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issuu Guide: Digital Publishing for Student Journalists

Students: Get That Front-Row Seat on Life

Four things to look forward to as a student storyteller:

1. Peers that are empowered, curious and motivated.

2. Elevating the voices of others.

3. An excuse to talk to fascinating people.

4. The chance to affect change at your school and beyond.

Cover

Publisher: Mad Sounds

Publication: Take What Is Yours

Photographer: John Novotny

Left Publisher: #Photography

Publication: Issue 14

Have an Impact

There are countless untold stories out there waiting for you to share with the world.

Publisher: Flash and Fuse

Publication: Issue 2

Your voice is important.

A story can combat ignorance, humanize people, expose corruption and destigmatize taboo topics. With writing, photography and design, you can capture the most hopeful of human endeavors — stories of strength and survival … of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds … of persevering in the face of extreme challenges.

Not All Student Publications are Alike

Some student publications focus on fashion, some on news. Some are long and some are short. Some are colorful and breezy, while others are text-heavy and sophisticated. To the right are a few magazine “types” and examples to give you a better sense of the many directions your publication can take.

Student News: The Eagle Eye (Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School)

Arts/Photography: Proof Magazine (Palo Alto High School)

Fashion: Unfold Magazine (John Moores University)

Lifestyle: Your Mag (Emerson College)

Sports: The Viking (Palo Alto High School)

Lit Mag: Roars and Whispers (Providence High School)

Where We Come In

We believe young journalists are the future in the same way that digital publishing is.

In this student publishing guide, we’ll walk you through everything from designing an editorial calendar and selling advertising to reporting responsibly and defending yourself from censorship. As the media sphere changes, democratization of information allows individuals to be published journalists with the click of a button. That’s why we exist. With issuu, anyone can upload their publication in just minutes to be discoverable by a worldwide audience of readers.

Publisher: Mad Sounds

Publication: Issue 15

This guide is designed to walk you through the digital publishing process in four steps:

1. Getting organized.

2. Honing your craft.

3. Learning Journalism 101.

4. Taking it one step further.

Publisher: Kneon

Publication: Issue 10

Step 1: Organization

Teamwork + Hierarchy = Squad

Chances are there are some mighty-talented people on your school campus, and many are looking for ways to showcase their work, improve their skills or be a voice on campus.

Publisher: Local Wolves

Publication:April

Publisher: Local Wolves

Publication: April

A successful magazine can utilize photographers, illustrators, programmers, marketers, business people … the list goes on.

Appeal to the opportunity for your fellow peers to have their voices heard, develop new skills, create a portfolio of work, add a powerful experience to their resume and join a new social group.

Editor-in-Chief, a.k.a. Top Dog:

• Directs the magazine’s overall vision.

• Educates the staff about journalistic practice, ensuring top quality work is being published.

• Facilitates staff discussions, enforces deadlines for each production cycle.

Business Manager:

• Finds creative ways to cover expenses, such as publishing/editing programs, travel costs and equipment.

• Tracks and utilizes a system for managing the flow of money.

Copy Editor:

• Ensures no spelling, grammar or style mistakes slip through.

• Stays well-versed in AP Style (a standard for all journalistic writing).

• Is ultimately responsible for the validity of all facts published.

Section Editors:

• Oversees the design and content of their respective sections.

• Guides their section’s stories through the entire editorial process.

• Maintains an expertise in their section’s topic.

Creative Director:

• Develops and maintains the publication’s overall design, from fonts and layout to artistic feel.

• Aids in the development of specific design-heavy spreads.

Staff Writers:

• Constitutes the life of your publication.

• Are creative, compelling writers, bold reporters and receptive to feedback.

• A diverse group of writers that collectively can dive into an array of issues.

Step 1: Organization

Expansion Pack

As your publication grows, you may need to add more structure to keep everything running smoothly.

Web/Multimedia Editor:

• Builds and updates website for digital outreach.

• Drives new traffic with social media channels.

Managing Editor:

• Acts as the second in command.

• Provides guidance and knowledge to support staff writers and editors.

“The biggest thing if you’re going to be running a publication is organization. You have to make sure people understand what’s going on. If you can do that well, you’ll have a phenomenal staff and quality content.”

