Article Ideas

Whether you are just starting a school newspaper or are trying to enliven an existing newspaper, there are a number of fun ideas to keep students interested and reading. One important rule to ask yourself before you put it in the publication is, "Will anyone care?" A good newspaper generates a buzz about its stories because they are timely, thought-provoking, and make people want to share the information with others.

Here are a list of basic ingredients that will make for a well-rounded newspaper:

* News - This is the obvious. What is going on around school? Are there new construction projects or rules? What big events are happening in the different grades?
* Features - What human interest stories would appeal to the class body? They can be school-related but they can also be general stories that simply are important to students.
* Sports - Report the scores and stories. Don't try to give a play by play, just relate the highlights and mention the names of those who made the outstanding plays.
* Editorial - Have the newspaper's editor write about whatever is being talked about in school the most that week. Don't be afraid to give opinions but be clear that it is strictly one person's viewpoint.
* Reviews - What is the hit new movie, TV, or best-selling book and what does the reporting student think about it? Thumbs up or thumbs down plus explain why.
* Polls - From "What do you plan to do after graduation?" to "What is the worst food in the cafeteria?"
* Puzzle Corner - Students love to do word puzzles: either mini crosswords, word searches, or even trivia questions.
* Comic Strip - Let the artist on the staff create their own cartoon. Possibly "The Life of a Student" or something the kids can relate to.
* Poem - Run a poem each issue - either something made up by the staff or a poem submitted by a reader.
* Advice Column - Let readers ask questions (anonymously) and call upon the school counselor to help answer them. Or have a range of answers given by a counselor, a student, a teacher, and a parent.
* Spotlight On - Highlight one person a week by putting their photo in the paper and giving basic info about them, such as likes and dislikes, hobbies, etc. And don't forget a quote! The person can be a student, teacher, janitor, cafeteria worker, etc.
* Letters to the Editor - A good newspaper generates feedback. Print letters that come in to the staff and let other readers know what people are thinking.
* Photos - Make the newspaper more personal by showing pictures of what you are discussing, shots of the athletes in action, and so forth.
* Advertising - Maybe the local pizza place, movie theater, or bookstore would be interested in advertising to help defray part of the cost of publishing your newspaper.

Questions to Consider

Is the school newspaper going to be part of an English class, an extracurricular activity, or something else? Who will be on the staff and how will staff members be chosen? Will the staff remain in their same positions all year or will there be an opportunity to change jobs? How often will the newspaper be published: once a week, once every two weeks, or once a month? How will the newspaper be published, with a desktop publishing program or by some other means? What will the publishing costs be and will the newspaper be distributed free? Is the staff aware of the rules for proper newspaper writing and do they understand the ethics of journalism?

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