PUBLICITY AND ADVERTISING GUIDELINES

We welcome your news into the Echo Pilot newspaper. Getting publicity is easy even if you've never done this before. It's all a matter of learning how the newspaper operates, who to contact and where (and when) to mail, fax or email your news releases.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Your primary contact for news will be the editor, Joyce F. Nowell. She can be contacted Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. 5 p.m. The phone number is 717-5972164. Our fax number is 717-5973754. Her email address is jnowell@echo-pilot.com . The mailing address is: 29 Center Square, P.O. Box 159, Greencastle, PA 17225.

WHAT IS NEWS?

What is news? What is advertising? It's a fine line, and one that is often subject to different interpretations. For the most part, announcements of upcoming meetings, special events and other planned activities from groups and organizations that perform service to the public fall under the news area. Announcements that are designed to bring a company or individual personal gain tend to be advertising. News is published free. There are fees for advertising. We welcome the opportunity to serve our growing community and encourage you to submit your announcements, give us leads for stories and photos.

NEWS TIPS

If you see news happening, we want to hear from you, whether it's good or bad news. News tips are a great source of news. Freelance photographs of breaking news are all sought. Don't be shy. Let us know if you think you have something of interest.

SUBMITTING YOUR INFORMATION

Your club is planning a chicken BBQ at the community park on May 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Carryouts are available and the cost is $4.00 for the boxed meal. The proceeds will help purchase new playground equipment. The group needs volunteers to help and they can sign up by calling Jeff Pitsmith at 777.7777 by Monday, May 3. So, how do you go about putting this information into words? You just did. The best way to get your event published is to send it to the newspaper in the simplest, most direct form. Tell us about your event. Don't embellish. Don't write three paragraphs when one will do. A simple press release always answers WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, AND WHY. We prefer information to be typed. Neat printing will be accepted, but handwriting is not acceptable. Faxing, e-mailing are acceptable as are dropping it off in person and mailing it. Be sure to include your name and telephone number if more information is needed. Be accurate. Don't guess at spelling of names and a wrong phone number is a problem for all involved.

CHANGES

Will the wording of your announcement be changed? Maybe. The meaning will not be changed, but most press releases are tightened and edited to conform to newspaper style.

Many other events are also included in the Echo Pilot and we strive to include all that are submitted.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

We like to hear from our readers on a variety of subjects. Letters must be signed and must carry the writer's full name and address. A daytime telephone number must be included for verification purposes. Only the name and town will be published. Letters must be no longer than 400 words and thank you letters must be limited to 200 words. Letters longer than our guidelines will be returned to the sender for editing. We don't publish personal attacks, poetry, open letters, copies of letters sent elsewhere, or unattributed information downloaded from the internet. The Echo Pilot will not honor letter writers' requests to bold, italicize, capitalize or underline words in their letters. Writers are permitted to write two letters to the editor on any one subject. Only one letter per month from any one writer will be published. Letters should be mailed, faxed or emailed to: Letters to the Editor.

BUSINESS

The Echo Pilot welcomes announcements of promotions, managerial hirings and awards, along with photos.

SPORTS

The Echo Pilot will run announcements of public meetings and events. We also welcome photos of teams and individuals that gained accomplishments, honors or awards. Photos must be properly identified in order to be published.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Photos (headshots) are welcome, especially when new presidents of clubs and other elected officers of organizations are elected. Photos must be in sharp focus and properly identified to be published. Photographs will be returned at your request. On the back of the photo, please print the address to which you want the photo returned, or attach the same information on your emailed photos.

PHOTOGRAPHS, PART II

Photographs that are published by Echo Pilot staff members can be purchased. All photos will be $10. A photo reproduction form will be published in the newspaper to use and also be available at the office for purchasers to fill out. All photos will require a 10 day turnaround time. Payment is due at the time of the order.

CHURCH NEWS

The deadline to submit any church news/announcements is Monday by 5 p.m.

ENGAGEMENT/MARRIAGE & ANNIVERSARY FORMS

Echo Pilot has engagement/marriage/anniversary forms for the public to use. These forms must be filled out and submitted to the newspaper in order to publish. These forms are available by request and will be mailed, faxed or can be picked up in person at the office.

OBITUARIES

Obituary notices are provided by the funeral homes.

BIRTHS

Birth notices are usually received from local hospitals or midwives, but out-of-town births for former residents will be accepted from family or friends.