Guide to Successful School Newspaper: Tips, Templates, and Tools

Have you ever thought of starting a school newspaper? Even though print media is losing influence, student newspapers can still be a great way to educate readers. You don’t even have to print your paper anymore – many schools use flipbooks to convert their publications into online newsletters available to everyone!

In this article, you’ll learn what a student newspaper is, how to create one, how to gather a team, and what software you need. Read on to learn more about how to introduce the world of journalism to your school.

What is in a school newspaper

The school newspaper is usually created by students, with teachers’ help. Creating a newspaper teaches students valuable skills, such as writing, editing, and design, and can also help students earn extra credit.

In 2011, 64% of U.S. high schools had news publications, mostly published by students themselves. In smaller towns without a commercial press, it can even serve as a local newspaper and may be sold in stores!

However, it’s important to note that a school newspaper is not the same as a student newspaper. A school newspaper is an official student-run publication, usually supervised by a teacher. A student newspaper is entirely created by students, for students, focusing on things that interest them.

How to create a school newspaper

1. Find a space and get approval

Start by getting permission: ask your principal or teachers if you can start a newspaper. Try to get as much help as possible, for example, you can ask for access to computers in the IT lab or even ask the school to buy dedicated software. You’ll also need cameras for taking pictures, whether built into phones or high-quality ones.

Find a teacher who can help you, ask for advice, and see if they have the time to help you run the newspaper. You should explain your plan, including how often you will publish the newspaper and what resources you’ll need. Since this will likely cut into your free time, be sure to plan together with your caretaker.

You will also need a room with computers and tables. It’s a good idea to find a place to meet with editors and plan your issues.

2. Create your school newspaper team

Once you have an editor-in-chief, you should start recruiting the newspaper’s staff.

You’ll need:

Writers to create articles
Photographers to take pictures
Someone to design the layout and look of the newspaper
An editor who will be in charge (this could be a student)

You’ll also need a teacher to supervise the entire project – maybe an IT or language teacher. They should meet with the editor at least once a month.

Ask your friends to join, and create posters to display around the school to find more students interested in journalism and similar activities.

3. Choose a design software for your school newspaper

School newspapers used to be created on a typewriter and copied on a mimeograph. Today, however, you have many more options. You can use free online tools like Canva or dedicated computer software.

Many schools have access to MS Office tools, so you can use MS Publisher and MS Word to create a simple document, or free tools like Libre Office. If you plan to publish the newspaper as a physical document, make sure the school can afford a printer and other supplies (stapler, ink, different types of paper).

However, the best way to distribute the newspaper is to publish it online using Publuu flipbooks available to the entire school. This way, everyone will be able to read it on their phones and other devices.

4. Plan your publication schedule

How often you want to publish a newspaper depends on how much money and time you have. Student newspapers are often published once a month, but a school newspaper can sometimes be published less frequently, for example, once at the beginning and end of the semester, or even four times a year.

If your newspaper describes not only school activities, it can sometimes be sold outside school. If you find a way to distribute your high school newspaper in local stores or libraries, you might consider publishing it once a week!

5. Raise money

Your school newspaper will need some funding. Often, the school can finance the production of the newspaper and maybe even a more professional printing and publication. If you want to print a hundred copies of a magazine, this can be feasible, but it still comes with costs.

You can also look for special funding for this type of projects from development funds, such as those from the European Union. For example, while Erasmus is known for its student exchange program, it also offers grants for training and participation in democracy and public life, which can be used to develop your student newspaper.

Many schools, especially private ones, can sell advertising or ask for donations. If you want to distribute it outside the school, you can run ads just like a professional magazine!

6. Create your first school newspaper

When preparing your first issue, start with planning. Hold a meeting to decide what to write about, choose a name for your newspaper, and determine your main focus. Assign tasks to your editors and then wait for stories and photos to come in.

Once you have the content, start designing the newspaper using a program like Canva. Make sure the layout is consistent so the entire newspaper looks cohesive. Also, ask your teacher to spell-check everything before printing. Export the file to PDF format to make printing and online publishing easier – and you can use Publuu to showcase the PDF as a flipbook online before officially publishing it.

Publuu’s online newspaper example

View more examples

MAKE YOUR OWN

7. Publish your school newspaper

In today’s world, many newspapers have been overshadowed by social media. However, this doesn’t mean the end of printed newspapers – some are still produced on the school printer or even at a professional printing houses.

→ Online distribution methods

Many school newspapers are now distributed online as blogs, websites, or PDFs. Often, there’s a link to the latest issue on the school’s website. With Publuu, you can convert PDF newspapers into interactive flipbooks and embed them directly into the site or distribute it through a mailing list. Students can even place QR codes around the school to give readers easy access to their newspaper on their smartphones.

