Self-published authors just gained an unexpected booster in television news. In an interview on the HaperStudio blog, one Today show producer declared that she would consider pitches from self-published authors for a spot on one of her highly-coveted book segments--with or without a publicist.

Jaclyn Levin, the Senior Publishing Producer for NBC News, is the gatekeeper for book coverage on the Today Show. The practical interview explores the mysterious world of television book coverage, drawing on Levin's 20-year of experience. Here's an excerpt:

"I have always said books are another vehicle for us to find great stories/segments, and if one happens to come from someone who published on their own, that's fine with me as long as all the facts in the book check out. If an author has the wherewithal to find me and pitch me, good for them, but at the same time, they have to be able to handle a 'no' without having that buffer called 'a publicist.'"