Granite Post – the editor’s role
Normally, Granite Post is published every two months – six times a year. At present, as the current editor winds down, the frequency has been reduced to four times a year. It has become a quarterly publication but the aim and hope is that once a new editor is in post, it will revert to six times a year.
The six times a year frequency is preferable for at least two reasons – 1, the editorial content can be fresh and up to date. A quarterly magazine will inevitably feel rather out of date in terms of editorial content; 2, advertisers will appreciate the more frequent publication so they can keep up to date with special offers, events and so on.

GP is delivered free of charge and our only source of income is generated from advertising.
Granite Post is a totally independent publication with no direct connection to or support from church or parish council. However, we foster good relations with both these organisations and other groups and bodies in the parish so that we can report on their work and actions and try to keep local residents up to date with news, views and other matters of interest.

The editor will need to keep in regular contact with all these bodies in order to encourage contributions of news and ideas. She or he will have 18 or more pages to fill in each edition. Some of the articles will be submitted, some researched and written by the editor. All submitted material normally requires detailed editing to produce consistency; for punctuation, spelling, clarity and accuracy to be checked; to edit to length and to check confusing or questionable statements.

You will find that most articles come about as a result of your own initiative, although there are some welcome regular contributors.

All content has a relevance to the parish. Whether that is the subject matter or the author of the article, the local connection makes Granite Post part of the community and it is appreciated as such.
The editor is also responsible for most of the photographic content, in which, like the editorial, we strive to maintain high quality throughout. Not only in terms of picture/file size but also in terms of composition. Submitted photos often do not match up to our required standard so we have to encourage contributors to work to our guidelines.

You will work closely with our designer/layout colleague who also arranges print and works with our advertisers. Once each edition is ready for print there needs to be a fast turnaround on a final proof-read.
Some journalistic experience would be useful for the person who takes on this job, for there are many rules and pitfalls you need to be aware of in terms of publishing photographs, in terms of data protection and so on. Granite Post has no spare cash so cannot afford to be involved in anything such as libel, defamation or errors large or small.

You will also be responsible for distribution of Granite Post, which is largely carried out by an army of volunteers but there is nevertheless a deal of work to do parcelling up ready for their collection. There are also a number of drop-off points around the parish to which bulk copies need to be delivered.
You will not get rich doing this job but there is some remuneration in the form of a bursary.
If you are interested, please get in touch as soon as you like so we can get the handover sorted nice and smoothly.

Paul White
Editor
Granite Post
07768 451100
pwhite420@btinternet.com