NEWS

The Advocate's breaking news, major issues, goverment, politics, crime, education and other "hard" news topics are handled through an array of news desks and bureaus. The following list is your handy guide to The Advocate's News departments.


Metro Desk

To submit news about activities, issues, events or people in Baton Rouge and surrounding parishes, contact Metro Editor Vicki Ferstel at (225) 388-0282 or vferstel@theadvocate.com.

Vicki and a group of assistant Metro editors oversee a staff of reporters who cover everthing from police news and goverment meetings to investigative projects and features about interesting people in the Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas. To submit a news item or suggest a story idea, contact Metro Desk through The Advocate's main number (225) 383-1111. The Metro Desk fax number is (225) 388-0371. Assistan Metro editors and their email address are:


Baker-Zachary bureau

To submit news about Baker, Zachary and the Felicianas, call James Minton at (225) 775-7005; send email to jminton@theadvocate.com and send a fax to the Baker office at (225) 644-5851.

River Parishes bureau

To submit news about the River Parishes — Ascension, Assumption, St. James and LaFourche — email riverparishes@theadvocate.com or contact Darlene Denstorff at (225) 647-8447 or send e-mail to ddenstorff@theadvocate.com. Fax to (225) 644-5851.


Ascension weekly news section

To submit community news for the Ascension section, which is published each Thursday and included in papers sold in Ascension Parish, email ascension@theadvocate.com or contact Darlene Denstorff at (225) 647-8447 or e-mail her at ddenstorff@theadvocate.com. You can also contact Christy Futch at (225) 647-8447; e-mail: cfutch@theadvocate.com. Fax to (225) 644-5851.


Westside bureau

To submit news about the Westside Parishes — West Baton Rouge, Iberville and Pointe Coupee — contact Koran Addo at (225) 326-6627; e-mail: kaddo@theadvocate.com. Fax to (225) 344-0099.


Florida Parishes bureau

To submit news about the Florida Parishes — Livingston, Tangipahoa, St. Helena, St. Tammany and Washington — contact Bob Anderson at (225) 336-6996; e-mail: banderson@theadvocate.com. The bureau e-mail is florida@theadvocate.com. Fax to (225) 664-9710.

Livingston-Tangipahoa weekly news section

To submit community news for the Livingston-Tangipahoa section, which is published each Thursday and included in papers sold in Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes, email livingstontangipahoa@theadvocate.com or contact Christine Arceneaux at (225) 336-6972; e-mail: carceneaux@theadvocate.com. Fax to (225) 664-9710.


Acadiana Bureau

To submit news about the Acadiana parishes--- Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion---contact Richard Burgess at (337) 234-0174 or send e- mail to rburgess@theadvocate.com. Or contact Assistant Metro Editor Ben Reed at (225) 388- 0315 or send e-mail to breed@theadvocate.com. The mailing address is Acadiana Bureau, The Advocate, P.O. Box 3767, Lafayette, LA 70502. Send a fax to (337) 269-0410.


Capitol News Bureau

The Advocate’s Capitol News Bureau covers state government and politics. The editor is Mark Ballard. His phone number is (225) 342-7279. Fax is (225) 342-0272. The mailing address is Capitol News Bureau, The Advocate, Box 44485, Baton Rouge, LA 70804. Here’s how to contact Capitol bureau reporters:


BUSINESS

Breaking business news and news tips can be submitted to the business editor, Bobby Lamb by e-mail at blamb@theadvocate.com. The business editor's phone number is (225) 388-0350.


To submit items to the Business Section:

  • Mail to the Business Editor:
  • P.O.Box 588, Baton Rouge, La.,70821

  • Hand-deliver to:
  • 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, La.,70810

  • Fax to:
  • (225) 388-0371, Attention Business Editor

The deadline is 5 p.m. Monday for items published on Sunday, which include People in Business, Business Briefs, Business Honors and Business Meetings.

If not e-mailed, items should be typed and double-spaced on letter- size paper. Photographs submitted by e-mail for publication in People in Business and Business Honors should be JPEG; a minimum 300K; resolution of 170 dpi; and size 3 by 5 inches.

General information allowed in the Sunday columns:


Business Honors

Recipients of national, regional, state or local honors are eligible for inclusion in the Business Honors column. In-house company honors and sales awards are not eligible.


People in Business

Promotions and hirings must be staff-management-level or supervisory positions. New titles must be vice president and above. The information must include the person's most recent position for promotions and previous employer and title for new hires.



Business Briefs

The opening or relocation of a business must include the address, the nature of the business and the names of the owner and/or manager. All other submissions will run at the editor's discretion.


