Natasha Courtenay-Smith founded features agency, Talk to the Press in 2008 after she realised that many ordinary people have incredible stories to share but do not know how to go about getting them published in the press.  Since the agency launched, it has placed 300 articles in the media and helped many people talk publicly about their experiences; the majority of which have reached them through their website.

__________________________________________________________________________

Giving People a Voice

Talk to the Press act as a publicity agent for their clients, helping them navigate the complex world of media. Last year, they were approached by the mother of Kara Hoyte, a young woman who helped make legal history after her ex-boyfriend tried to murder her. Kara’s testimony helped convict him for a murder he had committed years earlier. The family was being bombarded by the press, but after approaching Talk to the Press, newspaper and magazine deals were arranged that allowed Kara to tell her side of the story in her own time.

Winner of the 2009 Women in Business award at the Startups Awards

In November of last year, Natasha won the hotly contended Women in Business award at the Start Ups Awards. The judges were unanimous in their decision and praised her business as being “innovative”. Not content with running one successful business, Natasha, a former Daily Mail journalist, also runs Case Study Link, an online service that connects commissioning editors looking for case studies, with experienced freelance journalists and agencies who can supply them.

From Biology and Psychology to Journalism

Natasha studied biology and psychology at the University of Sussex but after graduating was unsure what career she wanted to pursue. She had always been an avid fan of magazines and decided to pursue a job writing for one of her favourite publications.  After numerous internships at various publications she was offered a job as an editorial assistant on Health & Fitness magazine. Her ability to write to tight deadlines meant she was soon producing features for the magazine.

Natasha went on to write for the Sunday Times in New Zealand and Shine magazine back in the UK, before joining the Daily Mail in 2001 as a feature writer after which she eventually went freelance.

Cutting Edge Documentary

Drawing on the experience she had achieved from working with numerous publications, she went on to launch Talk to the Press, which has since produced articles for all the major national newspapers and women’s magazines in the UK, in 2008; and Case Study Link in May 2009.   She has since become a well-respected expert within the industry, having recently finished filming for a Cutting Edge documentary about features agencies, and has often appeared in the media to talk about human interest journalism, the media and publicity.