Your Guide to Making Your Own Family or Class Newspaper
Welcome to The Newspaper Club, cub reporters!
As Nellie says, “What could more exciting than kicking off a brand-new newspaper—one that we could create entirely on our own?”
(All illustrations of The Newspaper Club reporters by Paula Franco.)
Click here for a FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE, INCLUDING FACT CHEEK SHEET.
The goal of most newspapers is to report the news and not be the news, but when it comes to a family or class newspaper, you and the other members are primary sources. This is space to report the stories happening around you and within your families. So, grab a couple pens (Nellie suggests one red pen and one blue pen), flip your notebook to a blank page, and let’s get started!
Newspapers need the following:
· Reporters: The writers covering the stories. Reporters can focus on types of stories (breaking news or features) or vary assignments based on their interests.
· Photojournalists: Photographers to create visuals. Ideally, each story will have a photograph or art piece. Sometimes photojournalists are the reporters, too, and sometimes stories have a separate photojournalist. Your newspaper also could have feature photographs, stand-alone photos that tell a story on their own.
· Notebooks and pens
· Editor: Someone charge of planning content and working with reporters to fact-check stories. Copy editors specialize in correcting grammar and spelling errors. Be sure to use the Fact Check Sheet to verify reporters have gotten the spelling and attribution right on all sources!
Types of news stories:
While one or two reporters might be able to compile all stories in a newspaper, each member of your family or class could write a different piece to share. Each person could pick a type of story or an editor might assign stories.
Breaking news! Here is where you tackle the Big Five: Who? What? Where? When? Why?
This includes weather-related stories, current events , sports stories, and investigative pieces (Who decides the homework policy? Why does the dog smell like corn-chips and canned peas?). The biggest space in the newspaper is devoted to breaking news, informing readers of unfolding stories.
Take direct quotes, sentences you can quote in the story because the words were spoken exactly the way you wrote them down. Aim to have at least three sources, or experts. (See the Fact Check Sheet at the end of this guide to stay on top of making sure your sources are accurately spelled and attributed.)
Nellie’s tips for covering news:
Make notes in blue pen and use red to write your thoughts or to underline what could be direct quotes. Have at least three sources, or experts, in every story.
Aim to answer your Big Five in the first paragraph of the story. Example: Stuff (who), a 20-pound goat owned by Thom Hunter and his family, escaped (what) in the early morning hours Saturday (when) from its barn (where) to eat the Kim-Franklins’ daffodils (why).
Profile Pieces! introduce readers to a specific person, business or entity.
This is a perfect way to stretch your interview skills. Here’s something every reporter knows to be true: everyone has a story. When you write a profile, you’re scouting out an individual’s story.
Before you interview your profile subject, be sure to come up with questions that will help you reflect the person’s personality. Don’t simply ask questions that can be answered in a one-word response. You’re an investigative reporter! Go deeper than that! Nellie says, “Journalists aren’t afraid to talk to people, even if they’re powerful, important or really, really cool.”
Be sure to get a portrait or two of your profile subject!
Gordon’s tips for photojournalists:
The best photographs tell a story of their own. Try to get a shot of your profile subject doing something they love—making dinner or gardening or reading a book—without them noticing you.
One famous photojournalist, Gordon Parks, did this by not even bringing his camera along the first time or two he met with a profile subject. He just wanted them to be comfortable around him before he tried to get their portrait.
Some possible interview questions:
When have you felt scared?
How about brave?
What makes you the happiest?
What is your favorite memory?
What’s a smell that you love? Why?
Is there something that bothers you more than it should?
How do you hope you make others feel?
What’s something you wish more people knew about you?
Profiles also are where reporters flex their observation skills! Take note of how the person you’re profiling moves through the world. Notice words or phrases they use often or colors they tend to wear a lot. Employ all of your senses—how does their voice sound, what does their office or room smell like, how does their hug make you feel?
Remember to include other sources. Your profile subject will be one source, but be sure to scout out at least two others, too!
Opinion or editorial! What have YOU got to say?
Should graphic novels count as sustained reading? Want to be able to redo missed assignments? Think the behavior chart is a color-coded nightmare? Share your opinion! Reporters who write opinion pieces are often called columnists.They defend their viewpoint with facts or solid observation, and often offer a solution, as well. For this piece, include a mugshot or self-portrait/selfie to separate the story from the rest of the newspaper, which should be objective and without bias.
Gloria’s tips for columnists:
Working at my family diner, I know everyone has differing taste. And, though some people are stuck in their perspectives, sometimes it takes a little convincing to get someone to try something new, such as the many different toppings that can make pizza go from plain to pizazz!
A column is a great way to be an original thinker. Identify what’s amazing or boring or a bonus or unfair, and then put some peaches on that pizza! Sure, not everyone will agree, but maybe someone will. Or maybe they’ll be brave enough to try something new.
Features! Tell us something fun, new or interesting.
The features section is a spot in the newspaper where you can have a little fun. Share a review, a recipe, an activity or insiders’ information. Maybe pair it with a graphic or a to-do list! Make sure to use your Fact Check Sheet!
Thom’s tips for feature writing:
If you’re showing something new in your features story, such as a cool craft or fun trick or new recipe, ask someone else in the family to try out.
Take notes while they do, so you can see how clear your instructions are. Use all of it as part of your feature story!
Yeah, it might’ve been your idea or creation, but be sure to find other sources, too. The more sources, the better.
Also? This is your story! Make sure anyone who reads it knows you’re the one who wrote it. Use your voice, or own way of storytelling.
Design your newspaper!
What’s in a name?
Though Nellie pushed for The Newspaper Club to name their newspaper Nellie’s News, the other members loved Min’s idea—The Cub Report. This name worked for a couple of reasons, including that new reporters are often called “cubs” and the members all live in Bear Creek, Maine. How can your newspaper name reflect your environment? Maybe it can include something about your school name, the town you live in on or an activity you all love. Some common newspaper names: Gazette, Dispatch, Times, Daily News, Post and Record.
Play around with names and come up with a masthead, or design featuring the title.
Min’s tips for design:
Try lots of different fonts for your masthead! I like the ones with lots of frills and swirls, myself. Think about a picture or image that might work. In The Cub Report, I drew a little bear cub. Is someone in your family an artist? I bet so!
Create a mock-up!
A mock-up is a rough draft design of your newspaper. Take all the articles you’ve compiled and figure out how you’d like to display them. This also will give you an idea of which articles are too long or too short. Usually newspapers are being mocked up at the same time that stories are being copy edited, or fact checked and reviewed for punctuation, spelling and precision. Copy editors, ask your reporters for completed Fact Check Sheets and cross check entries!
There are a lot of template designs available for downloading. Here is a guide to creating your own on Google Drive.
Charlotte’s tips:
Like puzzles? Copy editing might be the job for you! Copy editing is a great way to point out problems and help reporters find solutions. While you’re editing, try reading the stories out loud. Listen for words that are overused or misused.
Also, consider getting a copy of the AP Stylebook. This will help you make sure your newspaper reads and looks like other newspapers.
Start the presses!
Assemble your polished newspaper, review it three more times to make sure it’s accurate, and then … start the presses! This might mean actually printing your newspaper or it might mean sharing a digital copy with friends and family. What a great way to stay in touch with people who might live farther away! Maybe you’ll even convince them to start their newspaper, too.
Congratulations! You created your first newspaper!
Be sure to put a copy of the paper aside, keeping it to remember this moment forever. And then? Time to start brainstorming for the next issue!