By Samantha Castle, Reporter
NEW research recently published has revealed the reasons why people share their real-life stories with the press.
In an era when people are increasingly selling their own stories to the national press for cash, you'd be forgiven for assuming the majority are salacious kiss-and-tells, with the tale-tellers seeking instant fame and a quick buck.
However, research has revealed that people's motivations for sharing their experiences in newspapers like the Weekly News are often far more admirable - in fact, almost one third were hoping to warn other people of dangers they had faced first-hand, ranging from the criminal (identity fraud, money scams and injustice at the hands of the police) to the medical (liver transplant patients and slimming successes).
The research, conducted by an agency which specialises in real-life stories, also shows that a further 21% hoped to "inspire and motivate others" with their tales of successful weight loss, moving on after heartbreak and recovering from serious addiction or illness.
The third most popular reason for selling a story was to raise awareness of an issue, whether it be promoting disabled sports or talking about personal experiences of illnesses such as anorexia, cancer and dementia.
Here at the Weekly News we are no different. We are here to bring you real-life stories that affect people just like you. Every day people contact us in the genuine hope they can prevent someone else from going through a horrific experience or, on the flipside, spur people on to success in their personal or business life.
The survey unveiled the top ten motivations to be:
1. Warn others of dangers they had faced (31%)
2. Inspire and motivate others (21%)
3. Raise awareness of an issue (17%)
4. Earn cash (10%) (national newspapers and magazines!)
5. Gain publicity for a product/ business (8%)
6. Find a missing person (4%)
7. Gain closure on a personal situation (3%)
8. Pay tribute to a lost loved one (3%)
9. Kiss-and-tell (2%)
10. Pressurise a Government body (1%)
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