Address all calendar submissions to the Features Editor. With the approval of the editors, an individual or group may submit a weekly column. A column is a 500-600 word piece with a consistent, pertinent topic. Columns, unlike news stories and commentary pieces, are designed for discussion. A press release is often sent by an organization that wishes to promote themselves, an accomplishment or an event that they are sponsoring.
Press releases follow a very specific format and are brief and to the point.
Very often, press releases are used by news staff to write complete news articles. It too is objective and follows the reverse-pyramid format. Commentary Articles Commentary articles are a lot like editorials. Usually, the writer is using hard facts to back-up an opinion that he or she has or summarizing a situation that has progressed over several weeks. Letters to the Editor Letters to the editor, as always, are printed at the discretion of the editor.