Sub-editing   Graphic Design   Letters   Rock Critics   Sports Writing

WHAT MAKES A MAG A SCHOOLMAG?

  • If you want to attract readers you have to decide who you're writing for. A SchoolMag is for students, both in your school, and in other schools in your community, county and country.

  • Your SchoolMag should ask the questions students want to ask. Your SchoolMag should be a watchdog for students’ interests
  • What students find entertaining should feature in the SchoolMag. If it’s boring to you, why would anyone else read it?

  • A great SchoolMag does not have to be an expensive glossy production — great writing, clever design and imaginative imagery will shine regardless. Whether you’re using the snazziest technology or putting it altogether by hand, the quality of your work is what counts.

What’s Hot!

  1. Articles that reflect the reality of life for Irish students
  2. Pictures that make readers look twice
  3. People writing about what they know
  4. Cartoons that show us the world from a new perspective
  5. Fearless writing
  6. Honesty
  7. Accuracy
  8. Humour and irreverence

What’s Not!

  1. Long dreary articles with no heart
  2. Pictures of rows of students with fake smiles
  3. Photos of staged handshakes
  4. Features that attack without respect & don't reflect opposing views
  5. Bad grammar and clumsy spelling
  6. Clichés
  7. Thousands of words without an image in sight
  8. Plagiarism - copying others' work

GETTING STARTED

1. Brainstorm your new publication!

What do you want to see in your SchoolMag? What do you want to avoid?
Discuss the various parts of the newspapers/magazines that you want to incorporate into your SchoolMag (e.g sports, film/TV/book reviews, comics, etc.)
Do you want your SchoolMag to be entertaining, to raise serious issues, to document what’s happening in your school or locality, or a mix of everything?
Will your magazine have a theme (e.g. environmental issues for a geography class) or will it be a general interest publication?
Research. Perhaps survey other students in the school to find out what they would like to see in the SchoolMag, or prepare an in-class questionnaire

 

2. CHOOSE YOUR TEAM!

At the end of the brainstorm you should have a better idea of what will go into your SchoolMAG. Now its time to pick your team! You will need at least some of the following staff members, depending on what you want in your magazine:

1. Editor-In-Chief: To make overall decisions about what goes into the magazine and to approve finished articles for publication.

2. News Editor: Are you covering news stories from your school or community? A news editor will oversee the work of reporters and make sure that the best and most important stories are covered.

3. Reporters: Get out on the corridor/street with your notebook or dictaphone and find out what Is going on.

4. Features/Opinions Editor: Will you include articles written by students expressing their opinions about school, life or current affairs? The features/opinions editor will work with the writers to decide what issues to cover, and other issues such as how long the stories should be.

5. Arts and Entertainment Editor/ Sports Editor/ Fashion Editor/ Music Editor, etc: You may not need to fill any of these posts, but if you are planning a large sports or music section in your SchoolMAG, it's helpful to put one person in charge (he or she may well be one of the writers for the section).

6. Photo Editor: The photo editor will work with the other editors and writers to decide what images are needed for each page and to find those photos or organise for them to be taken.

7. Business/Advertising Manager: You may not bother with sponsorship or advertising for your publication, but if you do, you'll need a sharp business brain to sell the ads and get the money in.

8. Designer: Whether you are producing your publication using state of the art desktop technology or scissors and glue, you will need someone with a design eye to create a great cover and to decide on the overall look of the magazine.

9. Sub-editor: The editor(s) might do this job if they have time. If not, its up to the sub-editor to check all the articles for spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, inaccuracies, libel and plagiarism. He or she will also need to cut long articles down to size and write headlines, captions etc.

10. Staff Writers: Photographers, Cartoonists, Illustrators: Naturally, individuals may cover a range of roles, with writers doubling up as photographers, editors and a host of other roles. The important thing is to use all the available talent on the team to maximum effect.


 

ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS

From Wednesday, October 3rd, The Irish Times will publish a series of "cut out and keep" media scope articles in Transition Times, which will provide you with the inside track on how to create the ultimate SchoolMag. In the column we will look at some of the golden rules governing feature writing, photography, page layout, editing a letters page, conducting interviews and much more.

Special Offer for Schools
The Irish Times is offering Secondary schools the opportunity to purchase copies of newspaper every Wednesday for the duration of the series at a specially reduced rate of €0.50 per copy. For details and to place an order, teachers should contact our Customer Service Team on Freephone 1800 798884 or email:
(minimum orders of 10 copies apply).

In the meantime, check out the tips & techniques in this table to help you get started...

Sub-editing   Graphic Design   Letters   Rock Critics   Sports Writing