Media Darling: Tracy Moore

Tracy Moore is the host of Canada’s longest running lifestyle show CityLine. From Monday to Friday on Citytv, Moore can be seen across the country trying DIY projects, learning new recipes and sizing up the latest fashions. Aside from being an energetic mom to two young children, she is known for her laid back style, easy laugh and love of fashion, fitness and all things shoe-related.

Born in Toronto and raised in Richmond Hill, Moore worked her way up the media ladder to her current position as host of CityLine. Her professionalism, work ethic and engaging personality helped her advance from CTV intern to CBC videographer, back-up host and Newsworld anchor, and eventually anchor on daily news magazine Toronto Tonight. 

In the fall of 2005, Moore joined Toronto’s number one morning show, Citytv’s Breakfast Television as its live reporter. Within months she was backing up the show’s lead anchor in addition to covering live breaking news events. Moore took a brief break in 2008 to have her first child, Sidney Nicolas, returning to host CityLine. She also gave birth to Eva Simone two years later. Moore says being a mommy is hands down her biggest accomplishment to date.

Outside of her work on-air Moore made a name for herself as a volunteer early in her career by initiating a speakers’ series in Toronto high schools, talking to students about non-violence and media literacy. She counts as one of her top priorities boosting the self-esteem of young girls. To this end, she emcees the ‘Girls On The Run’ event every year.

CityLine airs weekdays at 9 a.m. on Citytv.  

 

Twitter: @tracycityline, @CityLineCA 

Website: www.citytv.com/cityline 

Did you always want to be in the media? If not, what other careers were on the horizon? 

When I was in elementary school I went back and forth between wanting to be a miner (I loved rocks) or a Solid Gold dancer (I loved Darcy). By high school a teacher introduced me to the concept of journalism. That became the goal going forward.

Where would you like to be five years from now?

Five years from now I’d like to be sitting in this CityLine studio, hosting this show. I am living my own personal dream right now, so over the next five years my personal goal is to get closer to mastering the craft. This is one job I can see myself in for many years to come!

Any advice for people getting started in your industry?

Volunteer. If you have even an inkling of interest in the field, start volunteering and see what you like and what you don’t early on. Also, take jobs strategically. Don’t worry if you’re at the bottom of the totem pole. Take a position based on where you may be able to move. This industry is rare in the sense that people still move from being a TV station receptionist to being an on-air host.

What are your favourite media outlets, not including your own?

I read tons of magazines including Toronto Life, Vanity Fair, Chatelaine and Today’s Parent. 

Best interview you’ve ever had?

Chris Noth. I was a reporter/host for Citytv’s former 24 hour news channel and Chris Noth came on as a last minute guest. The dude was grumpy! Through a bit of joking around and a bit of sympathy for his crappy mood, he totally warmed up by the end of the interview telling me all sorts of things about Sex and the City II he wasn’t supposed to leak and laughing and smiling. It was great.

Worst?

Jamie Oliver. He was super tired after being carted off from station to station. I could tell he probably didn’t register what city or country he was in by the time he got to our show. He was fairly unresponsive and even though the interview wasn’t abysmal – it stunk. 

Best advice you’ve ever been given?

Don’t be afraid to have people underestimate you.

What rule(s) do you live your life by?

Be good to EVERYONE. Your smile can be the thing that lifts someone else’s day. And you never know who you will need or who will have the power to help you in the future.

What’s the most important tip you can give PR pros?

Watch or read whoever you are pitching. Know their product down to the smallest detail. And then pitch based on fitting into what’s already there. And be brief. When I get pitches that last a full page and a half on my smart phone they get an instant delete.

Best experience you’ve had with a PR pro? We love to hear about #wins.

Any instance where a PR pro is able to make a situation work for everyone!

I hate?

Cold weather.

I love?

Summer, babies, chocolate, coffee, books.

Reading?

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides. 

Best place on earth?

Jamaica or Montreal.

