<p>I'm the editor of the school paper and I have trouble getting people coming to meetings. The thing is, there doesn't seem to be much to talk about at meetings - just a few checks on work progress, a brief discussion on current events... and then, awkward silence (the best kind). What could I do about this? Should I cut down the weekly meetings?; are there things I should have people do then?</p>
<p>What do other Newspaper clubs do at their meetings? Thanks for the help.</p>
<p>At our meetings, we basically brainstorm stories--a lot of stories, and then each reporter and photographer takes on about 1-2 stories/events. Then we go on break until deadlines. Some layout people, mostly typists, and editors come in between to do some little stuff on the stuff that've already come in. Then ALL the layout come in and plow through the articles, and we send it to the presses!</p>
<p>Luckily for us, there are 2 camps of people that are really familiar with their respective group. So during the brainstorm sessions, one adviser and half of the editors that are there each go to one group, and people don't have problems speaking up.</p>
<p>our paper only publishes like 4-5 papers a year. we have a general meeting where the whole staff comes, brainstorms paper ideas, assign articles, review past paper(s). then after articles have been submitted, the editorial staff meets more frequently where they edit and put the actual paper together. if you're meetings are silent, then only invite the editors so they could do stuff.</p>
<p>My newspaper club is combined with yearbook, and it's a class during the school day. Perhaps that would work out better?</p>
<p>How big is the editorial staff supposed to be? And what else would they do besides editing and stuff?</p>
<p>Give cake...</p>
<p>I come up with this type of problem a lot. After trying several options, the best solution to the problem recruit up a really hot girl to the organization and let her show up in all of the meetings.</p>
<p>Yes, it works...</p>
<p>FOOD ALWAYS WORKS!</p>
<p>At our school, any club that advertises refreshments is guaranteed a huge attendance. But the trick is to save it until the end of the meeting so you weed out the moochers :)</p>
<p>if you want to raise more money for the club the editorial staff can also collect advertisements from local stores to put on the newspaper</p>
<p>When did the OP mention fundraising?</p>
<p>girls!!!! bring the girls!!!!!!!11</p>
<p>nets_bella, do you go to my school? I have same deal w/my paper</p>
<p>When did the OP mention fundraising?
-princessbell</p>
<p>princessbell, i'm sry in advance for posting something that was so out of topic, i mean i must've interpreted his question wrong or something lol... "And what else would they do besides editing and stuff?"
-aaa007</p>
<p>We actually have a class this year, which is SO MUCH NICER. We can hold people accountable for their stories and be much more organized. I would highly recommend trying to get a class on schedule for next semester; it makes for a much higher quality paper.</p>
<p>my teacher drafted us into her newspaper club.</p>
<p>Like, she literally handed out sheets and dedicated several class periods to how we were going to contribute articles to the school paper. My class is not a newspaper class.</p>
<p>So, you know, adults have t3h powers.</p>
<p>I used to be the advisor of a college weekly newspaper. For a weekly newspaper, it's necessary to have meetings at least each week. However, for a newspaper that's only published 4-5 times a year, you don't need meetings that often. </p>
<p>My advice is to do one of the following: increase the frequency of your paper to at least monthly, increase the number of pages per issue or decrease your meetings while increasing the activities that go on in your meetings. For instance, you could invite professionals and professors who are journalists, editors, writers, photographers in to do miniworkshops for your staff. Usually people like that are happy to help out student media.</p>
<p>Another idea would be to start some kind of time consuming project examining an issue such as how immigrants kids are getting along at your school, and what the school is doing to help them fit in, learn English, etc. Part of your weekly meetings could be devoted to discussing how the project is coming along, and getting ideas for it and devoting time for people to report and edit it.</p>