How to Handle Press Attention

 

If you suddenly find yourself caught up in the news, you may find yourself feeling totally overwhelmed by all the media attention you receive.

 

We often receive calls from people who have journalists outside their homes, knocking on the door and asking for interviews. When you don’t know how the industry works, it can be hard to know what to do.

 

To help you figure out your next move, we’ve compiled a handy guide to handling press attention. If you want to know more or want some tailored advice, get in touch with us at message@talktothepress.com.

 

1)      Decide if you want to talk

If you decide that you just want the whole thing to go away, the best thing to do is tell any journalist that gets in touch with you that you are not interested in speaking to the press.

A good journalist will know that under the Press Complaints Commission Code of practice, they are not allowed to keep pursuing you for comment once you have told them to stop, unless they can justify it as being in the public interest.

If you want to sell your story, there is nothing stopping you from dealing with the national newspapers and magazines directly. But if you don’t know the right people to contact, you may not get the best deal possible. Whatever you decide to do, we recommend you think about your decision carefully. Which brings us onto our second point....

 

2 ) Think it through

Most people find selling a story very satisfying. For some, it provides a way to set the record straight and for others, sharing their experience with others can be very cathartic. But it may not be the right choice for everyone. You might want to talk it over with a trusted friend or family member. You can also contact an agency like Talk to the Press, who can talk you through the process and help you decide if selling a story is right for you. Please check out our page on considerations before selling a story.

 

3)      Get someone to represent you

When you in the eye of the storm, the last thing you want to be doing is dealing with the press. If you work with an agency like Talk to the Press, there will always be someone who can handle all the enquiries and interview requests on your behalf.

We will also be able to help you negotiate the best possible fee for your story. Even if you’ve already been approached by a newspaper or magazine, an agency will still be able to step in to manage the deal for you. Click here to see an article we wrote containing advice for people like Gillian Duffy, who had to deal with the media spotlight when Gordon Brown called her 'Bigoted.'

 

 

 

Useful Links

 

http://www.talktothepress.co.uk/

 

http://www.pcc.org.uk/

 

http://www.media-agent.co.uk

 

http://sellmystory.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

 

Where would you like to go next?

 

Find out how to

Sell Your Story Home Page

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Have a look at what our customers say about selling a story with us?
See our recently sold stories. 

Visit our resources for advice and tips on selling a story.