How to Start a Successful Weekly Newspaper

Anyone can start a weekly newspaper, but not everyone can create one that lasts. Whether you plan to publish a national newspaper read by millions or a local newspaper bought by a few, if you want your newspaper to be successful, the same start-up principles apply. Do not rush headlong into publishing your first issue before you have completed the following steps.

Survey your projected readership. You must decide which demographic you will target and you must know the subjects they are interested in. There is no point publishing a weekly newspaper on conservative issues if the majority of people in your area are liberal, or one that focuses on politics if they prefer entertainment. Hire a marketing company to do a survey or run focus groups targeted to your projected readership.

Research your competition. Almost every area already has access to at least one weekly newspaper. You must find out who owns the newspaper, how big their readership is, the type of stories they write and who their advertisers are. Use this to narrow down the focus of your planned publication and provide information the other publications are not writing about.

Apply for all city, county and state licenses. Requirements differ in each state, so contact your city, county and state clerk's offices for specific information.

Find a printer that has a web press and can print thousands of copies within a few hours. All newspapers nowadays are printed on web presses, which is a press that prints on large rolls of paper as oppose to the sheet-fed presses of a desktop printer. Web presses are typically cheaper per copy and can print a large number of copies at high speed. Negotiate for a good price. The more copies you have printed, the cheaper the price per copy.

Sign a contract with a distributor and create a plan for distribution. Distributing your weekly newspaper often involves various options. They can be delivered to newsagents, bookstores, supermarkets and coffee shops. A weekly newspaper can be hand-delivered to readers' homes, or bulk-mailed via the post office. Choose the most efficient and least costly options.

Contact local businesses and ask them to place advertisements in your newspaper. With a new weekly newspaper, it is advisable to offer low rates, even if that means undercutting your competition. Offer even lower rates to advertisers who are willing to sign long-term contracts.

Decide on a per issue price, as well as a lower price for any readers who wish to subscribe. Now you have a good idea about your operating costs, you can create a price per issue that, when included with your projected profit from advertisers, should at least cover all your basic expenses.

Create a budget. Include every possible expense you may incur over the first year of the newspaper's life, as well as all potential revenue.

Run a fundraising campaign to raise operating costs. Potential investors or donors want to know you have a specific plan in place, so you should have completed all the previous steps before you ask them for money. Start with small investors who may invest a few hundred dollars. Move to major donors once you have several smaller investors signed up.

Raise enough funds to operate your weekly newspaper for at least a year before you print your first edition. You do not want to print a few issues then run out of money.

More Information:

How to Start a Newspaper: Newspaper.info.com

Start a Magazine or Newspaper - Pubbies.com