[Nfb-editors] Making the newsletter work
Bridgit Pollpeter
bpollpeter at hotmail.com
Sun Mar 13 22:57:36 UTC 2011
I do like the idea of a regional publication. It does have merit. Like
if Iowa and Nebraska aligned.
And true, it really depends on how active an affiliate is. The
intention of a newsletter-- at least according to me-- is to bring
awareness to the public and legislators of a particular state about the
local Federation and what we are doing to further our goals. I would
guess that many states are not consistently active. This is one of the
reasons I changed our newsletter to a twice-yearly publication. You
can't report on news that isn't happening. We certainly have news, but
not enough to justify a monthly or even quarterly newsletter, plus,
could you imagine my frustration then? *smile*
Another issue I have is the lack of organization to many newsletters.
Most-- I stress most-- professional newsletters do not just compile
articles. They have an order, a rhyme and reason. I think we need to
bring more structure to our publications.
As the new editor for Slate & Style, I meet similar frustration,
however, this is a publication with a specific focus. Contributors and
readers know they will open up an issue of S & S and will find
literature and articles on writing. To an extent, it is easier when
there is a focus like this-- not easy, just easier.
Slate & Style is attempting to incorporate all forms of writing and base
its structure more on articles as opposed to literature. We shall see
how the endeavor goes, but it has the potential to broaden our audience
among the Federation and perhaps beyond too.
Back to newsletters, we must have a goal and it seems that if we expand
our audience, we may find more energy as well as news. If the couple of
us dedicated to our own affiliate joined powers, we would have an actual
team.
I will remain firm against ghost writing, though this is just my opinion
for myself. Perhaps if a clear understanding exist between editor and
leader, and said leader truly is not able to maintain a consistent
presence, this relationship can work. Though the editor better do their
work to capture the voice of the leader. I do not think ghost writing
helps a publication though. If you can not garner support and reliable
contributions, you may need to change focus.
Getting our message out in print can be positive and influencial, but it
is not necessary. I agree with Mike's sentiments that most do not read
newsletters of any sort, and yes, this includes the Braille Monitor too.
If everyone who considers themselves a Federationist took the time to
read our publications, we may a completely different organization all
together. *smile*
Before we consider glory, prestige and status, we first need to look at
the why and who for. Having a newsletter just for the sake of having
one is not furthering anything and can be more harmful than helpful.
Bridgit
Message: 2
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 16:34:03 -0500
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'Correspondence Committee Mailing List'" <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Nfb-editors] Making the newsletter work
Message-ID: <226F0B4394494E138EA0045CA04F96EF at Rufus>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Here's an idea worth mulling over. What about regional publications?
It would open the scope for additional writers and open the range for
additional issues, especially in states where legislation may be hot.
Sadly, I agree with Bridgit's post. I think a newsletter ought to be a
newsletter, articles and all, but enthusiasm that will never succeed at
drawing blood from a stone only leads to disillusionment that makes it
easy to presume that if the newsletter cannot happen then maybe the
chapter won't get stronger or the affiliate more popular. Maybe a bit
extreme, but you get the point. The idea here is also a little off the
wall, but maybe we need to think crazy to make things work.
Joe
"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam
Ewing
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 17:04:21 -0500
From: Jewel <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
To: jsorozco at gmail.com, Correspondence Committee Mailing List
<nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Nfb-editors] Making the newsletter work
Message-ID:
<AANLkTim8Cqbx3iSFp2faT+pgQj7PoTJoL_8QB6S0CgiB at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I just stared the draft for April's newsletter, and I agree that no
articles is kinda pointless...we do phone reminders and reminders at
meetings...we don't need to print it out or any such. However, I also
agree with what was said about reprinting. It should serve a point.
Reprinting an article from the Brialle Monitor would probably be
redundant, unless your membership is mostly people who don't read the
Monitor (*gasp*). But reprinting can serve a purpose. Reprinting an
article from a local newspaper in a state newsletter could draw people's
attention to a problem elsewhere in their state.
One thing I have been told not to do and have sooo much trouble avoiding
is state legislature in our local (county) newsletter. We're in the
state capital (Raleigh, NC), so the state legislature is right here, and
our local members are active in it, most particularly our president. But
I know that should be left to our state newsletter, the News and Views.
One thing I've done and will do again with the April newsletter is a
member profile. I did a member profile on a member who was quiet at
meetings, always listening. Turns out, he's involved with a health group
who are as we type in Africa, helping people with eye diseases, either
with surgery or by training them to use the techniques related to
blindness (cane travel, for example). The member profile highlighted
this work and got the group interested in what he was doing. Now we are
on pins and needles waiting for an update on how he is doing. I look
back and am proud of my member profile, becuase it did what it was meant
to do, which was highlight the work of one person in the local community
who is fighting for the cause. That is what I strive for in our
newsletter beyond the fundraisers and upcoming meetings...to highlight
the work of individuals and the group as a whole to fight for the cause,
for equality, opportunity, and security for the blind.
