3 Essential Elements for a Great Human Interest TV Segment

Television Producers will be the first to admit that they have a pretty big job to fill day-after-day and week-after-week when programing shows. There is competition all around and more channels to choose from then the average viewer can keep up with, so understanding what’s going to keep viewers coming back to their show is critical to its success (and them keeping their jobs).

While I’ve never been told that the elements I’m about to share with you are the essential ingredients for a great human interest TV segment, I have observed as a viewer and witnessed first hand as a frequent guest on television that when these elements are included they not only work, but are sought after.

When you pitch your story ideas to producers I would suggest you consider how you might incorporate some of these essential elements into your next segment or news story:

Element of Surprise:

Jerry Springer and Maury Povich aside, most television talk shows seek to tastefully incorporate the element of surprise into the show. Often it is the moment of “reveal,” where the audience is surprised or given some bit of information that they would not have expected. When it’s done in a meaningful and relevant way it ties the story together.

Recently I appeared on The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet (FOX) to help a woman who was drowning in more than $450,000 in debt. It was obvious that her situation required more than standard money saving tips, she needed serious intervention.

As you might imagine she was anxious for answers, after all anyone in that amount of debt would be eager to find workable solutions to get themselves out from under the crippling credit crunch, however she was no ordinary debt-strapped American, she is an Executive Assistant at the New York City Department of Finance where she’s worked for more than 26 years!

When that information was revealed the entire studio audience gasped in surprise as if to say, “If this woman who is around matters of finance daily doesn’t have a better command of her own personal situation, what hope do the rest of us have?”

Common Connections:

At the rate which you must process information these days, it is easy to become detached from people, places and things. You size up situations in seconds and write people off as “stupid” in a glance, so when you can look at someone from another race, background and even another country and find a common connection then you see how truly similar you are and you are drawn to them - if only for a moment.

Lorraine, the Executive Assistant at the New York City Department of Finance who was $450,000 in debt could have easily been written off as someone who “got what she deserved,” however when you learned that she faithfully takes care of her 81-year-old mother whom she adors there is a human connection created. Its the story behind the story and you want to know more.

Her story wasn’t just one of a shopaholic, it was interesting because it connected with a lot of other people who could easily see how someone who was supposed to “know better,” could need help. Be it single moms who struggle with the cost of raising kids, adult children caring for aging parents, or someone-who-knows-someone dealing with a similar reality, suddenly what seemed foolish makes sense - at lease on some level.

That’s great television.

Concise:

Think about some of the most effective television commercials, they are often simple, engaging and they tell a story. This is exactly the concept that a great human interest segment should embrace.

In less than six minutes a story of a woman in dire financial need was brought to life, it included the element of surprise, created a common connection and was able to be told quickly - without feeling rushed, but concisely so it captured your attention and held it.

The producer loved the segment and so did the viewers because opt-ins for my Financial Literacy Lessons special report spiked and I even got a phone call from a woman who wanted me to know how much she appreciated that I didn’t “talk down,” to Lorraine or give her “silly tips.”

When you want to grab the attention of a television producer strive to incorporate these elements and your pitch is sure to get a second look.