These interactive newsletters let you seamlessly integrate external sources by adding links to websites or social media directly into the PDF, enhancing your student newspaper with additional content. With Publuu, you can even create an online archive of your newspaper to show how your middle school has evolved over the years.

→ Printing options

These days, affordable printing services are available at many copy shops, and your school might even have an agreement for printing small runs of newspapers. The more copies you print, the lower the cost per issue. Don’t forget to factor in shipping and storage when you’re calculating the total price.

School newspaper templates

1. Baige and brown playful school newsletter

This vivid Canva template can easily be printed out or used as an invitation to visit the high school’s website.

2. Colorful pastel class newsletter template

The pastel colors of this template work well for a primary school or middle school newspaper.

3. Monthly school newspaper template

This template lets you design content styled as a traditional newspaper or a newsletter.

4. Green modern school newspaper template

This modern green template is perfect for school or classroom newsletters, offering a clean, customizable layout for sharing updates and news.

5. Red and yellow modern school newsletter template

A bold red and yellow modern template, perfect for sharing school news and updates in an engaging, customizable format.

6. Creative classroom newsletter template

A playful and creative template, ideal for classroom newsletters. Perfect for sharing updates and news in a fun, customizable format.

7. Classroom newsletter template

A vibrant and engaging Word template, perfect for sharing classroom updates and important news with parents and students.

8. School newsletter template

A clean, professional Word template designed for sharing school events, updates, and announcements with ease.

 

Design software and tools for creating a school newspaper

If you’re just starting out and working on your first issue, something simple like Canva might be a good choice. As you get better at creating newspapers, you may want to try more advanced tools.

Online tools

• Canva: This is a website where you can design your newspaper. It’s easy to use, and there’s no need to download anything. Simply register on their website. Schools can often access discounted educational plans, which provide access to millions of illustrations and advanced features You can also easily export a PDF created in Canva as a flipbook in Publuu.

• Google Docs: Stories and photos can be shared using free collaboration tools like Google Drive. There are even simple school newspaper templates that can help you design your newspaper on any device.

• Publuu: Publuu is more than just a tool for publishing a student newspaper. It allows you to customize backgrounds and add interactive elements, providing many creative options to make your newspaper more engaging.

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Professional design software

• InDesign: This is a very good program for creating newspapers. It’s ideal for those with design experience but can be difficult for beginners. However, it is worth to know InDesign, as it is used by most professionals. Students can learn the basics of this program, which will be useful in their future careers.

• Illustrator and Photoshop: These programs are created by the same company as InDesign. While they’re not specifically designed for newspapers, they can be used for design projects. Schools may benefit from Adobe’s educational package offerings, though it can be expensive.

• Affinity Publisher: It is a more affordable alternative to Adobe InDesign. Instead of a subscription, you purchase the program outright, which can be helpful for schools. It’s easy to use, but doesn’t include all the features of InDesign, but it’s sufficient for producing a student newspaper. Affinity also offers Designer and Photo programs.
  
  

Freeware

• Scribus: This is a free program that you can download. It’s a good option for schools as it costs nothing, though it may not have as many features as paid software. It is also more difficult to use. Inkscape, a free vector graphics program, is also worth considering.

Other programs you may already have

• Microsoft Word or Publisher: These are programs that many people already have on their computers. While not ideal for creating newspapers, they can be used if no other options are available. MS Publisher offers more advanced features, though it’s not typically used by professionals. If your school uses Apple computers, you might also consider the Pages program.
  
  
  

Content ideas for your school newspaper

One of the biggest challenges of running a school newspaper is figuring out what to fill those 32 pages with! Here are some ideas to help you and your high school journalists get started:

💡Interviews with students

Talk to other students and show their perspectives. You can show interesting people – like a sports champion or top students – but remember, every student has a story to tell!

💡Popular culture

Write about new movies, music, or books that students like. Writing reviews and recommendations is a great way for students to express their opinions. You can ask students to vote for their favorite songs or TV shows. With Publuu you can even link to movie trailers online.

💡School life

Write about what happens at school, such as:

• Sports games and results

• Clubs and extracurricular activities

• New teachers or changes in policies

• School trips

• Lunch options in the cafeteria
  
  

💡School rivalries and elections

Report matches with other schools, including sports results. This is where interesting photos will come in handy! And when the school council and other elections come, you can showcase students running class president or other roles and often interview them about their platforms.

💡School history

Your articles can tell the story of how your school was founded, what happened to it during important events, or notable graduates. With enough research, you can explain the origins of your high school’s name or mascot.

