How to Get Featured on Good Morning America (Contact and Pitch Guide)

By Zach Schleien

Getting on national TV isn't reserved for celebrities. I got my dad on GMA with a strategic pitch. Here's the exact playbook.

Good Morning America reaches 3-4 million viewers per episode. Getting featured there sounds impossible for a startup founder or independent expert. It's not.

I got my dad on GMA - twice. Here's exactly how.

The Backstory

My dad was the Chair of Pediatrics at Cohen Children's Medical Center of Northwell Health at the time. When he got COVID and survived, I pitched his story to the New York Times and landed an op-ed.

That NYT piece became the foundation for everything that followed - including Good Morning America.

How TV Booking Works

TV producers and bookers are looking for three things:

1. Credibility - Are you a legitimate expert? Credentials, titles, and previous press matter.

2. Timeliness - Does your story connect to something happening RIGHT NOW? TV is driven by the news cycle.

3. Visual/emotional appeal - TV is a visual medium. "Expert discusses policy paper" isn't compelling. "Doctor who nearly died from COVID now treats children with the virus" is.

What Is the Good Morning America Email Address for Story Submissions?

ABC News publishes news.tips@abc.com for public-interest investigative tips. That's not a GMA guest-booking inbox. I couldn't verify a current general GMA booking email, so I wouldn't pitch to a guessed address.

For a GMA story, start with the angle: why should this be on the show now, and who can speak to it? Find journalists and producers who cover the topic, then pitch several relevant contacts.

If you want help doing that without an agency, try PressPitch AI. It helps develop the angle and pitch, find journalists by topic, beat or publication with verified work emails when available, and send from your own inbox. It doesn't guarantee a GMA producer or placement.

The Pitch That Landed GMA

When the MIS-C outbreak (a COVID-related syndrome affecting children) hit the news, I knew my dad was perfectly positioned. He was:

• Chair of Pediatrics at a major hospital treating the most MIS-C cases
• A COVID survivor himself
• Already established in the NYT

I didn't pitch GMA cold. I used the momentum:

Subject: "Pediatrics Chair Who Survived COVID Now Treating Children With MIS-C - Available for GMA"

Body: Two sentences about the news hook (MIS-C outbreak). One sentence about my dad's unique position. Link to the NYT op-ed as proof. "Available for tomorrow morning."

Response time: 4 hours. Booked for the next morning.

The Step-by-Step Process

1. Build your credibility stack first

Don't pitch GMA as your first press hit. Land smaller outlets first. Build up to it.

My sequence was:

• Op-ed in the New York Times
• Featured on Reddit front page
• FOX News interview
• CNN with Don Lemon
• THEN Good Morning America

Each hit made the next one easier. By the time I pitched GMA, the producer could see a track record of successful media appearances.

2. Find the right producer

Find people covering your topic and confirm they're current before you pitch. Aim for several relevant contacts rather than betting on one guessed address.

3. Tie to breaking news

GMA covers what's happening today. Your pitch needs a news hook. "My dad survived COVID" wasn't enough. "My dad survived COVID AND is now treating the largest group of children with MIS-C" was the hook that landed it.

4. Make it easy

Include everything the producer needs:

• One-paragraph story summary
• Your guest's credentials (one line)
• Links to previous coverage
• Availability ("available tomorrow morning, any time")
• High-quality headshot

5. Be available immediately

When a TV producer reaches out, they often need you within 24 hours. If you can't do it tomorrow, they'll find someone who can. Always say yes first, figure out logistics second.

After the Segment

A GMA appearance is powerful, but the real value is in what you do next:

1. Record the segment and post clips everywhere
2. Update your website with the GMA logo and video embed
3. Pitch other outlets referencing the GMA appearance
4. Use the clip on your landing page as social proof

One GMA appearance opened doors to CBS, WABC, Newsday, and USA Today. The credibility cascade is real.

Can You Get on GMA Without Previous Press?

Possible, but unlikely. GMA producers minimize risk. They want guests who've been on camera before and won't freeze up.

Start with:

1. Local news (easiest entry point)
2. Podcasts (build your on-camera comfort)
3. Online publications (get press coverage step by step)
4. National online (TechCrunch, Forbes, etc.)
5. National TV (GMA, CNN, FOX)