Katie Pickrell, 2016 Colorado Journalist of the Year

National Runner-Up

The Production Cycle

Creating an Editorial Calendar

In order to produce your magazine, you’ll need to do some planning. Start with the deadline for publishing your first issue, and work back from there.

You’ll have to navigate a lot of small deadlines to publish on time.

All the little details to cross off your list really add up faster than you think. Procrastination and magazine production don’t mix because there are so many interdependent pieces at play.

On the next several pages, we’ll take you through the basic steps of the production process to help make your magazine a reality.

Download an editable calendar checklist here.

Publisher: Frrresh

Publication: Issue 38

Gathering the Story

1. Stories

// Have a group brainstorming session at the beginning of each production cycle where all staff members share a list of ideas they have for the next issue.

// Editors and section editors should collaboratively decide on which stories to run with and who would be best equipped to write them.

// TIP: Students who are genuinely interested in their assignment will try harder, so ask for input.

2. Interviews

// Interviews are a journalist’s best tool to collect accurate information.

// Always interview in person if possible, and arrive prepared with background details and questions.

// Be sure to record the conversation (with permission), and take copious notes.

// TIP: Read more about how to conduct successful interviews here.

3. Visuals

// Train your staff so everyone has basic photography skills and are able to shoot their own stories.

// Seek skilled photographers and artists on your campus to join your team. Attract them through calls for submission.

// TIP: Don’t scramble. Think about visuals early on and try to get photos during the initial stages of reporting.

Refining

4. Editing

// Peer editing is the lifeblood of student publications. Each article should receive feedback and edits from editors, fellow staff writers and the copy editor. Although this can be a lot of work, it will inevitably make you a better writer and improve your piece.

// Early checks in the editing process are critical to make sure the piece is going in the right direction.

// Resources: Newswriting style guide

Long-form journalism guide

5. Consistency

// AP Style is the norm, so every editor should be well versed in AP Stylebook rules and ensuring all stories adhere to them.

// The editor-in-chief should be looking over everything. In the end, they are responsible for what gets printed.

// Fact check, then check it again. Getting details right is essential.

// Resources: AP Stylebook Fact checking guide

6. Final Drafts

// It’s time for your copy editor to go to town. Everyone should be keeping an eye on AP Stylebook rules and fact checking to make sure everything you publish is 100% accurate.

Assembly

7. Layout & Design

// Either have a design team (can be section editors) put together the whole publication, or have each article laid out and designed by its author.

// Create your own styles, from fonts to images to layout. Seek inspiration on issuu before beginning this process.

// Professionals use Adobe InDesign, but Google Slides and Apple's Pages are cheaper alternatives.

// TIP: Employ the principles of design, check out this guide.

8. Final Copy Edits

// After your page design is completely finished, it’s time for the copy editor to take one final look and correct any last silly mistakes or AP Stylebook errors.

9. Final Assembly

// You'll probably be working on individual documents, which makes it daunting when it’s time to compile everything into one big master document. There are two solutions:

1. Have everyone export their documents in the same format and put them

together in a program like Preview or Adobe Acrobat.

2. Use issuu Collaborate, which allows each individual to upload their spread onto an online flatplan, and then download the entire magazine as a single PDF.

11. Promote

// Upload to issuu and share your publication on social, embed it on your website and email it to all your friends and family.

Celebrate, do a dance and take a nap.

Publisher: The Lake

Publication: Issue 5

Step 2: Hone Your Craft

Find a cafe, classroom, patch of grass – wherever works for you –to bring your new group together. Address the questions below in meetings one and two. After that you can follow the schedule set up in your editorial calendar.

Creating a Shared Vision — Practical Questions for Your Team to Address:

• What topics do we want to cover?

• What kinds of resources are available to us?

• What community/group are we trying to serve?

• Do we want to print physical copies? Why?

• How many editions do we want to create per year?

• How often do we want to meet up?

• What expenses will we incur?

• What is our ideal staff size?

Publisher: Artful Living

Publication: Summer 2016

Step 2: Hone Your Craft

Developing a Brand:

Audience

Find a niche audience within your school. Do you want to cover only school news? Or maybe you want to start a knitting magazine? Think about what kind of people you’re trying to reach, and then plan your content to serve that audience.

Intent/Mission

Who do you want to be, and what are you trying to accomplish? Having a mission statement not only encourages consistency, it also acts as a guide to help refocus your content if you get sidetracked.

