For advertisements - text is provided to me as word files with some formatting to show me where the titles or main points are. Any available artwork is also emailed - photographs, existing logo, etc. If you don't have photographs, there are a number of royalty-free stock photography sites, but keep in mind you might very well see the same picture somewhere else.

Pdf files are provided by me for initial feedback. Comments and direction can also be made in the pdf files with Adobe Reader by you and sent back to me. The next stage is usually refinement of one of the comprehensives. Then we'll probably have a couple of rounds for the proofing stage. Finally, after you've approved, I'll provide a high-resolution pdf file to the newspaper or magazine.