Feature articles

Features and ideas should be submitted to the editor, Sarah Harding, at herald@presbyterianireland.org

Articles submitted should ideally be either around 800 words or 1,300 words and have a theme which will appeal to a Christian readership. Every article submitted is read and carefully considered by the editor.

Letters to the editor

Letters should be no more than 300 words and must be accompanied by the writer’s name, address and telephone number, even if you are requesting that your details are withheld. Such requests will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Letters may be edited for space and legal reasons.

Congregational News

Congregations can submit items for inclusion in ‘Life in PCI’ section. We can get more than we can use in a single issue but we endeavour to publish all suitable stories.

 You should:

• Send it in as soon as possible after the event.
• Keeping it relatively short, give details of what the event was, and where and when it occurred.
• Ensure people in a photo are clearly identified. If listing a group of people give names from left to right.
• Include your name, address, telephone number and/or e-mail address.
• Make sure any pictures are good quality (see guidelines below).
• If any children are pictured, please confirm that their parents/guardians have given permission for the image to be used.

Photographs

Images can be supplied either digitally or as a high quality photographic print. Generally, a story becomes much more interesting when it's accompanied by a good photograph, as candid as possible.

Digital images should have a minimum resolution of 2000x1500 pixels (approx. 7x5 inches) at 300dpi.

Photographs taken on small digital cameras or on a phone may be too small or of too low a resolution to be used. You should ensure you set your camera to take the highest resolution possible.

Send the original unedited image. Some camera software allows you to email the images but will reduce the size in doing so.

NB. Images that do not meet the minimum requirements may be rejected.

Some things to think about are:

• Digital pictures should be of high-resolution, not blurred, and not too dark.
• Focus on what's happening and get close to the action.
• Try to avoid a picture of a row of people staring at the camera if possible.
• A group photograph should contain no more than five or six people and try to keep the background as clear as possible.
• If your congregation has raised funds for an individual or organization, try to photograph how that money will be used rather than the cheque presentation.
• Send the original, unedited copy of the photograph.
• Please do not insert pictures into Word documents.

Contact details

Email: herald@presbyterianireland.org

Telephone: +44 (0)28 9032 2284

Post: Presbyterian Herald, Assembly Buildings, Fisherwick Place, Belfast BT1 6DW