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³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Local websites, like this one, are very happy to accept what’s called in the trade ‘user-generated content’, whether text, photos or video films.Ìý
In other words, if you have something you think you want to see on this website, we’d love to see it too!

Material

Of course, we like some material more than others.

For us, the best articles are about something that makes Staffordshire stand out.
It can be a piece about a local spot (such as The Roaches), or an item on local history (the origins of the Lichfield Mystery Plays maybe), or a local hero (possibly the great Tony Waddington of Stoke City…)
The thing is, Staffordshire should be at the core of what you write.

Secondly, it must be unique.
It’s no good copying or re-writing text from another wiki-style website, or encyclopaedia.
What makes something appealing to us is a unique aspect of something, or your unique personal viewpoint oft the facts.ÌýÌý It could be our memories of a great event, or place.Ìý It could be your strong or passionate feelings about a local scene.Ìý It could be that you write about an absorbing hobby or interest you have in something Staffordshire-based,

Thirdly – well, this is the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ (!), so we want to avoid opinionated pieces which end up as a platform for someone’s very individual thoughts.Ìý
Likewise, we prefer material all the family can read.
And, er, obviously, it’s got to be as factually accurate as possible. So, please research any facts you are unsure of before you commit to them.

Have a look round the site, and see the sort of stuff we do. Hopefully, you’ll get inspiration and start pulling our ideas together.

Spelling and stuff

Don’t worry about exact spelling and stuff (though, yes, we’d prefer it if it is well-presented).
Don’t worry, because expert journalists here will sub-edit your material, and send it back to you.Ìý We will give advice and suggest corrections.Ìý All for free too!

As you’ve probably guessed by now, this offer is for amateur writers, or ones getting started – so we don’t pay a fee for what you submit.
But - you’ll be glad to know - you retain copyright of whatever you submit, and your name will appear on the piece if we publish it.

So... what next?

We like articles around 300-400 words, though you can write more if you really think it’s worth it.
We like photos in jpg form, and as hi-res as possible, but our inbox will only take 10MB at a time.
We enjoy seeing your videos too, but, just like YouTube, we prefer them two minutes or less in length.

When you’ve got your material together, just email it to staffordshire@bbc.co.uk
Use that same address if you want to first enquire whether something you have thought of is suitable.

OK?Ìý Hope to hear from you soon!