Paris Hilton has said her time in jail has changed her outlook on life and she intends to use her fame for good once she is released later this month.

Speaking over the phone from the medical wing of Century Regional Correctional Facility, she told Ryan Seacrest of E! News yesterday:

“I’m so much more grateful for everything that I have, even just to have a pillow at night or food.”

“You know my gratitude has gone up so much and I just realize that the media used me to make fun of and be mean about it. Frankly [I’m] sick of it and I want to use my fame in a good way.”

She added that the hardest part of life in jail has been the separation from her family: “I am behind glass and I want to give my dad a big hug and they won’t even let me do that.”

“That’s how the rules are, you have to be behind glass. I’m not a criminal, I’m not dangerous, so it makes me feel like that. It’s hard but I’m stronger everyday.”

“I just can’t wait to see my family and have a nice meal and be in my own bed and appreciate all the things I took for granted and never really thought much about.”

In related news, the New York Post reported yesterday that NBC has signed a $1million deal with Paris to secure her first post-release interview.

Sources from the network told the newspaper that Paris will be questioned by Meredith Vieria for the Today show - she refused to be interview by Matt Lauer because of previous “disparaging” remarks.

The source added that ABC were expected to score the exclusive deal because of Barbara Walters’ friendship with Kathy Hilton but NBC won out because NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker personally called Paris’ father Rick Hilton to make the deal.

Paris’ spokesperson Mike Sitrick has denied the price tag but not that the interview will take place: “Paris Hilton is not being paid for any television interview. Nor is Paris being paid for any collateral, including video and photographs, related to any interview.”