A lot goes on in our region that deserves attention in the Greenfield Recorder and Athol Daily News. After all, we are community newspapers.
Many people understand how getting information about their event or another newsworthy item published in our papers helps to spread the word.
But that’s not always the case. Too often, organizers don’t use the opportunities we provide. Others might, but they wait until last minute and in the process, miss out on having a possible advance story or coverage.
So given this is the end of 2019, we believe it is time for a refresher on how the process works. Here goes.
EMAIL: Nearly all of our communication is via email. It is convenient and faster than regular mail although we do accept information that way. By the way, posting it on our Facebook page will not get the attention that a direct email will.
Unsure where to send a press release? Email it to: newsroom@recorder.com and for those in the North Quabbin area, newsroom@atholdailynews.com
Is it arts or entertainment-related? Send it to features@recorder.com.
Op-ed pieces should be sent to letters@recorder.com
Have an item for Talk of the Towns? The right address is talk@recorder.com.
How about church news? Send it to religion@recorder.com.
COMPLETE INFORMATION: In journalism, it comes down to the 5Ws — who, what, when, where and why. Also include ticket info, if appropriate, age appropriateness, and anything readers would want to know before they attend an event. Got an angle you’d like to pitch? Include that, too.
TIMELINESS: We ask that you submit your press release at least a week before the event. (Note anything sent through the post office will take longer.) That gives us enough time to get the item into a regional notebook or for a reporter to follow up with a story.
For calendar items, the deadline is 10 days before.
The one exception is breaking news. We are ready for that any time.
DIVIDE AND CONQUER: Our news coverage is divided geographically: Greenfield, Orange area, Montague, North County, West County, South County and North Quabbin.
FLOODING THE NEWSROOM: Some people feel sending their press release to everyone in the newsroom will increase their chances of getting something published. We will be firm in saying it is unnecessary and to be honest, a bit annoying. We’ve had cases where two reporters have started working on a story. When it doubt, send it to the newsroom email.
CALENDAR: The calendars published by the Recorder and its sister papers, the Daily Hampshire Gazette and Valley Advocate, are free ways to reach a large audience for musical, arts and other events. However, submitters must do the work. We do not enter the information.
Go to the website, click on “arts” and then “calendar.” Follow the directions.
PHOTOS: We are fortunate to have two great photographers on staff — Paul Franz and Dan Little — who cover our area in pictures. Their photos available for purchase on our website. How do you do that? Go to our website, find the photo, and on the caption beside the photographer’s name a box that says “Buy this image.”
We do not give away photos for free. Besides, the photographers do receive a small compensation with these purchases.
PROBLEMS WITH CIRCULATION: Lastly, we want you to get your newspaper at home or place of business in a timely fashion. But should that not happen, the right place to contact is the Circulation Department. The number for the Recorder and Athol Daily News is: (413) 586-1925.