PrintedMaterials

Rebecca Murray

Publishing Printed Materials

Step One- Develop a statement of purpose

Step Two- Identify the audience

Statement of Purpose

Why is the material important to print?– To inform– To gain support

For whom is the material published?– Internal public– External public

Know Your Audience

Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar says,

"You can get anything you want in life as long as you help the other fellow get what he wants."

Educational Audiences

Internal Publics– Administrators– Teachers– Staff– Students– Central office– Board

External Publics– Parents– Small Community

(local taxpayers)– Large Community

(state taxpayers)

Publications for Staff and Teachers

Establish communication Increase employee morale Inform about policies, practices, and

problems Explain cause for action Encourage constructivism Contribute to employee understanding

Publications for Students

Increase understanding of educational opportunities and problems

To communicate school operations Demonstrate concern of school officials

Publications for Parents/Guardians

Cultivate partnerships Increase parental knowledge and

understanding of the educational program Increase parent participation Educate and inform parents of potential

problems in the school

Publications for the community and general public

Inform of school policies, practices, and needs

Cultivate partnerships Increase lay participation in school system

– tax awareness– educational progress – dispel misconceptions – neutralize negative propaganda

Publications for the community and general public

Thank individuals for contributions Pave the way for change Inform government officials

Now What?

Always keep a specific purpose in mind.

Think—What does my reader really want to know about?

Designing and Laying Out The Publication

Prepare Every Publication for Three Kinds of Readers

Those who…… Casually glance at the publication as they

separate the mail Spend two or three minutes looking at the

publication Read most or all of the articles in the

publication

30-second reader

One who flips pages not really looking for anything

Needs eye-catching messages

First sentence of every story must contain vital information.

Use White Space Effectively

Implies that there is not enough information to fill the publication

Provides contrastProvides a resting point for the

reader’s eye

Break up Large Blocks of Text

Dollar-bill test

Attempt to Maintain a Balanced Page

Pleasing pages to the audience

Never top or bottom heavy

Consider a Standard Design for Certain Publications

Publications issued periodicallyFour-page community newsletterOne-page internal newsletter

Determine which Stories Deserve Emphasis

Use Color Wisely

Enhance publications Attract readersCostly for schools to use many

colors

School Budget never use redAttention in piles of mail ----- light

colored paper like yellow, green, beige, or blue with black ink

Do not print over Illustrations

Not readableMust be used sparingly

Choose Ink and Paper Carefully

Black ink on yellow or white paper legible Print photos in color Printers are helpful in selecting colors for ink

and the proper paper for publications Choose paper with a dull or glossy finish Opacity and weight of the paper are

important Cost of paper is important

Choose paper with a dull or glossy finish

Opacity and weight of the paper are important

Cost of paper is important

What question should you ask when choosing a font?

Is it easy to read? Is it easy to read? Is it easy to read? is it easy to read? Is it easy to read?

Is it easy to read?

Using Photos to Enhance Publications

Photos serve two purposes They give information to the hasty reader Attracts readers to a story

Tips Regarding Photos for School Publications

Use large photos Use a close-up shot if possible Have the action in the picture point toward the story Place a related photo near the story Always include a caption Use black and white photos Photos should show something unusual about your

school

Distributing Publications

The obvious approach to sending publications may not be the best choice.

(sending information home with students)

Studies have shown that very few students give publications to parents after the fifth grade

Therefore, the most effective form of distribution is through the mail