Business Meetings

These primarily are regular meetings of chapters of professional organizations and chamber-, university- and government-sponsored events useful to businesses. Commercial events do not qualify. Meeting notices include the name of the organization; time, date and place, with an address; speaker’s name and topic or nature of an event; cost; contact person and phone number and e-mail address or Web site for reservations or additional information.

PHOTOS

Submitting photos:
1. Drop off at 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd.

2. Mail to the appropriate department at The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA, 70821

3. By online submission at sendphoto.theadvocate.com or e-mail to the appropriate news desk below:

Submissions should include the following:
(when applicable)


  • Who: Please properly identify subjects in photos with correct spellings and affiliations, including where they are from, if applicable.
  • What: Please give a short description of the circumstances under which the photo was taken.
  • When: Include the date the photo was taken.

Photo submissions must include a contact name and phone number in case there is a question or to verify information.

Hard-copy photos may be submitted in color or in black and white.

Digital images must be at least 220 dpi at a given size. For example, a 5x7 photo should be 4.85 megs. Digital images must be in a JPEG format. If you're using a digital camera, it should be 4 megapixels or higher and set on the highest-quality setting (fine).

For more information, visit http://sendphoto.theadvocate.com or call Advocate Photo Manager John Ballance at (225) 388-0680.

OBITUARIES

Deadline: Obituaries and photographs must be submitted by 3 p.m. for publication in the next day’s edition. Obituaries can be faxed, e-mailed or delivered to The Advocate at 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd. Photos can be e-mailed or hand-delivered, but not faxed. The name of the deceased and the publication dates must be noted. Download obituary forms from http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theadvocate/, then fax, e-mail or deliver. After making the submission, call the Obituary Desk at (225) 388-0289 to ensure we have received the materials.

Cost

Obituaries cost $2.15 per line per day. The price to add a photo is $10.75. One laminated copy is provided for free. A listing of the name of the deceased and the place and time of the funeral in Funerals Today on the day of the service is free. All obituaries appear on www.theadvocate.com at no extra charge.


Laminated memorials

Laminated memorials have a copy of the obituary as it ran in the newspaper on one side, and your choice of one of two poems on the opposite side. Each 3-inch x 8.5-inch memorial is $4 a copy. Obituaries longer than 72 lines in the newspaper will be printed on 6.25” x 8.5” cards and cost $6 a copy. Add 9 percent tax per copy. Postage is included in the cost. Click Here to order laminations online, or call The Advocatesrquo;s Creative Services Department at (225) 388-0768.

Billing information required

Submissions will not be published unless they contain the following billing information:


  • Name, complete mailing address and telephone number of the party to be billed.
  • Name and telephone or cell phone number of a person who can answer any questions about the material submitted.
  • Name of funeral home handling the arrangements. (All submissions will be verified with a funeral home or a coroner’s office before publication.)

Writing an obituary

The Advocate will not guarantee accuracy of materials submitted in illegible typeface or handwriting. To ensure accuracy:

  • Use a simple typeface and type in both upper and lower case, so we can distinguish which letters need to be capitalized.
  • If you are writing the obituary by hand, do so as clearly as possible. You can use more than one sheet of paper.
  • Do not put names or nicknames in parentheses.
  • Place nicknames in quotes: John “Jack” Deaux.
  • Identify the city of all funeral homes and houses of worship listed in the obituary.
  • Please note if a name with an unusual spelling or a different spelling than other family members is correct: John Braud is survived by his son, Joe Breaux (NOTE: this spelling is correct.)

PEOPLE

The People section welcomes submissions and feature story ideas. Please provide a contact person‘s name and phone number, and mail press releases and pictures to: The Advocate People section, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. Information can also be faxed to (225) 388-0351 or e-mailed to people@theadvocate.com. Call (225) 383-1111. Below is a breakdown of column information.

Club news

“Club News,” published every Tuesday and Wednesday, includes information about what social and civic groups have been doing. Information from all activities during a month can be submitted. However, only one picture from each group will be published each month. No events more than a month old will be run. Deadline is the preceding Wednesday by noon.


About town

“About Town” is a calendar of upcoming civic or social activities. Events listed usually will occur that Sunday of publication through the next Saturday.

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Religion news

Saturday‘s People & Faith section includes Religion Bulletins, a free listing of upcoming events offered by various religious groups. To submit religion news, send typed information and photos to: Religion editor The Advocate P.O. Box 588 Baton Rouge, LA 70821 or e-mail religion@theadvocate.com. Information without photos may be sent by fax to (225) 388-0351. The deadline is noon Wednesday. Call (225) 388-0374.


