PACERS Community Newspaper Project (PCNP)
Schools and communities participating in the PACERS Community Newspaper and Newsmagazine Project met in Clanton on May 11th for an end of the year reporting and planning workshop. The workshop was attended by students, teachers, and community members from Curry/Curry HS, Camp Hill/Edward Bell HS, Loachapoka/Loachapoka HS and ES, Akron/Akron Community School West, Gaylesville/Gaylesville HS, Sand Rock/Sand Rock HS, and Coffeeville/Coffeeville HS. Partial support for the workshop was provided by a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Awards were made to student staffers for outstanding writing and a Community Journalism cash award to the Curry paper for its contributions to its community. Reports were presented by representatives from all schools on their work for the year and their plans for 2007-08 when all will be publishing again.
As part of their preparation for 2007-08, participants decided on topics for the summer workshop that is being coordinated by Jim Wrye, a member of the public relations staff of the Alabama Education Association (AEA). Mr. Wrye, other AEA staffers, and journalism professionals will provide leadership for the workshop. A comprehensive array of topics that will be covered in the two-day summer event including:
- Layout and design
- QuarkXpress and other layout software training (emphasis on staff-wide ability)
- Graphic design (emphasis on the "art" rather than simply the capacity to use the software)
- Strategies for completing off-campus tasks of news coverage and ad sales
- Ads: sales, writing, sales, etiquette, setting prices
- Topics-what to cover
- Digital photography-shooting to printing
- Back-up and rescue
- Writing (AP, etc.)
- Staffing-how to choose competent and dedicated staff
- Community journalism
- Newspapers/newsmagazines as businesses-preparing and operating according to business plans
- Documentation and interpretation
- Session for community members on supporting publishing projects
The workshop sessions will be supplemented by project support materials prepared by PACERS staff and volunteers.
The seven schools participating in the May 11th meeting will form the PCNP network in 2007-08. Schools interested in joining the network should contact Jack Shelton (admin@pacersinc.org) for details and requirements.
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