Sell story: FAQ  

 

 

How much money can I really earn through selling my story?

If you are selling a really strong story, your fee could be thousands. Most women's magazines and national papers will pay around £200-£500 for a story which makes a two-page feature. But this can go up to £1000 or even £2000. In generally, the bigger your story, and the more relevant it is to the news at this very moment, the more you'll be paid.

 

If you're actually caught up in the news, top fees from newspapers can be as high as £10,000. When a story is really good we can sell it two or three times too, which means you can double or triple your fee. So if you earn £500 three times, that's £1500 in your pocket for just one interview! Many of our clients get asked to appear on television as well, which earns them even more cash.

 

 

Who do we work with?

We sell stories to national newspapers and magazines, ranging from the Daily Mail, The Sun and the Mirror to magazines such as Glamour, Grazia, Red, Woman’s Own, Woman, Take a Break, Real People, Bella and Best. We also work with television chat shows such as GMTV, This Morning and Richard & Judy.

 

 

What should I consider before selling a story?

 

Please see this page of our website which details all the things you must think about before selling your story.

 

 

Why shouldn't I sell my story direct to a newspaper or magazine myself?

There is no reason at all not to take that route if you'd prefer. But selling a story isn't a simple process. You need to know exactly who to talk to and what sort of deal to negotiate. Unless you've had experience within the media, it's unlikely you'll end up with the best deal if you try to sell your story yourself. Also, it's important to remember that most publications are bombarded by letters and emails from people wanting to sell their stories. Most commissioning editors don't even have the time to read through even half of them. Even if you have the best story in the world, it may get lost amongst the chaos. And if you don't present your story in the manner commissioning editors expect, then it just might not catch their eye.

 

 

How will this agency protect me?

 

The last thing we want is an unhappy customer. We protect you in the following way.

1) We always read back the copy prior to filing it to the publication in question, allowing you to make any changes you want.

2) If you are not familiar with a publication interested in your story, we request that you buy yourself a copy before making your decision. Not every magazine or newspaper is to everyone's taste.

3) We are not psychologists and ultimately, whether to sell a story or not is a decision that you are responsible for. But if we feel that selling a story is not in your best interests for any reason, we will advise you against selling your story. If you still wish to go ahead with selling your story, you will have to use a different agency.

4) If we are contacted by a teenager, we insist on talking to their parent/legal guardian before even considering placing their story in a newspaper or magazine.

 

 

Who pays Talk to the Press?

Not you. Our service to you is free - we do not take a percentage of your fee. We negotiate a separate payment from the magazine or newspaper in question for the writing of your story. We are journalists, so we get paid for writing your story.

 

 

What about contracts?

Most newspapers and magazines will want you to sign a contract to confirm you are selling your story to them. It will set out your fee, but usually the most important part of a contract involves you agreeing ‘exclusivity' – ie, to not sell your story to rival publications until your story has been published.

 

It is often helpful to take independent advice on a contract as the terms are often negotiable. A publication, for instance, will try and tie you in to exclusivity for a period of 30 days, but we can help reduce this term substantially. Remember, if you break the terms of any contract you sign, you may forfeit your fee from the media organisation in question. We can help you avoid these pitfalls.

 

Another option we will offer you is to sign a contract with Talk to the Press. This will permit us to handle all your interviews and all your contracts with individual publications. We'll do all the hard work for you.

 

 

Who will interview me and write my story?

All stories accepted by Talk to the Press are written in-house by one of our team. We don't want you to deal with journalists you don't know or trust. When your story is written, we will read it back to you to make sure you are happy with it. That way, you'll know ahead of time what is actually going to be submitted

 

 

What happens if I refer a friend to Talk to the Press?

 

You could earn yourself £50! In order to payment to go ahead, the story your friend sells has to be published.

 

 

Are there any potential pitfalls to selling my story?

 

Usually, the answer is no. For most people, selling a story is a positive experience. However, in certain (rare) instances there may be potential ramifications for your family, friends and career. Please talk to us about any concerns you have about selling a story, as there are various ways we can work with you to limit any negative consequences.

 

 

Do I have to pay tax on my earnings?

 

Whether or not tax is due on your earnings depends on your individual circumstances. Your fees from selling your story do count as 'income' and tax may be due. Before we pay you, we ask you to sign a form that reflects this fact.