Style pointers for submitting an article to Ballinasloe Life Magazine

 By Donogh Moore

ALL articles and Photos submitted should have the sender’s name, together with contact telephone no., email etc. in case of queries, before hitting return.

Articles should not be too long-winded and should contain plenty of local information such as “Mary Murphy, is the second eldest daughter of Martin and Ann Murphy, The Pines, Ballinasloe and was educated in Creagh NS before receiving her secondary education in Ard Scoil Mhuire, and later going to University in London etc.).”

Typical article large length of number of words should be 700 max.

Photos will only be published if they are of GOOD quality and contain ALL the names of the people in them.

As many of our readers left Ballinasloe several years ago, particularly overseas, they love to read about, or see photos of, people they knew or are related to. That is why it is so important to give the full Christian names and addresses in articles, photos etc. There is a huge demand for LIFE around the country and overseas.

All copy should be “read over” for spellings, punctuation and accuracy before being sent to printers.

No guarantees should be given that any articles or photos WILL be published. That is at the discretion of the Editor.

If your copy arrives prior to the official deadline as advised on the schedule; we will get the final text back to you for a review. If it arrives after, we won’t be able to facilitate with reviews.


Don’t:

• Place dates in first paragraph
• Mention of Ballinasloe more than twice
• Use unattributed comments – sentence spoke with out a “ “
• Use acronyms first without explanation ie GAA it should be Gaelic Games Association first and then G.A.A. subsequently.
• Abusive commentary
• Personal inflection or inferences of analysis
• Unattributable facts
• Photos to be accepted without caption of people therein
• Match reports – longwinded descriptions of scores.
• Guarantees that subscriber or contributor can view copy before going to print
• Significant sums – spell out costs or amounts raised.
• Send stuff direct to KPW or text to the reporters desk and drop photos to Kelly's
• Large groups in photos should also be checked for names.
• Provide names of minors if your codes of governance don’t permit same.
• Don’t leave the name of dead person in a photo caption with out ( RIP ) after their name.
• Embed the photos as jpeg or paint files in a word file – separately attach the photo ( photos)

Do:

• Send the copy in an attached plain word document .
• Please review your copy with spell checker and grammar checker - IRISH styles !!
• Place Article Name in subject matter of email and your mobile contact number in rhe email with attached photo in sent message to me
• Alert Editor to any issues arising from texts/interaction with reporter if not happy prior to deadline – not publication.
• Remind in text alert or email message – the relevance or significance of the story from the point of view of the club/ organisation .
• IF we have not published material from your organisation in a while give a background paragraph explaining in 40 words why you exist, who you exist for and what you typically do.
• Mention money and what it is to be used for
• Mention Mentors, Selectors, trainers – officials who were key to the success of the event or the victory .
• Mention Captains, key scorers and give the readers some feel for what motivates them to be involved in the event/ activity
• Mention your key volunteers
• Always mention how people can make contact with you to join or support
• Always in the final few lines let the readers know what is happening ( if of significance)

As always, submissions are to be made to 'Ballinasloelife@hotmail.com'. We look forward to hearing from you!