How to Manage and Write for a School Newspaper

The school newspaper is pretty much standard in all high schools, and some middle schools. If your school doesn't have a newspaper, I'm sorry and you should probably write to either your principal or board of education, because a school newspaper is a great educational opportunity as well as a great chance to keep up on the school news as well as get some entertainment and make a school profit!

Many students in your school are probably already interested in journalism as a career, and these are the students whom are most likely to take over the school newspaper and manage it for the school. They're going to be the most interested in publishing interesting, up to date content and information. They're going to try to keep the school informed and entertained, depending on school requirements for the school newspaper.

Some schools really lay out the content that they'd like to be in the newspaper, and others allow the creativity of the writers to take over, so long as the content is still appropriate for school. So if you have the opportunity to publish whatever you want, go ahead and do it!

If you're having a hard time thinking of what to publish, or just are somewhat shy when it comes to writing for the mass audience of your school, be sure to think of what you'd like to read about. The majority of the school is going to be interested in sports. They want to see pictures of their friends or their selves playing sports as well. Pictures are what really sells the newspaper, since almost everyone is going to be more interested in pictures than the stories their selves. I recommend putting big pictures of popular people or otherwise attractive or interesting photoes on the front page to help get more sells and readers.

Another great article idea is current event issues. For example, when I was on the school newspaper towards the end of the year last year, we took a fake presidential primary poll, and decided that our school was more interested in Obama than in Clinton. We posted the results in the newspaper, and didn't inform the school as a whole outside of the newspaper, and the purchases flew up! If you can get the student body to take part in the creation of the newspaper (through polls, surveys, or however else you can manage) they're much more likely to purchase the newspaper. Students are interested in reading about their selves and eachother, so if you want to get them in on real world issues you'll have to get them involved.

The newspaper is an excellent opportunity for the school to make some money. Not only will the school make money on selling the newspapers individually, but if you can get sponsored by companies in the area interested in advertising, you can really make some money. I'd try calling up and/or visiting several local businesses in attempt to get ads published in the newspaper. This will also give students a great experience as to how the paper actually makes the majority of their money.

Since your audience is students, make sure to target businesses geared towards students. Look for colleges in the area, possibly teen hangout spots, restaraunts with coupons, jobs, etc. You really can put any ad in the newspaper that would interest you and your fellow classmates. Just make sure to get some in there if you really plan on helping the school make a profit with the school newspaper.

That's about all I have to say! The rest is up to the creativity of you and your fellow writers, as well as the editor of the newspaper! Have fun with it, and make sure to get all you can from writing in the newspaper! Keep it professional, clean, and you'll be successfully selling them in no time!