Ok, I'll shut up now *big grin*
Sincerely yours,
Jewel
Wake Federation of teh blind, Raleigh, North Caroina
On 3/12/11, Joe Orozco <jsorozco at gmail.com> wrote:
> Here's an idea worth mulling over. What about regional publications?
> It would open the scope for additional writers and open the range for
> additional issues, especially in states where legislation may be hot.
> Sadly, I agree with Bridgit's post. I think a newsletter ought to be
> a newsletter, articles and all, but enthusiasm that will never succeed
> at drawing blood from a stone only leads to disillusionment that makes
> it easy to presume that if the newsletter cannot happen then maybe the
> chapter won't get stronger or the affiliate more popular. Maybe a bit
> extreme, but you get the point. The idea here is also a little off
> the wall, but maybe we need to think crazy to make things work.
>
> Joe
>
> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
> sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at
> all."--Sam Ewing
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-editors mailing list
> Nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Nfb-editors:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org/herekitty
> kat2%40gmail.com
>
--
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 19:05:07 -0600
From: "Cheryl Orgas & William Meeker" <meekerorgas at ameritech.net>
To: "'Correspondence Committee Mailing List'" <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Nfb-editors] Making the newsletter work
Message-ID: <AB83731B86834ACEBE776D11965D23D6 at williamb45040b>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Consider the newsletters you and I receive in the mail. The one from
our health care provider; the one from our insurance agent; from our
church; from our liquor store; from our neighborhood burglar; do you
read them? I certainly don't. Mostly I read the article titles.
Usually the title tells the story. Sometimes I read the first paragraph
and occasionally, the entire article. In my experience, newsletters
are, by their nature mostly mundane collections of information. Under
certain circumstances , they can be much more.
I was a state newsletter editor. I couldn't sustain the content.
Finally, I had the sense to resign for the good of my affiliate.
Our state is about to publish its long-dormant newsletter under a new
editor. And voila, events have conspired to provide us a deluge of
information that will profoundly and negatively effect the blind in my
state, Wisconsin, for many years to come. Our newsletter that has
hitherto provided useful if pedestrian news has the opportunity to not
only report history, but to be transformative to the blind of Wisconsin.
Bill Meeker
-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Jewel
Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2011 4:04 PM
To: jsorozco at gmail.com; Correspondence Committee Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Nfb-editors] Making the newsletter work
I just stared the draft for April's newsletter, and I agree that no
articles is kinda pointless...we do phone reminders and reminders at
meetings...we don't need to print it out or any such. However, I also
agree with what was said about reprinting. It should serve a point.
Reprinting an article from the Brialle Monitor would probably be
redundant, unless your membership is mostly people who don't read the
Monitor (*gasp*). But reprinting can serve a purpose. Reprinting an
article from a local newspaper in a state newsletter could draw people's
attention to a problem elsewhere in their state.
One thing I have been told not to do and have sooo much trouble avoiding
is state legislature in our local (county) newsletter. We're in the
state capital (Raleigh, NC), so the state legislature is right here, and
our local members are active in it, most particularly our president. But
I know that should be left to our state newsletter, the News and Views.
One thing I've done and will do again with the April newsletter is a
member profile. I did a member profile on a member who was quiet at
meetings, always listening. Turns out, he's involved with a health group
who are as we type in Africa, helping people with eye diseases, either
with surgery or by training them to use the techniques related to
blindness (cane travel, for example). The member profile highlighted
this work and got the group interested in what he was doing. Now we are
on pins and needles waiting for an update on how he is doing. I look
back and am proud of my member profile, becuase it did what it was meant
to do, which was highlight the work of one person in the local community
who is fighting for the cause. That is what I strive for in our
newsletter beyond the fundraisers and upcoming meetings...to highlight
the work of individuals and the group as a whole to fight for the cause,
for equality, opportunity, and security for the blind.
Ok, I'll shut up now *big grin*
Sincerely yours,
Jewel
Wake Federation of teh blind, Raleigh, North Caroina
On 3/12/11, Joe Orozco <jsorozco at gmail.com> wrote:
> Here's an idea worth mulling over. What about regional publications?
> It would open the scope for additional writers and open the range for
> additional issues, especially in states where legislation may be hot.
> Sadly, I agree with Bridgit's post. I think a newsletter ought to be
> a newsletter, articles and all, but enthusiasm that will never succeed
> at drawing blood from a stone only leads to disillusionment that makes
> it easy to presume that if the newsletter cannot happen then maybe the
> chapter won't get stronger or the affiliate more popular. Maybe a bit
> extreme, but you get the point. The idea here is also a little off
> the wall, but maybe we need to think crazy to make things work.
>
> Joe
>
> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
> sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at
> all."--Sam Ewing
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-editors mailing list
> Nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Nfb-editors:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org/herekitty
> kat2%40gmail.com
>
--
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com
_______________________________________________
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------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2011 10:50:13 EDT
From: LoriStay at aol.com
To: nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfb-editors] editing a newsletter, a thankless job?
Message-ID: <7182.7b3a419e.3aae33a5 at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
When we first started Slate & Style, Dr. Jernigan gave us some advice:
If you can't get someone else to write an article, write it yourself.
