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Submission Guidelines

News and Photo Submissions

The Community News welcomes the submission of news stories, photos, calendar items, letters, wedding and engagement announcements, obituaries or any other information that would be of interest to the readers of our newspaper. Below are guidelines for various submissions:
News or sports stories
If you or someone you know has been involved in an event you think is newsworthy, please include your name and contact information (either a daytime telephone number or e-mail address). Please send the information in a timely manner following the event. Remember to include as much pertinent information, including the following:
WHO was involved?
WHAT was the event?
WHEN did the event occur?
WHERE did the event occur?
WHY was the event important?

Photo guidelines

All the information that goes with a news story should also accompany photos. Your digital photos are more likely to be included in the newspaper if the following guidelines are followed:

  • Set digital cameras at the highest resolution possible. We realize it takes longer to e-mail larger files, but print requires a higher resolution than the web.
  • Get in close - we like to see smiling faces.
  • Try to get dynamic photos of something happening - not simply a snapshot.
  • Large group photos typically do not work well. If taking photos of a group activity, submit several photos of individuals or small groups, and we’ll select the ones to print.
  • Please include the names of all the people in each photo. Identify from left to right and from front to back.
  • Non-digital photos can be brought to our office, and we will scan and return the photo while you are there.

Calendar Items - Upcoming events

When sending information about upcoming events, please include your name and contact information (either a daytime telephone number or e-mail address).

Calendar items should be no more than a paragraph or so. Include the date, time and location of the event, and also include contact information for readers to call if they want more information. Please do not send information on regular occurring weekly events unless there is a special speaker or other out of the ordinary occurrence associated with the event.

Longer advance stories The Community News will also publish longer advance stories of upcoming events if they meet our news criteria. Please send longer stories at least three to four weeks ahead of the actual event to ensure space and time are available for publication.

Coverage of an event To request coverage of an event, please contact The Community News at 817-441-7661 ext. 207 at least two to three weeks before the event.

Letters to the Editor

When sending letters, please include your name and contact information (either a daytime telephone number or e-mail address). Letters should be limited to approximately 300 words. Deadline is noon Monday for publication in that week’s issue of the paper. No letters will be published in the issue immediately preceding any local election.

Wedding, Engagement and Birth Announcements

When sending wedding, engagement and birth announcements, please include your name and contact information (either a daytime telephone number or e-mail address). Please send engagement announcements at least three to four weeks before the wedding date to ensure timely publication. Please send wedding and birth announcements within two to three weeks following the event for timely publication.

Because The Community News treats announcements as news items and not as paid advertising, there is no charge to place wedding, engagement or birth announcements. However, all announcements are subject to editing for length and journalistic criteria the same as any other news story. The one exception to this policy is lengthy wedding announcements, which will be edited to a reasonable length or, at the discretion of the person submitting the announcement, be charged a $45 fee for the additional space. Deadline for submission of announcements is noon Friday for the following week’s paper.

Obituaries

When sending obituaries, please include your name and contact information (either a daytime telephone number or e-mail address). Because The Community News treats obituaries as news items and not as paid advertising, there is no charge to place them. However, all obituaries are subject to editing for length and journalistic criteria the same as any other news story. Deadline for submission of obituaries is noon Friday for the following week’s paper.