• To provide you with experience in desktop publishing and to familiarize you with the process and different aspects of newsletter production.

 Assignment

• Develop a 2-page newsletter focusing on some topic related to health, physical education, physical activity, recreation, leisure services,or sports.
• Use WORD and its many features to create the newsletter.
• You will need to edit, write, and work with the layout of the newsletter.

Technical Specifications

• The following items should be contained within the newsletter:
• Banner made in WordArt, with a catchy title.
• Newsletter organized within two or three columns, with a line between the columns considered as optional.
• At least three graphics, appropriately sized, suitably positioned, and related to content. At least one graphic should have a border around it. At least one graphic should be downloaded from the Internet. Wrap the text tight around one of the graphics. Do not use clipart.
• At least two drop capitals.
• At least two different fonts (be careful of over-fonting here) and two different colors, perhaps headlines in one color and text in another color. Be consistent in the use of colors throughout.
• Two textboxes to serve as callouts to highlight the information or to feature a quote.
• At least three short feature articles based on information of interest that you researched using the Internet.
• Reference list of articles and sources from the Internet at the end of the newsletter.

 What do I hand in?

• Convert your newsletter to a .pdf file and submit it via Blackboard.

 Grading

• Grades will be assigned for the newsletter. Your grade will reflect the extent to which you have incorporated the required elements, its content, layout, and professional appearance.

 Hints

• Plan ahead. Think about your overall purpose and goal.
• Carefully use headlines, graphics, drop capitals, fonts, textboxes with callouts, colors, and white space to capture the reader's attention and enhance readability. Readability is the key.
• Spell check your work. Grammar check your work as well. Keep in mind who is your audience and adjust your writing style accordingly.
• As a writer, keep in mind the overall purpose of the newsletter and how your article contributes to that purpose. Remember the first rule of news reporting... the first sentence or two should answer these key questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how. The first paragraph is the most important paragraph. Successive paragraphs are an elaboration on the first paragraph, and each successive paragraph is less in importance than the one preceding it. This helps make editing easier when you must deal with space limitations.
• Try to incorporate some of this advice into your newsletter.
  • Newsletter Design Clinic: 3 Cs
    
  • 6 questions to ask before you begin designing print publications
    
  • Create the perfect business or organization newsletter
    
  • How to choose the right title for your newsletter
    
  • Desktop publishing's twelve most common mistakes
    
  • Design, production and checklists for print design and publishing

   

This page is maintained by Dr. Deborah A. Wuest and was last updated on August 20, 2009.