How to Cover Local Events on Substack Like a Pro Reporter

Master the art of covering local events using Substack. From real-time reporting to recaps, connect with your community and grow your readership.

How to Use Substack for Real-Time Coverage of Local Events

Hey there! Reginaldo Osnildo here again.Let’s talk about one of the most powerful ways to grow your local Substack audience fast: covering events that matter to your community.

From neighborhood festivals and school board meetings to rallies, sports games, and city council hearings—local events are where your audience lives, breathes, and cares.

And when you show up, cover it well, and deliver that coverage right into their inbox? That’s how you build trust, authority, and a loyal local following.

Let’s walk through how to do it right.

1. Know What to Cover (and Why)

Not every event needs coverage. Focus on what your readers care about, like:

• School plays or graduations
• Public meetings or protests
• Cultural festivals or street fairs
• Sports championships
• New business openings
• Local art shows or performances
• Fundraisers or charity events

Pro Tip: Ask your readers! Include a poll or email prompt like,“What upcoming event should we cover next?”

2. Prep Before You Go

Great event coverage starts before you arrive.Here’s your pre-event checklist:

• Know the who/what/when/where/why
• Prep your questions (especially if you’re interviewing anyone)
• Check the schedule so you don’t miss key moments
• Charge your phone and/or camera
• Bring a notebook or use voice memos for quick notes

Also, create a draft post on Substack ahead of time, so you can publish quickly after the event ends.

3. Capture the Vibe

You’re not just reporting what happened—you’re capturing how it felt.

During the event, gather:

• Quotes from attendees or organizers
• Photos and short videos (your phone is enough!)
• Key moments (performances, announcements, crowd reactions)
• Behind-the-scenes details (weather, turnout, atmosphere)

Your readers weren’t there—paint a picture for them with your words and images.

4. Post Real-Time Updates (Optional but Powerful)

Substack isn’t just for long-form content—you can post short updates in real time.

Try this:

• Create a “Live” thread or event tag
• Post hourly updates from your phone
• Send mini newsletters with timestamps and photos
• Use social media to point back to your Substack updates

It’s like being the eyes and ears of your neighborhood in the moment.

5. Write a Recap That Adds Value

After the event, your job is to tie it all together.

A great event recap includes:

• A clear, engaging headline“[City Name] Celebrates with Record Turnout at Spring Festival”
• 2–3 key takeaways (What happened? Why does it matter?)
• Direct quotes and photos
• A summary of how the event went
• Info about what’s next or how people can get involved

Bonus: Add reader reactions! Pull from social comments, emails, or live replies to make it feel collaborative.

6. Use Visuals to Make It Pop

Photos bring your event coverage to life.

• Add a featured image to every event post
• Include 2–5 photos throughout the story
• Caption your images with names, quotes, or descriptions
• Use free tools like Canva to add simple overlays or frames

And remember—don’t overload. Clean layout = easier reading.

7. Promote the Coverage After It’s Published

You covered it. You wrote it. Now get it in front of people.

• Post to community Facebook groups
• Tag relevant organizers or speakers
• Email your list with a subject like:“Missed the [Event Name]? Here’s What Happened…”
• Send a follow-up newsletter with photos and links

This helps your work spread organically—and brings new readers to your Substack.

8. Use Events to Build Relationships

Don’t just report and disappear.

Follow up with:

• A thank-you email to organizers or sources
• A request to cover their next event
• An invitation to subscribe and follow your work

Events are networking gold. Use them to build your contact list, your reputation, and your audience.

9. Create a Recurring Event Section

Cover events regularly? Turn it into a series:

• “This Week in [City Name]”
• “Scenes from the Weekend”
• “Community Highlights”

Tag every post with an “Events” category so new readers can binge your coverage—and locals know exactly where to go to catch up.

10. Let Your Readers Contribute

Here’s how to level it up:

• Ask for photos or quotes from people who attended
• Feature user-generated content (with permission)
• Let a reader write their own event recap for your Substack
• Include polls like: “Did you go? What did you think?”

When the audience participates, engagement skyrockets.

Want the Full Blueprint for Local Journalism on Substack?

If you’re serious about growing a sustainable, engaging local journalism project—from events to investigations—you need this:

👉 Local Journalism on Substack: How to Create a Low-Cost, Monetizable News Site and Newsletter Network

Inside the e-book, I break down:

• Real-time reporting strategies
• Content formats that drive engagement
• How to organize and monetize your coverage
• Newsletter templates, workflows, and 30-day action plans

Whether you’re covering your first event or your fiftieth, this guide will make your coverage stand out—and grow your community in the process.

Let’s build something that truly serves your city!