Starting a school newspaper

Purpose

A school newspaper fosters a sense of community and inclusiveness, and can help students to develop cooperative skills in teamwork, problem-solving and meeting deadlines. Writing skills develop in an authentic context as students conduct interviews or research, then write and edit their work. Publishing a school newspaper is no longer limited by resources for printing – it can be published on the school website as an e-zine.

Teaching points

• Choose no more than 10 members of an editorial team through an application process. Try to maintain a gender balance. Consider the different skills that students have – writing is not the only skill needed to produce a paper.
• Choose a mix of Year 5 and Year 6 students so that the paper has some continuity from year to year.
• Choose an editor and an assistant editor who will ensure that jobs get done.
• Set up a structure for the paper with a mix of one-off and regular features.  The newspaper might include a mix of school and local community news.
• While you, the teacher, will have to be very involved in the setting up, make sure that you are willing to let go as soon as the team is running smoothly.
• If there are challenges in online publication, see if another teacher, parent or community member is willing to help.

Sanity savers:

• Start small and grow if you can. Limit the number of pages.
• Gauge interest before starting by asking an enthusiastic student if they will be the editor.
• Recognise and identify the talents of individual students.
• Allow reporters to work in pairs.
• Set an agenda for team meetings. Hold meetings regularly.
• Advertise the paper within the school.
• Encourage advertising in the paper from school and community members.
• Encourage reader involvement by seeking contributions from the school and wider community.

More information

PEN 106: Carter, S. Helping start a school newspaper. Primary English Teaching Association, Newtown.