Article writing dos & don'ts (Correspondents' guidelines)

BE COLOURFUL AND BRIEF:

Write-ups and photos of your events needn't be long and detailed. Keep in mind that most readers will want to know, "What was the most interesting thing about your event?", and not just the Who, What, When, Where and Why.

Please remember to include the more colourful details. The fact that 14 people gathered for a luncheon is less interesting than the news that at the luncheon they presented a new chalice to the Pastor. And remember to get a picture of Father and the chalice.

BE PHOTO-WISE:

To improve the chances of our using your photos, please keep in mind a couple of things: First, don't be shy. A good rule of thumb is that you should get as close to your subject as physically possible, and then take a step even closer. That way, faces will show up clearly, and readers can see the pastor's delighted smile at being handed a cheque. If you force yourself to get in close to your subject, it also makes it more difficult to take photos of long line-ups of people, and that's probably for the better.

Newspaper reproduction usually makes it impossible to see much detail in a photo that contains a dozen people. Please keep it simple, and keep it close.

Be creative. Rather than taking a picture of 10 people standing at the Bake Sale table, take a picture of your most senior (or junior) member, holding a slice of her famous 12-layer chocolate cake.

BE TIMELY:

One way you can help us get your news in the paper is to keep it current. It's better to mail, fax or e-mail a couple of paragraphs or a photo this week than a two-page write-up and many photos several weeks from now.

And if all you have is a photograph, send it in. Chances are it will grab just as many readers all by itself.

BE WITHIN REACH:

Always include a name and phone number where The B.C. Catholic can get additional information if necessary.

We at The B.C. Catholic want to thank you for your interest, and we want to help you in getting your message across to our readers. By following these simple guidelines, you can make it more likely that readers will learn about the events and activities your organization is involved in.