Publisher: #Photography

Publication: Issue 14

Coverage/Sections

If you’re more of a culture magazine, maybe your content fits into four categories — local news, features, music and arts. If you’re a fashion magazine, then your sections might need to be more specific, like beauty, seasonal picks, vintage and opinion/commentary. Take time early on to determine the focus of your content and the weight each section should carry.

Style

Your publication must have a cohesive look. Every page should look like it belongs in the same magazine. You’ll need to choose fonts, basic page designs, margin sizes, photography style and all of the technical things that make up a publication’s look.

Step 3: Journalism

Step 3: Journalism

101

101 A Crash Course in What it Means to be Student Journalist

A Crash Course in What it Means to be a Student Journalist:

Reporting Principles: Credibility

Reporting Principles: Credibility

Balance

Balance

Accuracy

Accuracy

Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of Interest

Clarity

Clarity

“Early on, make sure you hold and integrity. Don't allow people things. Have reporters do their Tell your staff that they shouldn't go out and take their own. the additional phone call or

Jack Brook, 2015 California Journalist

hold yourselves to high standards of journalistic ethics people to cut corners, no matter how much easier it will make their big interviews in person, not over email or the phone. shouldn't just rely on photos from their sources, but should Fact check information, get the correct spelling, make or interview.”

Journalist of the Year, National Runner Up

Step 3: Journalism 101 Ethics and Rights

Freedom of press is a right, but it comes with great responsibility. Don’t kid yourself into thinking that what you say doesn’t have consequences. Read this great article on the subject of journalistic ethics and rights.

Freedom of Information Act

Public schools are required to make certain information available to the public. For example, campus police must keep public records of serious reported crimes. And meetings that include the majority of a governing body must remain open to the public.

Don’t Print Libel

Libel is a published false statement or accusation that destroys or damages a person’s reputation. It can get you into serious legal trouble, is unethical and can bring down your publication along with its target.

Granting Anonymity

Use anonymity sparingly. Overusing promises of confidentiality reduces your publication’s credibility. Read about the Privacy Protection Act and Shield Laws here.

Understand Copyright Laws

Only publish your own photographs and content. Learn more here.

Landmark

Supreme Court Cases: Tinker vs. Des Moines (1969)

Three Iowa students were suspended for wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War. In a landmark decision by the Supreme Court, the Court stated that students do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate,” and school administrations could only censor student voices if it was to protect the rights of others or avoid a substantial disruption of learning. Read more about the case here.

Hazelwood vs. Kuhlmeier (1988)

In a Supreme Court decision that would allow for decades of administrative censorship in high schools, it was deemed constitutional for administrators

to censor students at Hazelwood East

High School who tried to publish stories on teen pregnancy and the effect of divorce on children in their student paper. Effectively this excluded U.S. school publications from the protections of “forums for public expression.” Under Hazelwood, school-sponsored speech could be censored with reasonable educational justification. The vague criteria for permitting censorship and hazy definition of a “public forum” make it easy for school administrations to threaten student’s free speech powers (especially those who are not properly informed of their rights).

Keep in mind that student press rights depend on location and institution type. You should find out about the laws in your specific state, or school policies if you attend a private institution.

Working With an Advisor

Student publications are strongest when student led, but an advisor can be an invaluable source of wisdom — especially in writing about sensitive subjects or handling ethical dilemmas. They should not take on the classic role of a teacher or professor, but rather hang back and only step in when needed.

“Student journalism is the foundation of a democracy because it teaches real world critical thinking skills, communication skills, collaboration skills and tech skills. We are not training journalists, we are training thinkers for the 21st century.”

– Esther Wojcicki, founder of the Palo Alto High School journalism program

Publisher: The Campanile

Publisher: Highsnobiety

Publication: Issue 12

Using Your Resources

An Introduction to the Biggest Advocates for the Student Press

Student Press Law Center

The SPLC provides information, training and legal help for student journalists. They are your go-to people if you ever need help with an ethical dilemma or censorship problem, or are seeking to educate yourself about your rights.

Journalism Education Association

The JEA holds workshops, conventions and competitions for students, and serves to educate journalism teachers and advisors as well.

Columbia Scholastic Press Association

The CSPA offers prestigious awards and hosts several annual conventions for journalism students.

