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macastronomer
super member
Reged: 04/27/05
Posts: 135
Loc: Rochester, MN
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I sure would like to hear from some other newsletter editors, and newsletter readers. I'm the editor of the Rochester Astronomy Club's newsletter (MN) and I'm often looking for ideas to both push the newsletter forward and also push the club members to submit articles.
I'm pretty lucky because I have a few people that contribute to every issue, but I sure would like to hear from a wider range of our members.
Weather you are an editor or a reader of your clubs newsletter, please tell me what you like best about it.
Thanks for the info!
Duane
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Macastronomer Group
MacAstronomer
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LadyAstronomer
Bookworm
Reged: 11/15/07
Posts: 2951
Loc: Library of Congress
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Hi Duane,
I was the newsletter editor for our local club for several years. We had a problem with people submitting articles as well. It wasn't for lack of trying on my part or desire on the part of members. It's just that people are busy, not so confident in their writing abilities, etc. As a result, I did a fair bit of writing for it myself.
Does your group have a way for members to submit observing reports and photos? If so, use those. I think personal stories about a given experience, new toy, etc. help to foster a sense of ownership of the publication. It's also a nice way for members to get to know each other. You might try a monthly feature on one of your members.
I do, however, think you may have to become more of a reporter. That is... gather stories, ask questions and write items up yourself. In this way, members are contributing to the newsletter, but you are doing the actual writing.
One of the "filler" items I used, especially when I was pressed for time, NASA press releases. You can edit them down to fit "holes" you may have in your publication. You have to be sure they are actual NASA press releases, don't take a story from some website as those most likely have a copy write on them. There is a NASA listserver that you can join to get their release emails, but I'll have to do some digging ... I've been off of it for years.
Try to pick the items as close to your print deadline as possible so that they will be timely. I also tried to pick items that didn't have much "mass media" potential. That way members wouldn't see an item on the news or in the paper, then in the newsletter a week later.
I hope that helps!
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gparkerson
Vendor (Astronomy Technology Today)
Reged: 01/21/05
Posts: 962
Loc: Louisiana
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Hi Duane and LadyA.
We have challenges in common - hustling enough content to fill a monthly rag is a full time job and most newsletter editors don't have the luxury of devoting all of their energies to that one task. You may find it interesting to know that I subscribe to a number of club newsletters, many of which are excellent by the way, and do so because they are great sources for identifying talented, informed, enthusiastic writers and interesting information.
Duane, I'll pull together some of my favorites and list them here for you. I can tell you from memory that a common trend is publication of interviews as feature articles. They allow the editor to generate major articles without the entire publication sounding like it's told in her or his voice alone. To me, the most interesting, particularly in larger clubs, are articles featuring accomplishments of members from within the clubs themselves. If your club is like most, you have a core group that are very involved in all activities, while most simply don't have the time to keep up with what other members are doing. The member who just installed a new observatory in her or his backyard may not have time to make it to all the meetings, much less write 2,500 words describing the project, but probably does have time to answer e-mailed questions from which you can fashion an interview told in her or his words.
Meanwhile, if you happen upon a story that you'd like to submit for wider distribution, do keep us in mind.
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Gary
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LadyAstronomer
Bookworm
Reged: 11/15/07
Posts: 2951
Loc: Library of Congress
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Quote:
I can tell you from memory that a common trend is publication of interviews as feature articles. They allow the editor to generate major articles without the entire publication sounding like it's told in her or his voice alone. To me, the most interesting, particularly in larger clubs, are articles featuring accomplishments of members from within the clubs themselves. If your club is like most, you have a core group that are very involved in all activities, while most simply don't have the time to keep up with what other members are doing. The member who just installed a new observatory in her or his backyard may not have time to make it to all the meetings, much less write 2,500 words describing the project, but probably does have time to answer e-mailed questions from which you can fashion an interview told in her or his words.
Exactly!
Forgive me, but I'm not familiar with your publication, Gary. I'm guessing from its title that you're interested in "how to/ATM" types of articles, correct? Others?
Cheers!
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"I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me." -- Sir Isaac Newton
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macastronomer
super member
Reged: 04/27/05
Posts: 135
Loc: Rochester, MN
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Thanks for the tips. I think I've grazed some of them but not to the extent of an interview. Good idea. I'm going to do that to get a couple articles I've really been itching to get printed, especially one on the history of the club. Our club goes way back but only a couple members that were around back then are still around. Definitely time for an interview.
I'm all for sharing some ideas (and articles). I don't do a monthly (that would kill me) but a quarterly newsletter. I will say I have a lot of help from a couple club members and it wouldn't be what it is without them. I still need a bit more content (especially this last quarter).
If you want to use any of our articles, feel free to take a look here:
http://rochesterskies.org/newsletters.php
Just be sure to give credit to whoever the author is.
Gary, I'd love to see the list of newsletters you like. That would help with some new directions. It has also helped a bit to subscribe to Amateur Astronomy.
JPL/NASA has something called Space Place which comes out with an article every month or two for clubs' newsletters and websites. I don't want to post her e-mail out in the open, but if you (or anybody) are interested in that, send me a private message and I'll send her contact info.
Thanks for the feedback. I wish Astro-Newsletters was a topic of it's own, or maybe we could keep a thread or theme going as I think it's one aspect of amateur astronomy where we could all do better with a little mutual support.
Duane
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Macastronomer Group
MacAstronomer
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macastronomer
super member
Reged: 04/27/05
Posts: 135
Loc: Rochester, MN
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Gary,
I didn't see the ATT near your avatar. I've read a couple of your issues (got them from a co-editor of our newsletter) and did enjoy them. I'm a gadget guy and just love to read about the "stuff". I really should subscribe...
Keep up the good work.
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Macastronomer Group
MacAstronomer
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gparkerson
Vendor (Astronomy Technology Today)
Reged: 01/21/05
Posts: 962
Loc: Louisiana
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Duane,
I'm glad to learn that you enjoyed the magazine. We're busy getting the January issue out the door this week, but I'll provide my newsletter list as soon as possible.
Thanks.
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Gary
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Peter Argenziano
Watcher of the Skies
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2811
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Duane,
I am the editor of the newsletter for one of the clubs I belong to. Feel free to check out our Newsletter Archive.
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Peter
14.5" Starmaster
I hail from the explosive jetsam of a multitude of high-mass stars that died more than 5 billion years ago.
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macastronomer
super member
Reged: 04/27/05
Posts: 135
Loc: Rochester, MN
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Peter, Thanks for the link. You've got quite a history of newsletters there. Have you ever done a poll to find out what columns (or topics) your readers like best?
Gary, excellent. I look forward to that. PS. I liked the article on the Nagler 12mm T4—one of my favorite eyepieces.
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Macastronomer Group
MacAstronomer
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Peter Argenziano
Watcher of the Skies
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2811
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Folks tend to like articles written by fellow members best.
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Peter
14.5" Starmaster
I hail from the explosive jetsam of a multitude of high-mass stars that died more than 5 billion years ago.
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macastronomer
super member
Reged: 04/27/05
Posts: 135
Loc: Rochester, MN
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I agree. It keeps the club closer, family like. But it sometimes I just need some outside inspiration and from there it develops into something personal.
I've gotten ideas from a lot of different places. The James Webb article I wrote is probably one of my favorites. It's short, full of info and it all came from the public talk that is posted on line at: http://hubblesite.org/about_us/public-talks.shtml
I will likely use that again. It's the next best thing to personally interviewing the experts.
Duane
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Macastronomer Group
MacAstronomer
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