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Original poster

Been contacted by a magazine to tell story! Anyone had this themselves?

25 replies

adamadamum · 02/05/2007 22:05

Hi! After last week when my DD was in the local paper (Manchester Evening News) and on Channel M news (with me looking awful!) I got a letter today from a womens mag interested in doing an article! I am not the kind of person to do anything to be in the press let's say...I used to be in the music biz - been there done that! But that was ages ago, If I go ahead I don't know what to expect... Can anyone enlighten me?

I am hoping this link will work to tell you what it's all about, not that I am a proud mum or anything!!!!!

Fingers crossed that this works...

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1005/1005627_catherine_breaks_her_silence.html

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MrsBadger · 02/05/2007 22:08

link

it's the underscores that muck it up

brimfull · 02/05/2007 22:08

is this it?

ChaCha · 02/05/2007 22:08

Can't enlighten you but just wanted to say what a lovely little girl you have, you must be very proud and what lovely news!!

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Families General parenting

divastrop · 02/05/2007 22:08

here

divastrop · 02/05/2007 22:09

sorry,x posts with everybody else

brimfull · 02/05/2007 22:09

lovely story you must be so proud of her,what mag has contacted you?

LilyLoo · 02/05/2007 22:09

not sure but maybe a nice story to share to give hope to other parents in similair situation.

CuriousSquid · 02/05/2007 22:12

try this link

What an amazing story!!! you must be SO proud!

I have a friend who takes her DS2 to a nursery in Heaton Moor, think it maybe Charnwood but not so sure.

I don't know what it would entail to sell your story but i imagine it would be great publicity for the centre, not to mention raise awareness of speech problems

CuriousSquid · 02/05/2007 22:12

x posts with lots of ppl, had screen freeze lol!

Original poster

adamadamum · 02/05/2007 22:12

Ok, that doesn't seem to work tonight! I have found at least, if anyone wants to see it, if you go to
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/
and put "Catherine Breaks" you will find the article "Catherine breaks her silence" near the top of the list! Best I can do - I am useless with technology!

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ChaCha · 02/05/2007 22:14

I copied and pasted the link and went to the home page then typed the title of the article in the search. No good at links.

misdee · 02/05/2007 22:18

if you go ahead, bearing in mind we have been involved in press articles, you will get asked for photographs to be done, interview, sometimes ove rhte phone, sometimes face to face, and it can be a wee bit stressful. i had one lot here who wouldnt go even though i was trying to gett he kids into bed. drove me nuts a bit. but it was only one night really and was worth it to riase awareness.

HelloMama · 02/05/2007 22:19

Yes i was involved in something that was reported in a local rag, and was written to a few weeks later by 2 womens mags asking if I would like to sell the story. They sent a contract which meant I'd get paid £250 (or whatever) as long as I didn't sell story to any other mag, and I was telling the truth etc. I think if I had signed the contract, a journo would have called the house to compose the story and I would have been able to ammend it etc before publication. I decided not to do it though in the end, so not quite sure what the end product would have been like, if it would have been sensationalised (sp?) etc. HTH though!

Your story is really lovely though and I think it would be a really interesting read for other parents in a similar situation, giving hope and a bright outlook etc.

Wotzsaname · 02/05/2007 22:28

To raise awareness is a great idea, no experience myself.
However expect that they might mention the nursery and you may need to consider that beforehand, or mention it to nursery. I am sure you are aware of that though.

NurseyJo · 02/05/2007 22:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

carol3 · 02/05/2007 22:32

I had my student nurse placement at charnwood wondeful place. I have fond memeories.
I have also been in a few mags and nice way to make a bit of cash and as in your case raise awareness.

Original poster

adamadamum · 02/05/2007 23:10

What a fast bunch of posters you are! I was busy trying to work out how to make the link work and you guys had already done it - thanks! Yes I am really proud, and will almost certainly go ahead, and will make sure the wonderful Charnwood gets the praise it deserves. The report on Channel M News on Friday evening was so beautifully done (apart from the bit with me in it...), it had some really sweet, touching moments, like Catherine reaching over to give the reporter a cuddle and then kiss, and later on my lap, saying "Channel M". I have been told that Charnwood have been showing the video at every opportunity and everyone goes "Aaahh" at those moments as you would! It's not just about my DD though, another little girl, Soleil,(who has Cerebral Palsy) has just taken her first unaided steps there, the same week.

