The village hall has secured funding. A local team has reached a final. A road closure is set to affect the school run. These are the updates that can make a real difference to people nearby – but only if the right details reach a local newsroom in time. This guide to submitting local stories will help you turn a useful piece of local information into a clear, publishable news tip.
What makes a local story worth submitting?
A local story does not need to involve a celebrity, a huge crowd or a dramatic headline. It needs to matter to people in the area. That could mean it affects their journey, their money, their safety, their children, their weekend plans or the places and groups they care about.
Community news is often at its strongest when it is specific. A new support group opening in town, a charity appeal that needs volunteers, an independent business milestone, a sports club achievement or a police appeal with confirmed information can all deserve attention.
Ask one simple question before you submit: why should a listener or reader know this now? If you can answer that in one sentence, you have the heart of the story.
Timing matters too. A brilliant event after it has happened may still make a nice community feature, especially if there are strong results, photos or a human story. But if you need people to attend, donate, nominate someone or avoid disruption, send the information early enough for it to be useful.
Start with the facts, not the fanfare
Local organisers naturally care deeply about their own event, project or achievement. A newsroom needs the practical details first. Rather than beginning with a long background on your organisation, lead with what has happened, where it is happening and what people need to know.
For example, “Scunthorpe charity launches free weekly warm space on Tuesday” gives a clearer starting point than “We are delighted to announce an exciting new initiative”. The first tells a journalist what the update is and gives the audience a reason to keep reading.
A good submission should answer the basic questions without making the newsroom chase every detail:
- What has happened, or what is about to happen?
- Who is involved and who does it affect?
- Where is it taking place?
- When is it happening, including dates and times?
- Why does it matter locally?
- What should people do next, if anything?
If a detail is not confirmed, say so. It is better to explain that a date is provisional than present it as fixed and create confusion later.
Give names, numbers and places properly
Check spellings before sending. Include full names and roles for anyone quoted, the correct name of the venue, and the town or village where the story is taking place. If you are reporting fundraising, state the amount raised or the target. If it is an event, include admission details where relevant. If it is a closure or service change, give the exact roads, dates and alternatives people may need.
Small omissions can slow down a story. More seriously, an incorrect fact can make an otherwise useful submission unsuitable for publication.
How to write a clear local news tip
You do not need to write like a journalist. You do need to make the information easy to understand quickly. Keep your opening to two or three sentences, then add supporting detail in short paragraphs.
A helpful structure is straightforward: state the news, explain the local impact, provide the key details, then include a quote from someone who can speak with authority. A quote should add a human voice, not repeat the same facts. The best ones explain why the development matters or what people can do to help.
Avoid stuffing your submission with slogans, capital letters and promotional language. Phrases such as “the biggest and best ever” are difficult to verify and rarely tell an audience much. Let the facts carry the story. If an event has welcomed 500 people, raised £2,000 or celebrated 50 years, say that instead.
It also helps to give a clear contact name and a reliable way for a newsroom to check details. Local news can move quickly, and a story may be held back if nobody can confirm a key point before publication or broadcast.
Photos can make the difference
A strong, recent photo can help a local story stand out, particularly for community events, sports results, awards, fundraising and new openings. Send the best original image you have rather than a blurry screenshot, poster or heavily filtered social media graphic.
Make sure you have permission to share the image. This is especially vital where children are pictured. Do not assume that appearing at a public event automatically means someone has agreed for their photograph to be used in news coverage. Schools, clubs and organisers should check their own consent arrangements before submitting pictures.
Caption every image. Say who is in it, from left to right if appropriate, where it was taken and when. If you have several photographs, send a small selection rather than dozens of near-identical shots. One clear image of people doing something relevant is usually more useful than a group lined up against a wall.
Know the difference between a news tip and an advert
Local media is proud to support businesses, charities, clubs and community projects. However, a news story and paid promotion serve different purposes.
A business opening, expansion, anniversary, award, new jobs announcement or fundraiser may have genuine news value, especially where there is a clear local impact. A standard sale, daily offer or menu change is usually advertising rather than news. The same applies to repeated event notices with no fresh angle.
That is not a rejection of local business. It is simply about being fair and useful to the audience. If your main goal is to reach customers with an offer or campaign, advertising or sponsorship may be the better route. If the story is about a meaningful local development, explain that development clearly and let the newsroom decide how it fits.
Submitting sensitive, urgent or safety-related information
Some stories need extra care. If there is an immediate danger to life, a crime in progress, a fire, a serious collision or a concern for someone’s welfare, contact the emergency services first. Do not rely on a social media post or a news submission as a way to get urgent help.
For police, court, health or safeguarding matters, stick to information that is confirmed and safe to share. Do not name suspects, victims or children unless the relevant authority has made that information public. Avoid speculation, rumours and claims that cannot be supported.
If you have witnessed an incident, separate what you saw yourself from what you heard from someone else. A useful tip might say, “I saw the road closed at around 4.15pm and traffic was being diverted,” rather than making assumptions about the cause. Accuracy protects the people involved and helps local news remain trusted.
When to send your story
For an upcoming event, give notice well in advance, then consider sending a brief reminder closer to the date if there is new information. A month ahead can be helpful for larger community events. A week or two may be enough for a smaller activity, depending on its audience and urgency.
For results, breaking updates or a time-sensitive appeal, send the information as soon as the core facts are confirmed. Do not wait until you have produced a polished poster if the news itself is ready. Newsrooms can work with plain, accurate copy far more easily than late information.
After you submit, be available. A quick reply to a follow-up question may be what turns a promising tip into a story people hear on air or see in their local updates.
A final check before you press send
Read your submission once as someone who has never heard of your organisation. Can they tell what is happening, where it is, when it matters and why they should care? Have you included a named contact, checked every date and spelling, and attached only photos you are allowed to share?
At Steel FM, the strongest local stories are often the ones that begin with a resident, volunteer, organiser or business owner taking a moment to share clear information. Your update could help someone find support, celebrate a local success, plan their day or get involved in something good nearby.