Society of Professional Journalists

The SPJ, although meant mainly for professionals, has invaluable resources for student reporters regarding ethics and law. They also have awards and conferences for students.

Step 4: Resources for Exceptionalism

Next Steps for Growth

As you’ve seen, creating a magazine is not all that complicated, and requires surprisingly few paid resources. If you want to take your publication to the next level, consider these options:

• Invest in an issuu publishing plan,

• print physical copies,

• obtain design software like Adobe InDesign,

• launch a website, and

• buy promotional materials like t-shirts, stickers, etc.

Step 4: Resources for Exceptionalism Advertising and Funding

How to Make it Happen

There are multiple ways to fund your magazine. Decide on a budget prior to seeking sources of funding so you can determine exactly how much you’ll need.

Seek Out School Funds

There are a lot of financial resources for student journalists on school campuses. All you have to do is know how to tap into them.

• Make your pitch, write grants, ask organizations.

• Be as organized as possible and detail exactly how the money will be used.

• Keep in mind, the more heavily you depend on your school for financial support, the more control they are able to assert over what you publish.

Sell Ads to Local Businesses

Selling advertising to local businesses helps everyone. Your publication gets funding, and the businesses are able to expand their reach in your community.

In addition, you build life skills while helping to establish a nice relationship between your school and its community.

Tips on Selling Ads:

Be relevant. Target businesses that share an audience with your magazine. For example, if you’re an arts magazine, try getting ads from local art stores and theater companies.

Stay local, stay small. Local businesses will generally be more likely to advertise with you than larger companies because they want to be seen locally.

Be professional. Present yourself and your magazine in the best way possible. An in-person meeting will be the most effective. Even if your magazine is brand new, assure your potential advertisers that your product is worthy of investment through your tone, language and dress.

Be persistent. Understand that not every business you meet with will buy an ad. In fact, the vast majority probably won’t. Don’t take it personally. Get their contact information before you leave, and follow up via email and

phone. Wait until the next issue is being assembled, then hit them up again.

All hands. In order to ensure everyone on staff is making an effort to raise funding, make it a class/club requirement that every person obtain a certain amount of ad revenue, or hold a contest to determine the biggest seller.

Your pitch should include:

1. What your magazine is about.

2. A sample of your magazine.

3. Ad sizes and prices from your ad contract, and the reads and impressions you get (or hope to get) on each publication. Thank your advertisers, preferably with handwritten notes and a link to the publication they advertised in on issuu. You want to keep the door open for further business deals with them or their connections, and let them know that you genuinely appreciate their support.

Publisher: #Photography

Publication: Issue 11

Step 4: Resources for Exceptionalism Get Recognized

Award Winning

It’s important to get recognized for your hard work. Not only will recognition increase staff morale and motivate people to achieve success in the future, it can also make a difference for you in future school and job applications.

A few competitions to enter:

• Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

• Journalism Education Association Awards

• CSPA Gold Circle and Crown Awards

• Society of Professional Journalists Awards

Convention Experience

It’s also worthwhile to experience journalism conventions. Not only is being around hundreds of other student journalists downright inspiring, but the plethora of workshops available make conventions incredible learning experiences. For high school students:

• CSPA Spring Convention

• JEA/NSPA National Convention For college students:

• National College Media Convention

• SPJ Excellence in Journalism

cover! This will first page when the follow pages side-by-side as

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KING’S LANDING HIGH SCHOOL NEWS MAGAZINE

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Arya Stark’s Journey Home

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Toolkit for Digital Publishing Awesomeness

Game of Thrones Imagery courtesy of HBO.com

Resources for You

Here at Issuu, we’re constantly striving to bring the best digital publishing experience to publishers at all levels.

To help jumpstart your creation process, we’ve created templates that will give you the perfect starting place.

For a more extensive look at all of our publishing awesomeness, take a flip through our new digital publishing toolkit to get a deeper look into our features.

We can't wait to see what you create.

// Design: Kaija Xiao

// Copy Editor: Joel Barnard

// Creative Director: Nicole Chiala

// Writers: Lisie Sabbag, Maya Kandell and Kaija Xiao

Now that you know what digital publishing is all about, it’s time to spread your journalistic wings and go change the world.

Publisher: Local Wolves

Publication: Issue 30

Connecting content to people.