it would be fun this week to share a little from my book and explain what exactly a media darling is and later, what a media darling is not. There are fundamentals to being a Media Darling that will apply to everyone in every situation.

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How to Create a Media Room Checklist

Joanne McCall — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 19:15:29 +0000

Sometimes having a media room or newsroom on your website is the determining factor that lands you that interview or feature story. It’s your job to create attractive, informative, and useful materials that media can easily find on your website when they decide to do a story or segment with you. This means removing all obstacles to their finding what they need. Here are a few tips on how to do…

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Staying on Track with Your Publicity and Marketing Plans: Sometimes Taking a Break is the Best Next Action

Joanne McCall — Sun, 12 Feb 2017 17:28:57 +0000

I work with many different types of clients and one thing they all have in common is that they are very busy people who are up to something in the world. Most of the questions I get have to do with how to secure media coverage, how do we create more compelling and hooky titles and angles, and how do you handle the stress of it all? How do you keep so positive when it comes to publicizing and…

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Celebrating the Holidays

Joanne McCall — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 00:25:44 +0000

In celebration of the holidays, a simple wish from me to you, your family and friends.

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