Frequently Asked Questions - Buckfastleigh News

1. Article Submissions

Who can submit?
We welcome articles from local voluntary groups, clubs, schools, and other non-commercial organisations. (Businesses and traders can appear in our free directory, but cannot submit articles or advertisements.)

How do I send in news, events, or updates?
The easiest way is to use our online submission form. Just fill in the details about your event, group, or news item, and attach your text and any photos you'd like to include. After submitting, you’ll see a confirmation message and your article will enter the editorial queue.

Can I include photos or images?
Yes! We strongly encourage you to upload new and original photos or artwork each time. Please avoid reusing older images or stock photos, as fresh content keeps both the printed newsletter and the online site interesting for everyone.
For the best results, send the highest-resolution images you have. On the website, readers will be able to click to view photos at full quality—so the better the image, the more impressive it will look online.
Important: The first (main) image you submit should be in landscape format (wider than it is tall), as this is the one shown on the homepage card. Portrait-shaped images do not display well in this layout. If you submit a second image, it can be landscape or portrait as you prefer.

What happens after I submit?
Our editorial team reviews all submissions. We may make minor edits for clarity or length, and your article will usually appear online within a few days. Space in the print edition is limited, but we do our best to include as much as possible.

If you have trouble with the form or want to discuss your submission, please use our Contact page and a member of the team will get back to you.

2. Use of AI

Why do you use AI for article enhancement?
We use AI in our editorial process for three main reasons:

Quality: To raise the standard and presentation of articles, so every submission is clear, accurate, and inviting to readers.
Volunteer Time: To save time for our small volunteer team, who could not manually edit and lay out every article to a high standard.
Accessibility: By significantly automating our editorial process, we’ve been able to expand our offering to include a new website — reaching more people in the community, especially those who prefer to read online. This is an addition to the printed news sheet, not a replacement, and allows us to do more without adding to the workload of our volunteers.

How do you decide how much enhancement to apply?
Every article receives light editing for spelling, grammar, and formatting. If more polishing would improve clarity or flow, our editor may apply fuller language enhancements using our carefully crafted AI tools — but only if it won’t change the article’s meaning or tone.
We never apply full enhancement to sensitive content such as religious pieces or obituaries. If you have any concerns about how your article is edited, feel free to contact us.

Why can’t every article be published exactly as submitted?
All articles must meet certain standards of clarity and style. AI helps us achieve this quickly and consistently, in a way that simply wouldn’t be possible for our volunteer editors to do by hand for every submission.

3. Article Publication

What is published on the website?
The website is now a core part of Buckfastleigh Community News. All approved articles appear online, unless they are clearly not suitable or relevant. The online format means there’s no restriction on length or the number of articles we can accept.

How are articles selected for the print edition?
Space in print is limited due to the cost of production (all funded by donations and sponsorship). We always try to include as much as we can, but if we need to prioritise:

Preference is given to genuinely new events or news, not repeated submissions.
Articles with new, original photographs are more likely to be featured.
If an article is too long, we may use a shorter version in print, with the full version online.

We discourage repeated or near-identical submissions each month, so print space is prioritised for genuinely new information.

4. Funding

How is Buckfastleigh Community News funded?
The newsletter is produced entirely by volunteers and delivered free to every home. Our main funding comes from:

Buckfastleigh Feoffees (charitable trust)
Buckfast Abbey
J Searle & Son
Grants, community groups, and individual readers

How can I donate?
The easiest way is through our Support Us page, where you’ll find two secure PayPal buttons—one for one-off donations, and one for regular giving. This is our preferred method as it’s simple for both you and us.
If you’d rather donate by cash, there’s a collection box at Buckfast Post Office, or you can give in person or by post (just contact us for details).

Do you accept donations from businesses or traders?
We do not accept donations in exchange for advertising or promotion. However, once our trader directory is launched, any local business that finds their listing useful is very welcome to support us—every donation helps keep Buckfastleigh Community News running for everyone, both online and in print. Your support ensures we can continue to provide local news and information to the whole community, now and into the future.

5. Local Business & Traders Directory (launching autumn 2025)

What is the directory?
The Local Business & Traders Directory is a new free service to help residents discover businesses, shops, services, and sole traders based in Buckfastleigh, Scoriton, or Holne. Every eligible business will be able to have a single listing, showing their name, summary, contact details, website/social links, and a photo or logo (priority to a photo if provided). All cards are the same size, and there’s no advertising or paid promotion.

Who can register?
Any business or sole trader with a physical address in Buckfastleigh, Scoriton, or Holne can register a listing. We don’t accept businesses based elsewhere, even if they serve local customers. One listing per business only, please.

Can I register my business before launch?
Yes—early registration is open now! We invite all eligible businesses to submit their details in advance, so the directory will have plenty of entries when it launches in autumn 2025. Register your business here.

Can businesses submit articles or news?
No—businesses and traders cannot submit news or articles for publication. Directory listings are for information only and do not include the ability to post announcements. Only voluntary groups, clubs, schools, and similar organisations may submit articles for the newsletter and website.

Can I update my business details later?
Yes—once the directory is live, businesses will be able to update their listing at any time to keep their information up to date.

Is there any cost?
No, listings are completely free for all local businesses and traders. If you find the service useful, you are welcome to make a donation to support Buckfastleigh Community News, but this is entirely voluntary and not connected to advertising.