Make Money: Sell Your Story To A Newspaper
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Making money by selling your story to a newspaper can be a brilliant way to get some cash for not a huge amount of effort.
I’ve actually written about this before in my post how I made a £200 selling my story to a women’s magazine.
However, I wanted to do a bit of an update and include some tips for finding ways to sell your story to a newspaper rather than a magazine.
Make Money: Sell Your Story To A Newspaper
Is My Story Good Enough To Sell To A Newspaper?
It might seem as though the papers these days are filled with nothing but doom and gloom – celebrities having affairs and getting up to mischief, politicians lying and the rise in hate and racism since Brexit.
Add into the mix disasters from around the world, Donald Trump and the impact plastic and global warming are having on the Earth, I can quite see why some people might never want to pick up a newspaper again.
However, it’s not all bad. Most newspapers do carry human interest stories and case studies and often these are around more fun and interesting topics. These could be featuring your fancy shed or stunning kitchen, a miracle baby or getting married in a crazy place.
How Do I Get Featured In A Newspaper?
There are two main ways to get featured in a National Newspaper. Firstly, if you have a pretty big sensationalist story it’s probably worth going to them directly and seeing what they offer you. You could consider contacting a press agent who will contact several newspapers on your behalf, however, they also take a cut of any money you do make.
Secondly, you could be featured as a case study in a smaller story, either as an individual or with a few other people that have done or experienced the same thing as you. These will pay less but are more relaxed and you may need to take part in a photoshoot.
There may be occasions where newspapers are unable to pay for your story but may be able to mention a business instead. It’s up to you to decide whether this is worth it or not.
How Much Could I Make When I Sell My Story To A Newspaper?
The money you make will vary considerably from newspaper to newspaper and how big they consider your story to be.
Anything from £500 for a big story to £50 for a case study in my experience, but of course, it can vary quite a bit.
There are also occasions when newspapers might be looking for a comment on a subject and they may not be able to pay but are able to link back to your business or website.
Not ideal, but depending on what you do this may be worth considering.
Here I am featured in the Sun talking about Saving Money at Christmas.
Related Post: How To Sell Your Story For Cash
Where Can I Find Newspapers To Sell My Story?
If your preference is for a particular newspaper then it’s probably worth contacting them directly, a quick google should help you find all the details that you need and I as I mentioned above you could think about using a press agent too.
Feature Me! UK – is a group on Facebook run by several journalists who work for a variety of publications.
Most days they will post asking for case studies across a huge range of subjects and are always upfront about the fees you can expect if featured.
There is also sometimes a tip fee if you are able to put them in touch with someone who then goes on to be featured in a story.
How To Sell Your Story To A Newspaper – Final Tips
Here are a few final tips on how to sell your story to a newspaper.
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Some stories could result in a bit of backlash depending on the content, be prepared for this and make sure selling your story is really something you want to do.
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Be really clear when speaking to the journalist, the more detail the better. Make notes if you have to so the story is really clear in your mind. You can also ask for a readback if it’s a sensitive subject or you’re worried about them getting things wrong.
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Make sure you ask where the story will be published – if there are particular newspapers you don’t want to be in it’s better to find this out sooner rather than later.
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Avoid the comments section if your story is published online. People can be vile and it’s not worth the upset. IGNORE THEM!
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Make sure you find out the publication date for your story so you can pick up a copy!
