update documentation to reference towncrier news fragments

.github/pull_request_template.md

@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@ If this PR fixes an issue, please add closing keywords (eg 'fixes #XXX')
 
 - [ ] pre-commit checks ran successfully
 - [ ] tests ran successfully
-- [ ] for a public change, a changelog entry was added
-- [ ] for a public change, documentation was updated
+- [ ] for a public change, added news fragment (`changes/<PR#>.<changetype>.rst`)
+- [ ] for a public change, updated documentation
 - [ ] for any new features, unit tests were added

.github/workflows/changelog.yml

@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
       - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
       - run: pip install towncrier
       - run: towncrier check

CONTRIBUTING.rst

@@ -53,3 +53,13 @@ to the maintainers, who are glad to assist you.
     a maintainer, you can comment ``@meeseeksdev backport to <branch>`` on a pull
     request to manually trigger a backport. Moreover, when merging a "backport"
     pull request, please use the "Rebase and merge" option.
+
+.. note::
+    When making a public change, add a news fragment to ``changes/`` with the
+    filename ``<PR#>.<changetype>.rst``. The change types are as follows:
+
+    - ``feature``: new feature
+    - ``bugfix``: bug fix
+    - ``doc``: documentation change
+    - ``removal``: deprecation or removal of public API
+    - ``misc``: not of interest to users