I think you meant:
Many people think that if they tell their story to someone and the person is not interested, that person is rejecting them.

It isn’t necessary to publish the comment, I just can’t send you an email from here and I more than likely won’t remember when I am able to.

And IRG, you certainly don’t speak for all “journalists” or person who sends a press release. Every press release has the kernel of a story, and a real journalist will look for that. They obviously need to “work it,” but at least one “journalist” has show up at the interview with the story already written (and told the interviewee just that!) Sounds like that guy loved having the story handed to them.

Now, all ideas are not suitable for real stories for every publication, but a real journalist will look at the press releases and look for angles that work. Someone has to provide copy for the ads, and nobody should be discouraged from sending press releases and talking to journalists.

The real failure of most press releases is that they say what you want to do, when, where, etc. Almost never do they address why the newspaper should care about it. Give the editor a reason to run it, show them why the readers of that publication will care, and ten talk about what you are doing.

Not professional journalists. You may get a lead on something from someone who contacts you, but there’s generally a lot of other people, research, etc. involved in major stories.

And you cannot cover any story based on any one person’s input, comments, etc.

Professional journalists, and granted there are fewer around today, given that nobody wants professional and trained writers who follow a code of ethics (or get thrown out or fired), do a lot of digging around to find stories. They talk to a lot of people even though they may indeed have some “informants” or others who regularly or periodically supply information worth following up.

Would that stories were just “handed” to journalists. It should be so “easy.” Ha.

And FYI: Nobody wants a story handed to them. THey want to find it and work it.

Getting background information isn’t the same as getting a story. Especially since most people who contact journalists are just looking for PR, and have little to anything to do with ideas for real stories.

I just wanted to bring your attention to this line: “Maybe you’re wheelchair bound and you’re writing fiction by using transcription software.”

Well, the problem with this line is twofold.
a) The first part of the line: “Maybe you’re wheelchair bound …” creates a image in people’s minds that is akin to being stuck in a wheelchair all day, every single day of your life. For most people, this would be absolutely scary and sound like a meaningless way to live. This image is not the best image to convey about wheelchairs! People who use wheelchairs are people first. I myself use a wheelchair for daily mobility.
b) “… and you’re writing fiction by using transcription software” – My hands move just fine. Please don’t create the idea that if you use a wheelchair, your hands cannot move.

I would like it if you could be more sensitive to disabled people in the future.