Eleanor Hawkins has been fined and deported after stripping off on Mount Kinabalu in Borneo… 

Eleanor’s story about how the Malaysians believe the act of ‘indecency’ committed with other tourists on the sacred moutain upset their gods and caused a fatal earthquake. The story  has already made headlines… and a chat with her will be top of every editor’s wish list. So should she sell her story? Or not? I take a look at the pros and cons…

Why she might not…

Firstly whether or not Eleanor Hawkins can actually be paid for her story is a grey area.

According to the IPSO editorial code, anyone with a criminal conviction, who is talking about it, cannot be paid for a story – because it can glamorise crime. And this includes payment to friends, family and agents involved in selling the story.

But even if editors find way to pay her, she might not feel up to talking to anyone. Her reaction when getting home is likely to be to want to shut the front door and let the whole nightmare go away.

Eleanor and her family have found themselves reluctantly thrust into the limelight and none of them might want to do further publicity.

Why she might want to tell her story…

When someone finds themselves in the middle of a media frenzy, they can find it hard to make the fuss go away. Eleanor’s name will now be on the internet for anyone such as a future employer to find too so there can sometimes be little to lose and much to gain by doing an interview with a chosen publication.

Putting a story out there will give her a chance to give her side – she might even capitalise on what has happened and her new found fame to gain a whole new career. For example, she might be asked to go on TV. And it allows a person to present themselves in a proper light and set the record straight.

What Eleanor should do…

Decide early on – within the next day or so if possible – whether she is going to do further publicity or not. If not then Eleanor (and preferably the whole family) should go away for a few days. They should pin a note to the front door saying they do not want to do any interviews at all. Eventually when journalists realise no-one wants to talk, the fuss will naturally die away- although it is likely to take a while.

Do not make the mistake of having any brief chat with someone who rings or your local paper – if you don’t want to do any more publicity then you must not answer the phone or speak to any media at all.

Incidentally it is illegal for any journalists to stand outside someone’s home – known as ‘doorstepping’ – and the Police can move anyone on.

Anyone wanting to sell a story should avoid dealing directly with a newspaper, magazine or TV and seek early advice. To ensure control is kept over a story and it appears exactly as you want it to and in a publication you like, get advice from an independent whole of market agent.

Read more: When the media spotlight turns on you.