Here’s the third installment of our answers to questions you may have about the newspaper. If you missed the first two parts, check our website at www.tahlequahdailypress.com

Q: I’d like to get my own personal column in the Daily Press.

A: Not a week goes by that we don’t have at least one request for a “personal column.” At this time, we are not accepting new ones, even if they’re free to us. If you are determined to have a column, our advertising manager can discuss rates and policies with you. This would be treated as an ad and would not be subject to editing policies, except in the case of possible legal issues.

Q: What about the Wednesday Witness column?

A: Anyone may submit a column for possible inclusion in Wednesday Witness on our faith pages. We do NOT guarantee publication, nor will we guarantee a writer a “regular” spot in this column. This is also subject to our editing policies, and if you plan to submit such a column, you must also include a photo of yourself and let us know your religious affiliation (or lack thereof). We will not publish any particular writer more than once a month.

Q: I have some great photos. Will you publish them, and will they be in color?

A: If they’re clear and not too dark, we sure will. E-mail them to us, with all the pertinent information – who took the photo, who’s in it, and where and when it was taken – and we’ll include it on our Community Snapshots page, which usually runs in Thursday’s paper in color. But as for other photos submitted with news items, we can’t guarantee color. That determination is often made by what color ads we have, so if you MUST have your photo in color, you might think about paid space. (We do not publish wedding, anniversary, birthday or engagement photos in color, since we can’t guarantee them all. Color photos of this nature must be in paid space.)

Q: Can I get my photo back?

A: At one point, you had to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope to get it back. You may still do that (particularly if you live out of town), and we’ll send you the photo. Otherwise, we take photos we use to our front office as soon as we scan them into our computers, so you can pick them up there. The same applies to photo disks. If your photo is valuable and you have no copy, you may ask our clerk to scan it in for you while you wait.

Q: Are you interested in my recipes?

A: You bet. We print one every Wednesday on our Food page. E-mail them to composing@tahlequahdailypress.com or drop them by our office at 106 W. Second. By the way, we’re about to begin publishing a new magazine, and we’re looking for Christmas recipes and photos of the completed creation (with you in it, if possible). These can be sent to news@tahlequahdailypress, with Magazine Recipe in the subject line, and your photo attached. They can also be delivered to our office, but make sure you let us know they’re holiday recipes for the magazine.

Q: How do I participate in special supplements you publish?

A: Usually we run a “house ad” several times when we’re looking for copy, photos or other items for supplements. For instance, we’re now collecting information to publish a special supplement saluting our veterans.

We’ll have more information for you in Friday’s Press.

Q: Can we see more information on your sports pages about local athletes’ achievements and game results from, say, junior high teams?

A: We only have one sports editor, although we do have three stringers, but they’re swamped covering sports for NSU and the four high schools in our county: Tahlequah, Keys, Sequoyah and Hulbert. There’s no way we can cover all the rural schools or younger kids, but we gladly accept help from interested parents or coaches, or even athletes themselves. Touch base with Sports Editor Jeremy Short (456-8833, ext. 22, or e-mail jshort@tahlequahdailypress.com)to find out how you can help. (Be patient; he’s in and out, but he’ll get back with you.) Or you can simply e-mail sports news items to sports@tahlequahdailypress.com.

Q: Who do I talk to if I have a good idea for a story?

A: Call our managing editor, Kim Poindexter, at extension 19, or talk to our newsroom clerk, Sharry Mouss. If you have worked with a particular reporter in the past, you may also talk to him or her. If it’s “hard news” and its legitimate, we’ll be on it right away. While we can’t guarantee we’ll use every feature-type idea, we do get around to all we can. We appreciate your ideas and work hard to implement them, and remember, the more information you can provide us, the quicker we can tackle your topic.

Q: Can you tell me when an item will publish –either one I’ve submitted or one I know you or someone else is working on?

A: As stated earlier, we don’t make guarantees about publication dates, but you can normally expect to see an item published within two days of our receiving it (except for the special items detailed above). We get lots of calls from parents asking when the Students of the Month for a particular school will be published. Since we never know when we’ll receive these items from the schools, it’s best to call the school itself to determine when the item will be sent to us. Otherwise, the only thing that might delay publication of an item is if we have questions about it and no way to contact the person who submitted it. That’s why it’s always best to include a name and phone number every time to give us something to publish. The best thing you can do is watch the Press closely for a week or so after you turn something in. If you haven’t seen your item by that time, call our newsroom clerk, Sharry, to find out if there’s a problem.

Q: I look at your website, and sometimes it doesn’t seem to be updated. What gives?

A: It’s always a good idea to keep your browser current, and updating your page can make a difference. We normally update our news site between 9 and 11 a.m., with items from that day’s edition. But if other situations have arisen, the update could be a bit later. If it’s in the afternoon and you’ve still seen no change, feel free to call our newsroom.

Q: I can’t find an item on your website that I know you’ve already published in the paper. What do I do?

A: Do to staffing and time constraints, right now we only put staff-written news items on our website, so you won’t find, say, a wedding announcement there (unless you’ve paid to put it there). Since website items roll into the archives after a few other stories have been added to a particular section, you may need to search through the archives if publication in the paper was a few days ago.

Q: Well, then, how do I get an item like a wedding put on the website?

A: Contact our ad manager or one of our account executives.

Q: What if I still have other questions about the news?

A: Our newsroom clerk, Sharry Mouss, can answer most questions. If she can’t, she’ll get the answer for you. Her extension is 20.

Q: If I suspect I’ll have to pay for the item I want published, whom do I call?

A: Advertising Director Pam Hutson, or any of her account executives.

Q: I’m an advertiser, and what if I have a billing question or other issue?

A: Your account executive, the ad manager, or if it’s classified or legal, one of the customer service representatives up front.

Q: What if I have questions about paper delivery and how to renew or get a new subscription?

A: Call our circulation manager, Jerry Harrington, or his assistant, Teresa Oxford. Their extension is 24. By the way, our other managers and even our reporters often have messages on their voice mail from people with subscription issues. While we do pass the messages to the circulation department, results aren’t likely to be forthcoming if names and/or phone numbers of customers aren’t provided. For the most prompt attention, call the circulation department directly!

Q: If I want my paper stopped while I’m on vacation, or I’d like it switched to another address, how do I do that?

A: Call either Jerry or Teresa, but they need at least a one-week notice if you’re moving to a new address, and at least a two-day notice for vacation stops. This will improve service to customers.

Q: What do I do if a paper rack takes my money?

A: Don’t kick it – call our circulation department!

Q: How do I place a classified ad?

A: It’s as easy as calling our customer service department if you have an account with us. If you don’t have an account, you’ll need to prepay, either by credit card over the phone or by dropping by our office at 106 W. Second. In either case, you will need to do so during our office hours – which, by the way, are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Q: And those house apply to every operation of the newspaper?

A: Actually, someone is usually in our newsroom weekdays from 7 a.m. or so, to as late as midnight (or even later occasionally). Circulation is usually staffed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, to take calls from subscribers. The doors are locked during those hours; however, your calls will be answered until 6 p.m. (and later in the newsroom, if your call is expected and you get the right extension). Both those departments are here Saturdays, as well as Sunday mornings, but although calls to individual extensions may be answered, the doors are locked.

Q: Does the Press do any “outside” printing?

A: As most folks know, we no longer have a press