Neighbors notes

“Neighbors Notes” is published every Tuesday and includes military graduations, reunions and promotions; university and college academic achievements; and neighborhood association events. Send information to Neighbors Notes, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821, or fax information to (225) 388-0351 or e-mail to people@theadvocate.com. Deadline is Tuesday at noon of each week. Madelyn Lamb, People editor, can be contacted at (225) 388-0314 or mlamb@theadvocate.com.

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Anniversaries

Submissions are accepted for 50th wedding anniversaries and above. There is no form. Use the write-ups that appear each Sunday as a guide. Send a recent picture with the name of the couple on the back. To have the photo returned, submit a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Deadline for submissions is noon on the Monday prior to the run date.


Health

Information about support group meetings, health-related classes, health fairs, etc., appear in the “Health” column each Sunday. In general, events listed will occur that Sunday through the next Saturday. Deadline is noon on the Monday prior to the run date.


Pam’s Party Line

This is the People section’s social column written by Pam Bordelon. Information for the column must be received in a printed form by 9 a.m. on the Monday preceding the Thursday or Sunday run date. You can also send information by e-mail to pbordelon@theadvocate.com or contact Pam at (225) 388-0335.

Events must be current and will run no later than four weeks after they have occurred. All information must be complete with the date and place of the event and should include a contact person’s name and daytime phone number. Photos may be submitted and will be used on a space-available basis. Photos may not include more than nine people. Photos will be returned if a stamped, self-addressed envelope is included with the release. Photos also can be picked up in the lobby of The Advocate, 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd. They will be kept on file for three months, then discarded. Photos may also be emailed.

Engagements and weddings

The People section also publishes engagement and wedding announcements and photographs each Sunday for a $50 charge per announcement. Forms and photos can be submitted online atwww.legacy.com/celebration/theadvocate/. Payment can be made with a credit card by calling (225) 388-0738 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Photographs of the bride-elect or engaged couple to go with the engagement and bride or the wedding couple to go with the wedding write-up should be in color, no smaller than wallet-size, with names written on the back. Photos will be returned if a stamped, self- addressed envelope is provided; they also may be picked up in the lobby of The Advocate up to three months after they run. Forms can also be electronically filled out in the lobby of The Advocate or mailed to The Advocate Nuptials, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821 along with a photo and payment. Deadline for announcements is noon on Monday prior to the Sunday run date. Payment must be received within 24 hours of the deadline. Engagements are eligible to run anytime from the Sunday after the engagement until the Sunday before the wedding. Wedding announcements are eligible to run beginning the Sunday after the wedding. For more information, call (225) 388-0738.


TV notes

Information about local television programming or local people appearing on national TV programs can be submitted to Judy Bergeron by fax at (225) 388-0351 or by e-mail to jbergeron@theadvocate.com. To reach Judy Bergeron by phone, call (225) 388-0661.


Youth news

Friday‘s People section includes news about teens and younger children. To contribute Teen news, e-mail teen@theadvocate.com, or write to Teen news, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. To submit Kids news, fax (225) 388-0351 or write to Kids news, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.

FUN

The Fun Section is published each Friday and previews upcoming events including local celebrations and festivals, movies, music and fun things to do. The deadline for Fun section material is noon Monday, prior to the Friday the item is to appear, but we strongly suggest information arrive as far ahead of this deadline as possible.

Fun runs a calendar of events that covers activities occurring from Friday to Thursday (seven days). Items submitted for the calendar must be from nonprofit organizations and open to the general public.

All calendar material must be in writing. Send to Lisa Tramontana at Fun, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA, 70821; fax: (225) 388-0351 or e-mail to ltramontana@theadvocate.com. The calendar also includes schedules for classes, seminars, workshops and meetings (by nonprofit groups). These items must be open to the general public. In the case of meetings, only recreational or hobby meetings are listed.

Commercial classes and seminars are listed on a once-a-month basis. These are for any business or organization that operates for profit but holds classes for the public. Music items, including Shows to Watch information, must be received in writing. Send to John Wirt, entertainment writer, at P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821; by fax to (225) 388-0351 or by e-mail to jwirt@theadvocate.com.

Contact

News Features Editor Greg Langley at (225) 388-0288 or glangley@theadvocate.com for general Fun section and calandar questions; John Wirt at (225) 388-0665 for music and movies. The best times to call are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Advocate main phone line is (225) 383-1111. The newspaper‘s toll free line is (800) 960-6397.

No news items for Fun are taken over the phone. All information must be received in writing at Fun Section, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA, 70821; by fax at (225) 388-0351 or by e-mail to any of the previously listed addresses.