POSSIBLE ROLES
FOR HIGH SCHOOL PUBLICATIONS
1. REPORT THE NEWS--to what degree will you report what goes on in the school; the good and the bad; the past, present and future; what do you consider to be news?
2. REFLECT THE CULTURE OF YOUR READERS--to what degree will you give the readers what they want, no matter what it is; do you attempt to give the reader what you feel he/she should have or what he/she thinks is wanted; or, what you want?
3. MATTER OF RECORD--to what degree will you record all events during the school year; all events would have to be noted, so their would be a record of the year for others to look back on.
4. BUILD MORALE AND SPIRIT--to what degree will you be responsible for stressing the positive and helping your readers see the good side of the school year and all the events?
5. COMMUNITY IMAGE--to what degree will you be responsible for helping the community understand what things are like in your school; to what degree will you emphasize the positive and improve the school's image?
6. PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS--to what degree will you adopt professional standards of journalism as a guiding light for your coverage; to what degree will you strive to be as much as possible like the commercial press?
7. INTERPRETATION AND PERSPECTIVE--to what degree will you try to show how events, issues and personalities are tied together and the effects they have on student lives.
8. BE A LEADER--to what degree will you attempt to show the readers what alternatives and solutions might exist to problems and conflicts; to what degree will you attempt to persuade and influence their decisions?
9. ENTERTAIN--to what degree will you attempt to show the readers the humorous, light side of themselves and the school; to what degree will you attempt to make them laugh, to see the lighter side of life.
10. BE AN OUTLET FOR THEIR VIEWS--to what degree will you be a place where your readers can express their views, to sound off on whatever they want?
The answers to these questions will help you formulate your image and your reputation. Giving these possible roles priorities will help determine what type of publication you will be and what type of editorial policies you will need.
Based on an exercise in Newspapering by Bill Ward, now out of print.