Dinner guest?

Oprah.

Hero?

Marjorie and Leonard Moore (mom and dad).

Favourite app (or whatever you are downloading these days)?

The Makeup IQ app. So fun!

Pool or ocean?

Ocean.

Voicemail or email?

Email.

Do Me A Solid: Dare To Wear Love

You may remember from last year that we have a special spot in our hearts for the Dare To Wear Love show that closes every other fashion week. We’re excited that we get to work on the show again on Friday, March 16, and it promises to be just as inspirational as always. 

Amid all of the hustle and bustle during fashion week that focuses on style, clothing and make up, it’s nice to take a step back and think about how all this fashionable effort can be channeled into helping those living with HIV/AIDS in African countries.

The talented duo behind Hoax Couture have teamed up the Fashion Design Council of Canada, a number of amazing Canadian designers and some fun personalities to create a one-of-a-kind fashion show in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

There are still some unique bits of the show to be announced, but so far we’ve got some pretty exciting elements: 

Show attendees can participate in a live auction in support of SLF, with pretty spectacular prizes – including a trip for two to Kenya, (provided by the Canadian Kenya Tourist Board and VoX International) featuring a wildlife safari!

CBC correspondent Wendy Mesley walks the 2010 DTWL runway wearing Kingi Carpenter for Peach Berserk

Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage.

There will also be live entertainment during the show, and of course, the bright and colourful designs from various designers that include Brian Bailey, David Dixon, Adrian Wu, Paul Hardy, Linda Lundström and many other talented Canucks. 

Breakfast Television co-host Dina Pugliese walks the 2010 DTWL runway wearing Ines di Santo

Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage.

You’ll be sure to spot familiar faces strutting down the runway including TV hosts Dina Pugliese and Tracy Moore, one of Canada’s leading gospel singers Kathy Grant, and Donisha Prendergrast, granddaughter of the great Bob Marley. 

The show is always a sell out, so we’d recommend buying now. You can purchase tix here for $75 (or a VIP ticket for $300, which includes a front or second row seat and two (!) cocktail parties). 

Media, Darling: Candy Signorini

Candy Signorini is the fashion and beauty producer for the Gemini award-winning show CityLine on Citytv. 

CityLine, currently in its 26th year, is the longest running and most successful daytime show for women in Canadian history. Hosted by Tracy Moore, CityLine engages, entertains and informs viewers across Canada with its unique live format and daily themed approach. As familiar and trusted guest experts visit the set, viewers are treated to professional tips covering such topics as décor, entertaining, fashion, beauty, home and gardening.

Twitter: @CityLineCA

How can someone grab your attention with a pitch?  
It has to have an appropriate angle for the show and its format. So, that means you have to know (and watch!) the show so you understand how we cover topics. Do your research. We’re looking for the “wow” factor – what makes your product unique? Why would our viewers be interested? 

What do you find most useful when dealing with public relations professionals? 

A quick response to our requests, having good product info and being able to provide relevant guests that could appear on-air. That means someone who’s not only media savvy, but someone who can be entertaining while providing good consumer information. 

If we’re covering an event — make sure there are strong visuals for us to shoot. One-on-one interviews in a hotel room are just too “dry” for our format. It needs to be fun, interactive and interesting.  

What is the biggest mistake PR professionals make?

Not knowing the show format. Believe it or not, people have pitched us on guests we already regularly use on the show! Don’t pitch us things that aren’t relevant to our subject matter.

And, clogging my in box with big files/attachments. Those get deleted right away, often unread.

My pet peeve:

All the follow up, whether by phone or email. We’re all looking for great ideas, so if we’re interested you will hear back. Time just doesn’t allow us to respond to every email. 

If you’re sending a “save-the-date”, please include the time of day that I’m supposed to be saving! 

Any other thoughts you’d like to add?

Magazines, newspapers, television all have different time lines. We often get info too far ahead or too late for us to do anything.