Submissions and Editorial Guidelines

Local news should be a space where thoughtful voices can be heard — even when we disagree. Because the Woodbridge Town Chronicle (WTC) is committed to fostering respectful, informed conversation about the issues that matter to our town, these guidelines are intended to ensure that this platform remains a welcoming and civic-minded environment for all readers.

Thanks for being part of the conversation.

— Sheila McCreven
Editor, Woodbridge Town Chronicle

Reader engagement

WTC does not host a public commenting platform. Reader engagement takes place through letters to the editor and Community Voice submissions, which are reviewed and curated by the editor.

Community Voice and guest opinion pieces

WTC may publish Community Voice or guest opinion submissions on matters of public interest, including active local issues, from members of the public and civic organizations.

To respect the integrity of town government review processes, WTC does not publish opinion submissions from applicants or other parties with a direct personal or financial stake in applications currently pending before the boards or commissions discussed. Those matters are properly addressed through the formal public review processes established by the town.

Once an application, appeal, or enforcement matter has concluded, WTC may consider reflective or retrospective opinion submissions.

Length guidelines for guest opinion submissions:
Community Voice or guest opinion pieces should generally be 700–1,000 words.

Longer submissions may be considered in rare cases, but contributors are encouraged to stay within these ranges. All submissions are subject to editing for clarity and length.

To submit a guest opinion for our Community Voice section, please send it by email to the editor.

Letters to the editor

Letters to the editor provide a forum for readers to respond to coverage, share perspective, or highlight issues they believe merit public attention. Letters should be concise and focused. Publication is at the editor’s discretion.

Letters may address active matters, provided they do not function as advocacy from an applicant or direct party to a pending application.

Length guidelines for letters:
Letters to the editor should be no more than 300 words. Letters submitted at greater length may be edited by WTC to meet this guideline.

To submit your letter, please send it by email to the editor.

Civility and community standards

WTC seeks to foster respectful, informed discussion about local issues. Submissions should be civil, constructive, and focused on the substance of the issue at hand. Personal attacks, misleading claims, or off-topic material will not be published.

Press releases and advocacy materials

Under no circumstances does WTC publish press releases, promotional materials, or prepared advocacy statements as standalone content or opinion pieces.

Press releases or similar materials may be reviewed as background information and, at the editor’s discretion, may be quoted, summarized, or referenced in independently reported news articles.

Fundraising and informational links

WTC does not publish fundraising appeals or promotional solicitations.

However, letters to the editor or Community Voice submissions may include links to outside organizations when framed as factual, informational context rather than as a solicitation.

For example, acceptable phrasing might include:

“The public can learn more about our group, including ways to get involved or make financial contributions, by visiting our website.”

The inclusion of such references is subject to editorial discretion.

Contacting the editor

All submissions are reviewed by the editor. Submission does not guarantee publication. WTC reserves the right to decline submissions that do not meet these guidelines, fall outside the publication’s editorial scope, or raise process, fairness, or conflict concerns.

Readers are always welcome to share news tips, documents, public records, or story ideas, or to ask questions about coverage. You may contact the editor by email if you are unsure whether a submission is appropriate or would like to flag an issue you believe merits reporting attention.