Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

UK citizens boosting income by a potential £5k per year by selling their stories

Continued growth in the women’s weekly magazine market, coupled with heightened demand from national newspapers for human interest stories, means there's now more scope than ever before for people across the UK to earn a profit by selling their real-life stories. Aiming to bridge the gap between the media and those individuals with a story to tell, a former Daily Mail journalist has launched TalkToThePress.com.

Founder, Natasha Courtenay-Smith explains, “Story-selling isn’t limited to just the ‘kiss-and-tell’ market as you might imagine, in fact, newspapers are increasingly seeking genuine case studies to illustrate the latest trends such as cosmetic surgery, as well as topical issues like MRSA and the credit-crunch. Women’s magazines continually hunt for inspirational tales from ‘normal people’, ranging from surviving an affair to dealing with addiction.”

“The market for honest stories and authentic case studies is continuing to expand,” continues Natasha, “but many people don’t know where to begin when it comes to talking to the media. Indeed, simply picking up the phone to a journalist can feel like a frightening experience. That’s where TalkToThePress.com comes in: advising people on whether they have a story which may be of interest to the national media, helping them decide which publications to aim for and managing all their contracts and fees.”

Natasha has ten years experience of writing individual, personal and often emotional stories for UK national magazines and newspapers. Since launching TalkToThePress.com in January, she has successfully placed a variety of stories in the national press, including: a woman trying to find a sperm donor; a man who has survived breast cancer; a woman who discovered she was the secret love child of a sixties rock star; a wronged-wife who underwent £5,000-worth of cosmetic surgery after her husband left and a self-confessed sex addict. All received payment for their interviews and, most importantly, achieved their personal goal of talking to the media.

“For many, just having their say and getting their story out there meets a deep-seated need,” explains Natasha. “This is either because they raise awareness about a subject close to their heart, raise money for charity or they quite simply get the opportunity to set a record straight. Some people talk to more than one publication, in fact I know of one woman who’s been a mistress for the past decade and has talked about it to numerous magazines – and why not? She has a fascinating tale to tell and magazines are willing to pay her to talk about her experiences which will doubtless be of interest to their 1000's of readers.”

Natasha estimates that the savvier story-seller can top up their income by as much as £5,000 per year if they appear in just one magazine or newspaper per month.

TalkToThePress.com deals with a vast range of stories and can also help individuals who wish to keep a crime in the public eye. Individuals with a story to tell should visit the website or call 020 7229 0023 for further details.

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Media information:

Natasha Courtenay-Smith is available for comment or interview for journalists wishing to feature previous story sellers, discuss the moral implications of story-selling or debate when private life becomes public.

For further info, contact Lesley Singleton at LS Media on 01234 752 663 / 07852 451 093 or e-mail Lesley@lsmedia.co.uk