If
you don't want your name on all the articles, ask permission of others
to use
their names. Eventually people begin to submit.
What I found as editor of Slate & Style was that I often had to get on
the
phone to specific people and assign them an article, subject and word
length
specified. Did it always get results? Not always, but often enough
so
that we were able to publish continuously four times a year. Did I
write
many articles under other people's names? No. Only once did I take
an
article that was barely in English and edit it severely so it could be
understood. Otherwise, most needed light editing.
Dr. Jernigan's advice to write articles myself reflected the need he
found
when he began editing the Braille Monitor. So you are not alone,
Bridgit.
The job begins as thankless, but there are ways around it. Mainly,
find
writers who want to see their bylines in print (or Braille or email
edition).
Lori
> When so many people have their hands dipped in so many pots,
> > how do you get dedication, professionalism and outstanding work
> > done?
> >
> > Drowning in Nebraska (A.K.A Bridgit)
>
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2011 08:37:25 -0700
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "'Correspondence Committee Mailing List'" <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Nfb-editors] editing a newsletter, a thankless job?
Message-ID: <000e01cbe194$8e6c9040$ab45b0c0$@panix.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hi, Everyone.
The continuing discussion of the purposes of affiliate newsletters and
effective strategies for publishing them is quite interesting and is IMO
the best thing to come down the pike on this list in quite a while. I
have a few observations. Some may find some of them a mite cynical but
I'd hate to disappoint those who expect and are exasperated by such
cynicism from me. (big grin)
First, Lori is exactly right: I remember hearing the same advice from
Dr. Jernigan -- if people won't write articles, ask their permission and
right them for them; if nothing else, you'll crank up the shame factor a
tad and they might write articles for you in the future, if only to
assuage guilt.
(grin) But as Bill Meeker says, unless there are pressing issues as
there are within Wisconsin, and with many more types of media competing
for our attention these days, should we be surprised when people aren't
champing at the bit to write for newsletters? I would submit that
having a by-line isn't quite the incentive it once was except, perhaps,
for would-be writers.
Second, as Bridgit has found out the hard way, I think most members of
affiliates (including most of their leadership) likes the *idea* and the
prestige of having a newsletter far more than it likes the grunge-work
of actually producing one. It reminds me of one time when I came home
from college and my mother asked me if I wanted some home-made fudge. I
answered in the affirmative whereupon she said: "Here are the
ingredients and the recipe! Have at it!" I then said that I wanted the
fudge but not *that* much! Wrong answer! (grin) I did make the fudge
and it was delicious! But back to newsletters. I think more of us
should make it crystal-clear to our affiliates' members that Heinlein's
TANSTAFFL maxim still applies: there Ain't No Such thing As A Free
Lunch! Actions speak louder than words! I'd put it to the members
straight: "You *say* you want a newsletter but your actions say
otherwise!" If you don't get articles, well, we are a democracy and the
people have spoken, if only by their silence.
Third, I think Joe's idea has merit and is an interesting variation on
the
theme: perhaps several adjacent affiliates could come up with enough
budding writers and reporters to produce a viable newsletter. The
question is whether such a house organ would be found effective by those
who would read it? And here I'm writing of those who do *not* have
access to electronic media such as email or Facebook or Twitter.
Fourth (and I mean no criticism here), it strikes me that part of
Bridgit's anguish lies in the fact that others of us do not get the
charge out of writing that she and our esteemed Committee chair do. In
my case, I think I can write a decent sentence but I'd much rather write
legislative language and argue like a lawyer over dotting the I's and
crossing the T's than I would writing newsletter articles. Surely I am
not alone.
The bottom-line question then becomes whether it's worth it in terms of
gaining new affiliate members and/or PR to have newsletters and if so,
what incentives aside from mere cajoling or issuing guilt-trips we can
come up with to horn-swaggle reluctant article-writers into putting
pencil to paper or stylus to slate.
Mike Freeman
-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of LoriStay at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2011 7:50 AM
To: nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfb-editors] editing a newsletter, a thankless job?
When we first started Slate & Style, Dr. Jernigan gave us some advice:
If you can't get someone else to write an article, write it yourself.
If
you don't want your name on all the articles, ask permission of others
to use
their names. Eventually people begin to submit.
What I found as editor of Slate & Style was that I often had to get on
the
phone to specific people and assign them an article, subject and word
length
specified. Did it always get results? Not always, but often enough
so
that we were able to publish continuously four times a year. Did I
write
many articles under other people's names? No. Only once did I take
an
article that was barely in English and edit it severely so it could be
understood. Otherwise, most needed light editing.
Dr. Jernigan's advice to write articles myself reflected the need he
found
when he began editing the Braille Monitor. So you are not alone,
Bridgit.
The job begins as thankless, but there are ways around it. Mainly,
find
writers who want to see their bylines in print (or Braille or email
edition).
Lori
> When so many people have their hands dipped in so many pots,
> > how do you get dedication, professionalism and outstanding work
> > done?
> >
> > Drowning in Nebraska (A.K.A Bridgit)
>
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To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfb-editors:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40pan
ix.c
om
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