Something happening in Madera that the community should know about? Our newsroom wants to hear it.
This page explains how to send us a press release, what to include so we can act on it quickly, and — just as importantly — what happens after it reaches us. Use the form below; they make sure your submission reaches the newsroom instead of getting lost in someone’s inbox.
Press Releases
A press release is an announcement from an organization, business, agency, or group. We read every one we receive — but a press release is not a news story, and submitting one is not a request we’re obligated to fulfill. We decide what to cover based on what serves our readers.
Cover the basics — who, what, when, where, and why — keep your contact information at the top, and include a dateline (city and date). The clearer and more complete the release, the more likely we can use it.
Preferred format: paste your release into the message field or attach a Word document (.doc / .docx) — not a PDF.We need to work with the text directly, and PDFs make that difficult.
What happens next: Press releases are reviewed for newsworthiness. Submission does not guarantee publication, and we may edit, condense, or build our own reporting around the information you provide.
Embargoes
[CONFIRM — Tyler/Ben] If you’re submitting an embargoed release — information not to be published before a certain date — state the embargo date clearly, both in the form’s embargo field and in the release text itself. The Madera Tribune will honor clearly stated embargoes. An embargo that isn’t clearly marked can’t be honored, so make it unmissable.
Important Information
How Coverage Decisions Are Made
This part matters, so we’ll say it plainly:
Submitting a press release does not guarantee coverage. Our editors decide what to report based on news value and what serves the community.
Advertising with the Tribune does not influence editorial decisions. Buying an ad does not buy a news story, and choosing not to advertise never costs anyone fair coverage.
Editorial and advertising are separate departments with separate functions. The newsroom makes news decisions. The business side makes business decisions. They do not make each other’s.
We hold this line because it’s the only way our reporting is worth anything to you as a reader.
What We Cannot Promise
- That we will cover any particular release — submission is not a guarantee of a story
- A specific publication date for press releases
We will always do our honest best with what you send us.