Rules for Submissions
We run a pretty lean but efficient operation here at the Beat, and we need your help to keep it that way. If you want to send a news release or article or community notice, etc., and have it posted on the Beat, here are the rules:
- Send it in email in Plain text format (like Notepad or TextEdit) or in Microsoft Word. We're good editors, we know where to put the bold and italics if needed.
- Attach the photos separately in email; do NOT insert them in the document. Word in particular does weird things to the photos, and if the images are inserted in the document, they will mostly likely not be usable. Just put the name of the image in the document where it should appear, something like this: [photo1.jpg goes here] and we'll insert it into the web page.
- PDF files sent to us will be posted as a flyer in a special display window, or as a hyperlink. We will not try to extract the text or images out of the PDF, we simply don't have time. If you want the text posted, send us a copy of the original Word document instead. .
- PDF files that are scans of documents will be posted only as hyperlinks. We cannot extract the text from a scanned document and we will not take the time to re-type it. Send us a copy of the original Word doc instead.
- For any and all news releases and calendar items, be sure to include the who, what, why, where, when information. Without all those elements readers will not have enough information to find out what, when and where the event is.
Next time you send us something and it violates these rules, we'll remind you. After that we'll send it back. We know you love the Beat, and we just need your help keeping it running efficiently. Thank you!!
You may always find these rules under About > Rules for Submission.
To submit a news release or calendar item to www.grantcountybeat.com, please send to editor@grantcountybeat.com.
Questions, please email editor@grantcountybeat.com
Submission of display ads guidelines
- Category: Rules for Submissions Rules for Submissions
- Published: 01 September 2017 01 September 2017
The Beat totally appreciates when you send already completed ads for us to post.
But you must remember several tips:
1) KEEP IT SIMPLE!!!!!!! The fewer words the better, What, when, where
2) Yes, we prefer receiving the ad in a larger size, so when we resize it in the smaller size, it is still clear and not fuzzy.
3) HOWEVER, even though you are sending the ad in the larger size, please made a copy, and downsize it, at 96 dpi (resolution) to the correct size it will be.
a) For example, if you have built it at 1200 X 1200 pixels for a square ad, downsize a COPY to 300X300 to make sure it is still readable.
b) If it is not easily readable, please go back and make the WORDS bigger.
4) If you have all the elements that you want in the ad, I can build an ad for you, upon receipt of the graphics and text you want, at a basic cost of $25. It won't be fancy.
5) HOWEVER, if I have to build it from scratch, the cost is an EXTRA $50, above the cost of the ad, because it takes time away from my writing articles. And I will still need to know the what, when and where, and preferably what type of graphics you would like.
All display ads link to your website or a Facebook address, that you must provide. Otherwise, it will link to an article or graphic that has details of the event, so people can uncover what will happen.
KEEP IT SIMPLE!!!!!!
Submission Guidelines - updated
- Category: Rules for Submissions Rules for Submissions
- Published: 10 November 2016 10 November 2016
1) All documents that are only words need to be in Word or text.
2) Photos should be .jpg format and not manipulated in any way, except for possible cropping. Send the original digital photo attached separately from the Word document.
3) Send to editor@grantcountybeat.com
4) Be sure to put contact information in case we have questions.
Please:
1) Do not send documents as PDFs unless they are flyers for an event.
2) Do not use fancy formatting in a Word document.
3) Do not use the Normal template, but choose the No Spacing template under Home at the top of your document.
4) Please put double spaces between paragraphs.
5) Do not put any words in all capital letters unless it is an acronym that you have written earlier in the document with its full name..
6) Capitalize the first letter of only people names, place names, group names or agency names or the beginning of a sentence.
7) Never embed photos or graphics inside a Word document
8) Do not waste your precious time or mine on fancy graphics in a document when it may not transfer over to the website
Photo Captions:
Please provide captions that match the title of the photos, Captions must be in Word or text. They may be part of the original document, at the top or bottom of the document. Please number the jpg-format photos (and the captions) in the order you want them. For example: 01-George-Smith-speaking; 02-Marie-Jones-speaking, etc.
Editor's Note: These submission guidelines are preliminary and may be added to in the future.