About your journalism:
What do you write about?
Love rats, anorexics, oddballs, dwarves, transsexuals, thin people/fat people, generally the more dysfunctional a character the better. I am Heywood’s answer to Jeremy Kyle but without the nasty bits.
Where are we likely to see your work?
You will see my work in hi-brow publications such as Thats Life, more mag, Take a Break, Full House, Closer and newspapers such as The Sun, Mirror and People and on TV programmes like This Morning.
What’s the most memorable work you’ve done?
The one story I do remember is a heartbreaking tale about a girl who fell in love with a hunchback dwarf. They dated for about eight months until everything went wrong when she discovered he was moonlighting as a porn star. I also did a story on a woman who couldn’t stop farting, that one sticks in my mind as well.
What interview or feature would you love the chance to do?
A Rihanna one, I really fancy Rihanna, she's on my bucket list.
About you and PRs:
How and when do you like them to get in touch?
Anytime between 6.30am and 11pm but not after 11 because that’s when I go to bed. They can get in touch by phone, email or via my website www.sellyourstory4cash.co.uk
Do you find press conferences, trips, parties and other events useful or an interruption?
Don’t really do any of these now. I deal primarily with real life stories so these sort of things don’t form part of my day to day routine anymore. I'd like to be invited on some nice trips now and again, just to feel important.
If you could make one change to the way PRs deal with you, what would it be?
I'm fine with PRs, I have never had a problem with the way any of them deal with me. It has become a very professional business as epitomised by the likes of Siobhan Sharpe, owner of Perfect Curve and head of brand for the London 2012 Olympics.
About you:
How would you pay the bills if you weren’t a journalist?
I wouldn’t pay the bills, journalism is the only thing I can do. I’m useless at everything else. Without journalism I’d be washed up and in the gutter, or on Newsnight discussing phone hacking.
If we gave you £1000, how would you spend it?
I’d buy an executive season ticket for Oldham Athletic. Oh, hold on, you can’t buy that because Oldham don’t have executive boxes, they have two shabby Portokabins where you get deep fried roast potatoes with your processed meat and soggy veg before the match. Oh and Oldham doesn’t even have four stands around their ground anymore!!!! That’s how crap my team is.
Do you tweet? Why, why not?
Yes, I put out story requests on Twitter, it’s very useful, but not as useful as Facebook. [Follow Paul on Twitter: @SellaStory]
What books are on your bedside table, magazines in your bag, or blogs on your screen?
At the moment I’m reading 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami after just finishing 2666 by Roberto Bolano. My favourite book is The Last British Bullfighter, the story of Frank Evans, whoever wrote that is a genius. Mag wise I read Conde Naste Traveller because living near Rochdale means I have a constant urge to escape, and The Economist so I can join in conversations about politics at posh dinner parties. I also subscribe to Decanter for some bizarre reason. Blog wise I read Justin Dunn’s blog because it is funny (but don't tell him that).
Find out more about Paul or contact him on www.journalistdirectory.com/journalist/XmgLT/Paul-Carter