Contributor Submission Guidelines

The Town Line is a weekly nonprofit community newspaper serving central Maine. Our mission is to document and celebrate the life of our local communities. We especially encourage submissions that highlight community events, local government, local businesses, history, schools, volunteer organizations, and other positive stories about the people and towns we serve.

The editor reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity, length, and style, or to decline publication.

Deadlines

The Town Line is published every Thursday.

  • Articles should be submitted by Monday morning whenever possible.
  • Tuesday submissions may be accepted if arranged with the editor.
  • Space is limited, so some articles may be held for the following week. Timely articles are generally prioritized.
  • Calendar events must be submitted at least two weeks before the event.

How to Submit

Use our Contact Us page or send submissions by email to: townline@townline.org

Please identify the type of submission in the subject line:

  • ARTICLE:
  • LETTER:
  • EVENT:
  • PRESS RELEASE:
  • OBITUARY:

Articles should be attached as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx).

Include at the top of the document:

  • Headline
  • Byline (exactly as you want it printed)

For Letters to the Editor, please include the writer’s name and town of residence.

Article Length & Formatting

  • Most articles should be 400–1,000 words.
  • Use simple formatting only.
  • Place headline and byline at the top of the document.
  • Avoid special fonts or layout formatting.

The Town Line generally follows the Chicago Manual of Style.

Photos

Photos are welcome when appropriate. Please:

  • Attach photos separately (do not embed in Word documents)
  • Include a caption identifying people in the photo (left to right)
  • Include photo credit if applicable

Letters to the Editor

Letters must be submitted by email to the editor. Letters may not include:

  • Personal attacks
  • Defamatory statements
  • Inflammatory language or rhetoric

During election season, political endorsements may be published. The editor reserves the right to limit the number of letters supporting any candidate or political issue to one per week.

Press Releases

Local businesses and organizations are welcome to submit press releases. Publication is not guaranteed and all submissions may be edited for length and clarity.

Calendar of Events

To be included in the paper the week before the event, submissions must be received two weeks in advance. Please include:

  • What the event is
  • When it takes place
  • Where it takes place
  • A brief description

If additional coverage is desired, a full article may also be submitted.

Obituaries

The Town Line publishes obituaries as a public service free of charge (donations accepted). Because newspapers serve as historical records, basic obituary information generally includes:

  • Name
  • Date of birth and death
  • Parents
  • Brief life history
  • Predeceased and surviving relatives (by blood or law)

Service information will be included if it occurs after the publication date.

We do not publish first-person messages or thank-you notes. The editor reserves the right to edit obituaries for length and content.

The Town Line is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit private foundation. Although we publish obituaries free of charge, donations are appreciated when possible.

Questions

For questions about submissions or coverage coordination, contact the editor at townline@townline.org or through the contact form on our website.