We turn down a lot of submissions. Almost never because they are badly written. Usually because they are not actually about anything a local reader would care about.
Here is the test our editors apply, in order.
1. Would a local reader care?
Not "would the client be pleased". Not "is it well written". Would someone in that town, with no connection to the organisation, find this worth two minutes. Most rejections stop here.
2. Is it useful or interesting without the promotional links?
Strip out the links and the call to action. If nothing is left, it was never a story. If something is left, we can usually work with it.
3. Is it clear, accurate and honest?
Specific beats vague every time. A date, a place, a number, a name. "Leading provider" tells a reader nothing; "took on twelve apprentices in March" tells them everything.
4. Can the claims be checked?
If you say it is the first, the biggest or the only, be ready to show why. We publish under our own name and we get asked.
5. Does it add news, not noise?
The whole thing in one line. There is a lot of content in the world. There is not much local news.
The full version lives in our content guidelines. Pass those five and you are most of the way there.