Bangor Daily News Community

Frequently Asked Questions

By: Online editor

Who can use the Community and Youth sites on bangordailynews.com?
Anyone can read stories on the sites. But, if you want to post a story, you have to register.

Who writes the stories?
Members of the bangordailynews.com staff might write a few, but we’d rather hear your stories straight from you! So, for the most part, community members like you write the stories and take the photos. That’s why we need your help! Remember, this is your site!

Is there anything besides the Web site?
We will use the best stories, photos and calendar items from the Youth site for a special print section produced by the Bangor Publishing Company. The new publication will be inserted into editions of the Bangor Daily News circulated in Bangor, Brewer, Orono, Old Town, Hampden, Holden, Glenburn and Veazie.

How are stories selected to be in the newspaper section of Youth?
Our staff will review all of the entries and select the most interesting and timely ones. If you are interested in being in the Youth print section, it’s best to include high resolution photos with your entries and be very descriptive in describing your stories and photos.

How do I get started?
It’s easy. First, you must register. If you're already registered, click on the links at the top part of the page to start adding stories, photos, events and more.

What will you do with my personal information?
Your personal information you provide to us by registering will not be used by anyone other than bangordailynews.com. We need information like your address and phone number so we can contact you when we decide to use your story, photo or event in one of our print publications. Your birthday is required to verify that you are at least 13 years of age. Don’t worry, your personal information is safe and will not be sold to any other company. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more detailed information.

When and why will you be contacting me?
We may contact you any time your stories or events are added to the newspaper section of Youth. Occasionally, we will also e-mail you about contests or new features on the site.

Who can I contact with questions regarding posting stories and photos, tech support, or online advertising?
Leave a message at 207-990-8368 or email us at community@bangordailynews.net or youth@bangordailynews.net. We’ll get right back to you! Or, during business hours, contact Jamie Clark, at (207) 990-8034. Or you can email her at jclark@bangordailynews.net.

How do I add stories or photos?
First you have to be a registred user. Then, click on the ‘Share Stories and Photos’ link at the top of the page. Then follow the step-by-step instructions. If you have any trouble along the way, let us know. We’re happy to help. Once you’ve added a story, it will be accessible to all visitors to the community site. They can find it through the search box at the top right of the page.

How do I write a story that people will want to read?
First the basics. Remember to inlcude the five W’s:
Who: Who is your story about? You? Your kids? Your dog? Your T-ball team? Be sure to include names and other relevant information of the people in your photos, particulary if you’d like them considered for the print version of Youth.
What: What is your story about? Be sure to inlcude a sentence that gives readers the main point of your story.
When: When did the story take place? If it is about an upcoming event, be sure to include the date and time so, if it is open to the public, people know when to show up. You might also want to add a calendar listing.
Where: Where did the story happen? Again, if it’s an event open to the public, people have to know where to stop thei cars (or bikes or feet, if they’re walking.)
Why: Why is this story important? What makes it unusual.

Get started. Go to www.bangordailynews.com/community or www.bangordailynews.com/youth and register. Your verification code will be sent to you via email soon after. Log in and click on ‘Share a Story or Photo’ at the top. Then write your story and/or attach your photos. Once you’re done, hit ‘Submit.’ Want to make changes? Click on ‘Edit.’ Having trouble?  Contact Jamie Clark, at (207) 990-8034. Or you can email her at jclark@bangordailynews.net.

A thousand words: A picture, they say, is worth it. Attach a picture by clicking on the ‘Attatch New Image’ button. Including a picture with your story draws readers into your story. Plus, your photo might even make it our print edition. We might even use it for the cover. If you post a picture, don’t forget to tell us who is in the picture, first and last names, where they’re from and about when the picture was taken.

Short is good. To get a story in print, you don’t have to write a novel. On the contrary. Plus, if you keep it short, there’s less of a chance that we’ll have to make some cuts to fit your story in the print edition.
If you have great photos to share, but don’t want to write a whole story, just post them! Be sure to include the five W’s in the description.

Have fun.  News doesn’t have to be serious all the time. Just tell your story, and don’t worry if you’re a “good” writer or not.

How do I share my opinion about people, places or events in my community?
You can start a blog by clicking on ‘Write a blog’ at the top of the page. This is good way to let people know what you’re thinking about any number of topics. Each user is limited to one blog. The bangordailynews.com staff will choose some of the most popular blogs to feature on the site. In addition to blogging, registered users also have the ability to insert comments onto stories.

How do I add an event to my community’s calendar?
Click on the ‘Post an Event’ link at the top-right part of this page. Then, follow the step-by-step instructions. If you have any trouble along the way, click on the for more information. Once you’ve added an event, it will be accessible to all visitors. They can find it through the search tools at the top  right or the calendar on the home page.

How do I find the stories or events I created on the community site?
All of your entries are in one easy place. After you log in, click on ‘My Account’ in the box on the top right of the page. All of your entries will be listed, with the most recent entry at the top of the list. From here, you can also edit your entries. That leads us to the next question.

How do I edit my stories or events?
You can make changes to anything you add to our community sites. To edit a story or event you have posted, return to click on ‘My Account.’ Clicking on this  will bring you to a list of all your postings. Scroll through your list and click the story or event you would like to edit. Then click ‘Edit’ and make your chages.. Once you’ve made your changes, press the ‘Submit’ button and your edits will be applied.

What if I see something on the site that I think is offensive?
After every entry on the site, there is a ‘Flag as offensive’ selection. You will be prompted to enter a reason and there is a space for a message if you want to include a more detailed explanantion. Hit ‘Send’ and it will alert the online editor, who will review the posting to see if it meets our Terms and Conditions for user submissions.