Tell your tale and boost your income by a potential £5k per year
- new website helps people earn cash from their real-life stories Continued growth in the women’s weekly magazine market, coupled with heightened demand from
national newspapers for human interest stories, means there is 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
LS Media Ltd
Company Registration No: 05831081
Registered Office: Suite 22 Savant House, 63-65 Camden High Street, London NW1 7JL
magazines are willing to pay her to talk about her experiences which will doubtless be of interest to
their thousands 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:
For further information, please contact Lesley Singleton at LS Media on 01234 752 663 / 07852 451
093 or email Lesley@lsmedia.co.uk
For writers wishing to feature previous story sellers, discuss the moral implications of story-selling or
debate when private life becomes public, Natasha Courtenay-Smith is available for comment or
interview.
LS Media Ltd
Company Registration No: 05831081
Registered Office: Suite 22 Savant House, 63-65 Camden High Street, London NW1 7JL