Welcome
Sign In
Contribute a Story
Writing Tips
Sound Off!
Post an Event
Post Videos and Photos
Become a Blogger
My Stuff
Useful Links

Welcome to News 12 My Town, the place to find out what's happening in your town from the people who know it best – you and others in your town.

News 12 My Town allows you to share news, publicize events, express your opinions and post pictures and videos. What happened at the school board meeting, your kids' baseball game, or that town hall meeting? Catch any great shots of that birthday bash, carnival or charity event? Share it all here.

News 12 My Town is an unmoderated site. As such, we need you to keep it a place of free expression that everyone can enjoy. See our Terms of Use for specific rules.

Back to Top

Sign In

Anyone can view the site, but you'll need to set up a screen name in order to contribute.

Back to Top

Contribute a Story

Click the "Contribute a Story" icon near the top of the page. In the drop-down menu, select a category that suits your topic. Then write a headline that explains your story's focus. Now add your story text in the "Write your story here" section. You can also add photos or videos by hitting "Add videos/photos to my story" and selecting a file from your hard drive. Once you're done, hit "Save my story." Your story will appear within 15 minutes.

Please do not post commercial advertising or marketing material.

Back to Top

Writing Tips

The first paragraph should explain the most important aspect of the story. It should say what's important quickly and leave other details to the rest of the story.

Now make sure to include all the necessary information in the body of the story. Remember the old 5 Ws and an H: Who, what, where, when, why and how. That means you should include names and important information about the people involved, the places, addresses and dates and times at which the event occurred or will occur, and explain clearly why the story is important to the reader.

Liven it up. Using quotes from people involved will help make the story more interesting and paint a more complete picture of what’s going on.

Proofread the story. After the story is written, check your facts again. Double-check the spelling of names.

Read it aloud. This often helps identify awkward phrasing.

When necessary, explain how the story came about. And if the story is about an upcoming event, explain how your reader can get involved.

The most recent stories, photos or videos will appear on the home page in the "From Your Neighbors" box.

Back to Top

Sound Off!

Here's where you can start discussions on just about anything. School. Government. Traffic. Things that annoy or inspire you. It's up to you.

To begin, click the "Sound Off!" icon at the top of the page. You'll be directed to the "Sound Off!" home page, where a list of previous threads is posted. Hit "New post" above the message form to start a new thread. Add a subject line, then enter in your text. You can hit "Post" under the text box to submit your message … Or you can get fancy.

One option is to design your post in html, where possibilities abound. You can also embed a signature of, say, your favorite quote or saying. And if there's something else you'd like to share that helps to tell your story, attach a document by uploading a file from your hard drive. Simply hit the "Browse" button under text box to select your file, then hit "Submit."

Back to Top

Post an Event

This is the place to publicize things such as your school play, charity fundraiser, business function, or committee meeting. Click on the "Post an Event" icon at the top of the page. Select a category for your event in the drop-down menu. Give your event a name, then select a date and time. You may provide a description of your event, but keep in mind that brief is best. Long descriptions lose readers' attention. Next, let people know if there's a cost to attend your event. Now make sure to fill out all the relevant contact information. Finally, hit "submit." Your event will appear in the Calendar within 15 minutes.

Back to Top

Post Videos and Photos

If you're a beginner, don't worry. It's easier to upload photos or videos than it may seem. Start by hitting the "Share Photo/Video" icon at the top of the page. Notice that photos must be in .jpg format, but there are several file formats you can use to upload your video. Select a category from the drop-down menu, then hit the "Browse" button to choose a file from your hard drive. Give your submission a title, then add a short caption, or description of what you're sharing. Captions are optional, but are always a big help. Before hitting the "Submit" button, make sure to sign off on the "Terms of Use." It's that simple!

Note that only one photo or video can be added at a time, but you can add as many as you'd like. The newest submissions will appear in the "From Your Neighbors" section on the home page within 15 minutes.

Back to Top

Become a Blogger

News 12 My Town bloggers are selected community leaders, experts and enthusiasts who share special insights into different aspects of town life. We're looking for everything from the informative, to the humorous, to the offbeat. If you have a good idea for a blog to which you would regularly contribute – at least once a week – then please fill out the "Become a blogger" form by first hitting the icon at the top right of the page. We'll review it and get back to you.

Back to Top

My Stuff

Now that you've uploaded all your great stuff, you can review or edit your submissions on your "My Stuff" section. A link to the page is next to your screen name near the top of the page.

Back to Top

Some Useful Sites

Knight Citizen News Network
http://www.kcnn.org/site/

Center for Citizen Media
http://www.citmedia.org/

I, Reporter blog
http://www.ireporter.org/

News University
http://www.newsu.org/

Back to Top