Borough Insight Editorial Policy

BOROUGH INSIGHT EDITORIAL POLICY

Aim

·  To inform the public of Borough Council issues, interests and events. To carry relevant information from partner agencies. National stories and charitable information can also be included as long as they have a localised/Council angle.

Objectives

·  To provide a good quality, cost-effective Borough magazine carrying up-to-date and relevant information which will be of interest to residents. It should be easy to read and be positively received.

·  To offer positive news stories, features and tackle issues where the Council can show how it has operated honestly and has made positive improvements or changes.

·  To meet the Council’s Core Values

Identity

·  Tone: apolitical and non-preaching

·  Style: high quality, smart, easy-to-read design and colourful

·  Content: Informative, honest and open. Stories must be in plain English and have universal appeal. Should be interactive and engaging

Guidelines

Articles:

·  Will be selected by the Communications Team according to relevance, ability to inform and interest to readers

·  Must be factual and not carry a political message. Quotes from Council Chairmen that appear in press releases may not be included however any relevant quotes will be attributed

·  Must also be fair and balanced

·  Must be local stories

·  Encourage residents to feedback to the editorial team

·  Offer opportunities for partners to publicise/highlight campaigns

·  Charities and non-profit making local community groups may promote their events or fundraising activities where space is available

·  Statutory information will be included. Other items which will be included are: Council Tax booklet further information, Annual Report and A-Z of services

·  Will focus on Council’

·  Council messages have first priority, then partners and local community groups, followed by charities

·  Final content decisions lie with the editorial team.

Images:

·  Where possible, cover photo will be of the local area and people (with permissions granted)

·  Where front cover photographs are taken by anyone other than the Communications Team, they will be credited to the photographer

·  Internal images will be interesting and have a relevance to the article in question.

Production:

·  Borough Insight will be produced four times a year (depending on budget) and distributed in January, April, July and October. In an election year, the Spring issue may be moved to ensure publicity rules are adhered to.

·  The number of pages will generally be 20pp but on occasion, or if requested, this can be increased to 24pp or 28pp at an additional cost to the department requiring the extra pages.

Features:

·  Where and when possible, feature stories on Council services, people and venues will be covered.

Who’s Who:

·  A listings page will be available for local community and charitable groups to publicise their contact details.

·  If there are too many listings for one issue, the listings will be rotated each issue to ensure fairness

Advertising:

·  The magazine will not carry advertising apart from in-house adverts unless otherwise directed by the Chairman of S&R. The back page is used to publicise the Playhouse’s up and coming events and Council teams may pay for adverts on the inside front and back covers.

Accessibility

·  Borough Insight will be made available online in pdf format

·  A large text version is available online or a hard copy by request