Submission Deadlines:

Print Edition: Birth announcements intended for publication in the Wayland Newspaper Project’s print edition must be submitted no later than 5:00 PM on the Friday preceding the publication date.

Online Edition: For publication in the Wayland Newspaper Project’s online edition, submissions must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the Monday preceding the next online publication. Please note that deadlines may vary due to holidays or other extenuating circumstances.

Content Requirements:

Word Limit: Announcements are limited to a maximum of 200 words.

Scope: Submissions should include the baby’s name, date of birth, place of birth, and the full names of the parents, grandparents and any siblings. The Wayland Newspaper Project reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and brevity.

Eligibility: Announcements will be accepted if at least one parent, or grandparent, is a current or former resident of Wayland.

Submission Requirements:

Each birth announcement must include a valid contact email address and phone number. The cost of publication is Free. Donations of $120-$240 per announcement are appreciated. For more information, please contact info@waylandpost.org.

Calendar listings run at the discretion of the editor. We focus on events in Wayland that are generally open to the public and are free or reasonably priced. Because there are many of these, we rarely have space for out-of-town events, and we cannot consider those without a clear Wayland connection.

Our Community Calendar does not list events promoting the products or services of for-profit businesses, nor admissions-focused events sponsored by private schools. We will consider publishing Calendar listings for fundraisers or events that benefit local community and nonprofit organizations.

Like the website and newspaper we publish, the Wayland Post Calendar is non-partisan: we do not accept paid political advertising, and we refrain from publishing listings that promote national political activities, causes, and candidates via rallies, phone banking, and fundraising events. We will, however, accept listings for local and free candidate coffees or meet-ups for those running in Wayland town elections, or running for offices that represent Wayland residents.

Calendar submissions should be no more than 60 words and include the event’s time, date, place, cost (if applicable), and a very short, very clear description. Submissions must use the form on our website, which can be accessed here: https://www.waylandpost.org/submission/

For both online and print publication, listings are due at least one week in advance. Due to our production schedule, we can’t always accommodate late listings. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity.

Opinions expressed must be the writers’ own.

Letters (max 400 words) from Wayland residents must be emailed to editor@waylandpost.org by 5 p.m. on Friday for the next biweekly print edition (see our publication schedule) and must include the writer’s name, street address, and phone for verification.

One letter per writer per month.

Letters are published with the writer’s name and street (anonymous letters will not be published).

Letters are published at the editor’s discretion and may be edited for length, style, clarity, or to remove personal attacks, unverified or libelous claims, offensive language, or other inappropriate content.

Responses to Wayland Post articles or previous letters must cite the headline and date of the item referenced without naming prior writers.

Election-related letters will not appear in the issue immediately before Election Day.

We subscribe to standards of editorial independence adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News:

Our organization retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our organization. We maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and sources of all revenue. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors or advertisers, or of their products, services, or opinions.

We accept gifts, grants, and sponsorships from individuals and organizations for the general support of our activities, but our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support.

Our organization may consider donations to support the coverage of particular topics, but our organization maintains editorial control of the coverage. We will cede no right of review or influence editorial content, nor of unauthorized distribution of editorial content.

For policies and procedures on submitting announcements, calendar events, letters to the editor and photographs, please see “Submit.”

Obituaries for the Wayland Post must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday for publication in the following week. Deadlines may change due to holidays or other factors. Obituaries may not exceed 400 words for the print edition, or 1,200 words for the online edition. All obituaries may be edited by the Wayland Post.

We will print obituaries for current and former residents of Wayland, or those with current Wayland family connections. Obituaries must include the name of the funeral home, and an email address and phone number for the person who is submitting it.

The cost of publication is Free. Donations of $120-$240 per announcement are appreciated.

For more information, please contact info@waylandpost.org.

Image Requirements

Format: JPG (preferred) or TIFF

Resolution: Minimum 300 DPI

Size: Minimum 8×10 inches (2400×3000 pixels) or equivalent for horizontal images

Color Mode: RGB

Submitting Images

Upload Location: Under submit.

File Naming Convention:
Use the standardized format:
YYYY-MM-DD_EventName_PhotographerName.jpg

Metadata & Caption Information:

List the names of all individuals featured (verify correct spelling).

For subjects under 18, ensure you have explicit permission from a parent or guardian (verbal consent is acceptable provided the guardian agrees to the photo’s publication online and/or in print).

Include location details and any pertinent context for the caption.

General Photography Guidelines

Variety of Shots:

Portraits: Headshots, waist-up, full-length

Orientations: Both horizontal and vertical options (if in doubt, capture both)

Contextual images: Action shots, close-ups, and wide-angle scenes where applicable

Photo Credits & Recognition

Photographers will receive credit with each published photo, both in print and online.

Contributors may also be acknowledged in the masthead in print and on the Wayland Post website.

All submitted photos may be featured in the print edition, on our website (waylandpost.org), across social media channels, and in related activities.

Deadlines & Assignments

Assignment Notices:

Some events may provide 1-2 weeks’ notice, while others might require a turnaround of 3-4 days or less.

We are compiling a roster of photographers based on availability and flexibility:

Preferred Imagery Types

General scenes and iconic Wayland locations.

Community events (e.g., Christmas Walk, Touch-a-Truck, parades, farmers’ markets).

Everyday moments that embody the essence of Wayland.

We especially value photos that prominently feature our community members.

Thank you for joining this exciting initiative. Your talent and dedication will play a crucial role in shaping the visual narrative of the Wayland Post. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Default disclosure

Publish full name, age, and municipality.

Omit precise street number unless its inclusion materially advances the story (e.g., crash occurred in front of the arrestee’s home).

Standard disclaimer

End every arrest item with a one-sentence note: “All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.”

Consistent exceptions

Withhold names for juveniles, victims of sexual assault, or cases under active mental-health protective orders.

If you choose anonymity for a particular category (e.g., first-offense OUIs without injuries), apply it to all local and non-local arrestees to avoid perceived favoritism.

Follow-up commitment

When you name a suspect, commit to running the disposition (dismissed, plea, acquittal, conviction) once it becomes available reflecting AP’s fairness rationale.

Transparency with readers

Publish the policy on your website and include a link or brief reference in print. Invite feedback so the community understands why you handle identities the way you do.