Scoops for the news page

[Morrus]

Just a note to folks about how this works:

1) When sending a scoop, the current method is to email a headline and a link. The news page currently only lists headlines.

2) I add the scoops to the news page in the order I receive them, followed by the ones I discover myself, followed by the "site news" type items (such as new blogs, reviews, downloads, etc.). So, if you want your scoop high in the list, send it early.

3) If you want a full press release, you need to send me a link *to* the press release, not a copy *of* the press release. You're welcome to use a thread in this forum as the destination link if you don't have somewhere to put your press release.

4) If you don't email scoops, the chances of your news appearing on the news page is spotty at best. I do glance around, but unless something really catches my eye, I tend to rely on what's sent to me.

5) Weekends are patchy - I'm busy drinking, taking the dog for days out, and stuff like that!

 

[Morrus]

Just a note - I am now adding a sentence or two of description to each link. If you want the additional bit of description, feel free to include it in your email. I may need to shorten it, though.

Oh, and try to avoid the exclamation marks!!! If you guys had your way every news item would be an exclamation!

 

[BLACKDIRGE]

Morrus,

I just wanted to say great job on keeping up with the front-page scoops. I know I've sent you a bunch of press releases over the last month or so, and everyone of them has made it to the front page in a timely fashion.

I know it's thankless work, so I thought I'd throw a bit of "thanks" your way.

BD

 

[Mark Plemmons]

Morrus,

I just wanted to say great job on keeping up with the front-page scoops. I know I've sent you a bunch of press releases over the last month or so, and everyone of them has made it to the front page in a timely fashion.

I know it's thankless work, so I thought I'd throw a bit of "thanks" your way.

BD

Ditto.

 

[Morrus]

Just a note - it really is worth sending me that email. If you look at the thread views in this forum, you'll see that those in the hundreds/thousands tend to be those which appeared on the news page; those in the under 100 views range tend to be those that... well... weren't.

Just to explain my process (if it helps), when I update the news, I go though my inbox in reverse order (so those who send stuff earlier appear higher on the page).

I copy/paste a title from the email subject or the content, and make that a link to whatever link is included in the email. If a sentence or two of blurb text is included, I add that after the link. If it's just a link and a title you send me, it's just a link and a title that appears. If you send me an entire page of text, I look at it and pick a couple of sentences from it (which may or may not be the sentences you'd like me to have picked - I do my best to be helpful, though - but only a couple of sentences appear on the news page and it *is* in your power to choose them if you wish!).

If you want to make it easier for me (and the easier it is for me, the more likely you are to get results!), it would help if you email was formatted like this:

• Headline (a VERY short sentence)
• Link - where the headline links to
• Blurb - a sentence or two only which summarises the content of the link destination. If it sounds neutral, and isn't written in the first person, I don't need to edit it - that saves me time and lets me do it while fending off the dog and eating my breakfast, etc. If I have to convert it, I tend to leave it till later or whenever I have the time, and that's not alway the same day! Honestly, I do have to rush the news and squeeze it into the day!
• PLEASE, PLEASE don't send it in HTML! That just means I have to rewrite it and pick out the details I need! The news system doesn't use HTML! Just send it in English, and let me worry about the formatting!

If it's any help, take a look at the news page and how it works, and that should help you with your email.