We as parents know how hard we work to bring out the best in our children, no matter what their abilities or disabilities, but a really good, supportive, caring and dedicated nursery can make a big difference. Of course I have done lots to bring Catherine on, but she was more or less totally mute in other peoples company when she first joined Charnwood, it has taken a lot of work, speech therapy etc. to get her to where she is now - a chatterbox! She was never quiet at home of course, but it is only over the last couple of weeks that she has suddenly started naming everything, everywhere!

So I am proud of myself for persisting and constantly talking, reading (and signing) with her, I am proud of her "baby" brother who talks to her constantly - a huge influence I think, and I am proud of her fantastic Nursery, Charnwood, for believing in her, their determination to get her talking, and their patience when for months she was totally silent there.

Sorry this is so long, but how can I shorten this?

Thanks for your posts!

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Original poster

adamadamum · 02/05/2007 23:22

By the way Charnwood already know about this, the mag contacted them about the same time they contacted me, and are more than happy! I am thinking it would be a good thank you to them, they run partly on donations, so the more publicity the better, and they have reason to be happy with publicity themselves as they just got a fantastic Ofsted report - outstanding in all areas. They are happy to get all publicity, so that is certainly not a worry! My aim if I do it is to make sure they put enough emphasis on how fantastic a nursery it is.

I just need to get my head around what to expect...

OP posts:

madamez · 02/05/2007 23:30

Depends a bit on the mag, though most of the ones who would want to run a story like this will be running it in a very positive way. It's a happy story that might help others (didn't know from the thread title what kind of story it would be). They may well be prepared to pay you, as well: if you don't need/want money then you could always ask them to donate it to a relevant charity.
Good luck.

Original poster

adamadamum · 03/05/2007 00:01

Thamks, I am on a very tight budget to be honest so if they pay I will be happy! But I owe Charnwood a favour, so they will certainly get a reasonable amount of it! I guess I may have to wait and see - I got the letter from the mag today, will probably phone them tomorrow to discuss.

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krang · 03/05/2007 10:14

Hi Adamadamum

I work for mags similar to the ones you describe and while this can be a really good experience for everyone involved, it's important that you understand:

You will have no control over how the final story will appear. Some mags will read your story back to you for your approval, some won't. Ask them if they will do this. Once the story is written it will be sub-edited and given a headline and a 'sell' - you won't have any control over what spin they choose to put on it. Most of the time this doesn't cause problems, sometimes it does. Just be aware of it.
They'll almost certainly want to use your full name, photo and where you live.
If they really want you, a journo should visit/phone you at a time convenient to you. Make it clear if you've got babies/kids/a job! I work from home and have a baby myself so I'm always v. sympathetic to juggling mums but a 25 year old bloke with no kids might not be!
Get a copy of the mag and look at it before you make your final decision. What kind of spin does it put on stories? Do you think judging by what you see that they'll be kind to you?
Make sure you ask them about the fee! They should DEFINITELY pay you.

Hope it goes well - just some food for thought.

madamez · 03/05/2007 15:21

Also seconded Krang's comments but in your case, Adamadamum, I fail to see how anyone could put a badly negative spin on this: the magazine will want to feature it in the "heartwarming" section, surely. Though having a look at a few copies of the mag in question is a good idea.

It would be a different matter for anyone whose "story" involved them bleating about how whatever hideous crime they committed wasn't their fault, or putting their side of some family row because that sort of thing always backfires horribly.

fryalot · 03/05/2007 15:24

Your dd is wonderful.

Tell the world

Piffle · 03/05/2007 15:29

wonderful story - and I'm glad it will get some publicity for the great work of the nursery and for your daughter as well.I hope it is done sensitively
may I ask what syndrome it is your dd has?

Original poster

adamadamum · 05/05/2007 00:11

Thanks everyone for the lovely comments and advice! I am really proud of Catherine but I am a private person, at the same time broke! So dilemmas all round. I will almost certainly do the article, I think I owe that to her wonderful nursery, but I will do everything I can to make sure they don't print a load of unneccessary bull - at the end of the day that means more to me than the actual fee (which I would share with the nursery anyway - I owe them that after all they have done).

I guess I shall see what happens, but I'm not a mug, so I hope I can do it and have all parties gain something from it.

Any further advice is more than welcome!

Thanks xxx

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