💡Local news

Write about events in your city that are relevant to students. For example, renovations in the area, health issues, or cultural events like concerts. You can even interview the mayor or other important figures.

💡Student input

Ask students to share their thoughts on various topics, for example:

• School rules

• Things happening in the city and the world

• Social issues that interest them

• Conflicts and point of view

• Tips for studying or managing stress
  
  

💡Additional highlights

Add interesting and engaging elements to the newspaper, such as:

• Cartoons drawn by students

• Puzzles or word games

• Contests for students to participate in

To make your publication even more interactive, you can use Publuu to integrate additional features. For example, you could create QR codes, place them around the school, and when scanned, they will reveal content from the newspaper.

Top tips for starting a school newspaper

Tip 1 – Maintain a professional appearance

Make your newspaper look neat and present it like a real magazine. Use clear headlines, professional fonts, and make sure the content is easy to read. A professional-looking newspaper will make people take it more seriously and want to read it.

Tip 2 – Learn from other schools

Browse newspapers from other schools to get ideas. See what kinds of stories they write and how they design their layout. You can learn a lot by watching what others are doing well.

Tip 3 – Involve the school community

Ask teachers, students and even parents for ideas and stories. The more contributors you have, the more interesting your newspaper will be. It will also encourage more people to read it.

Tip 4 – Interactive visuals

Don’t just rely on text – add photos, charts and diagrams as well. They will make your newspaper more enjoyable to read and help explain complex information in simple terms.

Tip 5 – Organize your team well

Make sure everyone on your team knows their role. Assign clear responsibilities, such as editor, writers, and photographers. This will help everything run smoothly and ensure that all tasks are done.

Tip 6 – Schedule regular meetings

Meet frequently with the newspaper team. During these meetings, you can exchange ideas, plan content, and make sure everyone is completing their tasks.

Tip 7 – Teach your students basic writing skills

The lead teacher should aim to improve the entire team’s journalistic skills. Teach them how to write good headlines, create engaging story openings, and proofread their work for errors.

Tip 8 – Showcase journalistic ethics

Agree on some rules for your newspaper. For example, always tell the truth, be honest with everyone, and respect people’s privacy. In an era of fake news and paparazzi, it’s important for young reporters to learn ethical journalism from the start.

Tip 9 – Show your students role models in writing

Share examples of good writing with your team. These can be well-known Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, or well-written stories from other school newspapers.

Tip 10 – Promote your school newspaper

Tell everyone about your newspaper! Put up posters around the school, talk about it in school announcements, and create a website with embedded Publuu flipbooks. The more people learn about your newspaper, the more people will read it.

School newspaper FAQ

How should our newspaper look?

Editors should make it look as good as possible! This means a professional layout, well-written articles, and clear photos. You may not get a grade for this, but the newspaper represents you and the school, so do your best!

 

How many people do we need?

If you have a managing editor, also choose at least one or two people to write articles and take photos. The more, the better – a school newspaper is a lot of work, so sharing tasks is key!

 

Can we prepare an online version of a school newspaper?

Yes! With many applications, like Publuu, you can create an online newspaper for your website, emails, and social media. Publuu allows you to create newsletters and embed PDFs within your content!

 

How do you get people to read it?

People love to see their names in print! For example, if you mention a student, their family and friends are more likely to read the paper. Create interesting, even surprising, headlines to grab attention. You can also add fun elements like puzzles, cartoons, or surveys!

 

What we shouldn’t put in the newspaper

Photos are great, but make sure everyone in the photos is okay with being photographed. You may need permission to use photos and personal information, depending on local laws.

 

Are school newspapers still a thing?

While physical newspapers aren’t as common as they used to be, many schools have simply moved their publications online. In fact, some schools even run their own digital radio or TV stations. So, if you want to create a professional school publication, the digital world offers plenty of opportunities!

 

Is a school newspaper a good idea?

A school newspaper is a great way for students to express themselves, develop their writing skills, and inform other students about school events and community needs.

 

How to make a school newspaper?

As we described above – gather a team of students interested in writing, photography, or drawing. Let them create content and compile it into a single PDF using tools like Word, Publuu, or InDesign. You can then share this PDF online or print it at school or a local copy shop.

Summary

Setting up a school newspaper is certainly a great activity and can help students, teachers, and everyone associated with the school.

If you can get permission, find students to help, and choose the right software, you will effortlessly create an excellent newspaper. You can print physical copies or use online tools, such as Publuu, to distribute your newspaper.

Your newspaper can show what students think, help people learn, and be a great memento of your school years in the future!


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