A newspaper can be as small or as big as you want to make it. And it may
be
one of the easier businesses you can start with little or nothing. Think
about what is actually involved:
Publishing a Newspaper or Periodical – Simplified
1. Use your camera. Go out and get pictures of all the things,
activities,
and people you find interesting.
2. Use your notepad or mini recorder (for best results, use both). Get
names, information and stories to go with your pictures. Make sure all
facts are good. And please check your spelling.
3. While you're out running around, stop in and talk about your new
publication with other business owners. Tell them all about what you
plan
to do. Invite them to advertise in the new publication — and collect
payments for the ads.
4. Use your computer. Write captions, paragraphs and short articles to
go
with every photo. Build the ads in CorelDraw or InDesign. You may also
wish to convert some photo images to illustrations (Hint: you can trace
the
photo in a vector drawing program, like CorelDraw or Adobe Illustrator.)
5. Create pages for your publication in a "page-layout" or publishing
program, such as Adobe InDesign, PageMaker, or Microsoft Publisher. You
can
even use CorelDraw to do this, if you have to.
6. When the pages are all set, according to the sizes and color
specifications your local newspaper/magazine printer gives you, then save
them to a PDF file for high quality printing. Take the file (or send it
via
email) to your web press operator (more on this here) and have them
produce
your publication.
7. Distribute and/or mail out your new publication.
8. Repeat the process for each issue.
Not so bad, really, is it?
At our website (www,newspaper-info.com), you will find this and other
information that may prove helpful to anyone wanting to start their own
newspaper. But you need to realize that there are no simple "quick, easy
steps" to accomplishing anything great.
In my opinion, starting and operating a local newspaper, magazine or other
useful periodical is a great thing. It is most certainly a good thing.
By
doing so you provide ordinary people with information they can use to
better
their lives -- or at least to better enjoy their lives. And you also help
local businesses advertise their products and services.
Starting and operating a newspaper is not a scheme that will make you rich
quick. In fact, quite a few newspapers struggle, at times, to make ends
meet. That part of it is up to the individual, the partners, or the team
that will make the operation go. Any business can become a source of
great
wealth if it can truly provide what other people are looking for.
On the other hand, a great many people in this world have made their
fortunes in publishing, including newspaper publishers. Some of the
biggest
names in America, for example, are publishing magnates: William Randolph
Hearst, Joseph Pulitzer, to name just a couple. So, while you may not get
rich quick, you can certainly make a living if you work at it, and if your
paper serves the readers in your area.
Formulas and quick, easy steps to success do not always work. But real
determination and a will to work at the thing you enjoy doing can produce
wonderful results.
If you have any genuine interest in starting and running a local newspaper
or other periodical, then you may find the website mentioned above truly
helpful. There I detail some of the things you will need, and some of the
steps you will want to take.
Please, don't be put off from starting your own publishing business
because
you have no background (academic or on-the-job experience) in journalism.
Anyone can manage to produce a good newspaper if they have a will to do
so.
You should certainly be able to do as well as some of the folks already
cranking out daily and weekly papers.
These days, you will want to own a digital camera, a computer capable of
handling photos and page layout software, and you will want to have a car,
unless the town you plan to cover is easy to cover walking. Oh, and you
will need a decent internet connection. With these things and little
desire, you can make it happen.
Be sure to visit the website (www.newspaper-info.com) for more
information,
if you desire to know more. And remember to visit the local library,
where
you can find most any kind of information on just about every subject.
(You
can also order in to your local branch just about any book in the library
system.)
Whatever you choose to do, be sure to follow your dreams. No matter how
many obstacles you think are in the way, you'll be amazed at how they
begin
to fade away with a little honest effort.
Good luck and remember to have fun!
Jim
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How to start your own local newspaper: www.newspaper-info.com
Free calendar to download, print out and use: www.jimsgraphix.com (click
the calendar link)
Ideas and advice on basic success: www.123basics.com
Christian Work-at-Home Dads: www.cwahd.com
Christian Work-at-Home Moms: www.cwahm.com
Christian Encouragement in Life: www.goodwordusa.org
New York Times Newspaper: www.nytimes.com
USA Today National News: www.usatoday.com
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