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The Enrichment Project
Newsletter Design
Steps
1. Review other newsletters.
Note which design features you like as you review them. This will give you a starting place
as you work through the rest of the steps.
2. Training.
Do you feel comfortable doing your own newsletter? If not, you may want to look into
training for writing, design, specic software or even distribution. This is especially true
if you do not have the money to pay someone to do tasks for you. As you read down the
rest of the steps, note any that you feel you would like to learn more about before doing it
yourself.
3. Review programs.
Depending on how you decide to distribute your newsletter, your choice of programs is
one of the biggest decisions youll make.
Which of these do you need?
Word processor
Internet browser
Email server
Publishing program
Graphics program
PDF creator (or similar)
Of course, you may decide to let someone else do the actual work for you. If this is the
step you take, nd out about the les that are created. Will you be able to access them if
you need to at a later date? Will they be archived? Do you need to request the les come
back to you?
4. Graphical formats.
Graphics come in two types bitmapped and vector.
Bitmapped graphics are the continuous-tone images made up of dots or pixels. Look at
a photo you have taken. Zoom into the image until you can see the pixels. The nal size
of these types of graphics are dependent on how many pixels you have per inch. As you
increase the size of an image, the number of pixels doesnt change the quality of your
image does. This is why images that dont have enough look jagged.
Vector graphics are created in a drawing program. They are created by mathematically
plotting dots, or intersection points, and curves. Vector graphics can be made as small
or large as you want with no loss of quality.
Your graphic decisions will often be dictated by how you plan to distribute your newsletter.
Bitmapped graphics dont photocopy well. Vector graphics need to be exported into a
format that is usable by other programs. Find out the pros and cons of each graphic type
and determine how you plan to incorporate graphics.
N E W S EE W WW S S
Newsletter
Design
Design your
newsletter to deliver
information to your
troop or group.
Create a newsletter
to help with fund-
raising or to nd a
sponsor. Perhaps
you might even want
to make a newsletter
you can sell. Explore
various designs
depending on your
reason for creating
your newsletter.
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5. Your written word.
Some newsletters are just to inform others of upcoming activities and notices. These are
completely dependent on what is happening with your troop / group. Some newsletters
feature articles, stories, letters to the editor and more. Create a list of elements you plan to
incorporate into your newsletter.
Determine your voice. Use your list of elements and your intended audience. Should your
tone be formal or informal? Fictional or factual? Playful or serious? Keep this in mind as
you write, review and proofread your elements.
6. Copyright and Creative Commons.
Do not assume because something is on the Web and you can download it that you
should. Every item, upon creation, belongs to the person who created it. Always ask if you
would like to use anything you nd and make sure you keep that documentation.
Creative Commons allows you to use some items without specically asking. The licensing
information is usually provided with the item. For example, all Enrichment Project badge
programs require that you keep the copyright owners name on them and that they cannot
be sold. You can put links into an electronic newsletter to serve as references in lieu of the
actual copywritten material.
7. Newsletter elements.
Newsletters contain many of the same elements. Find out about the following and decide
which you will incorporate into your newsletter.
Nameplate: Identies the publication with name, graphics and publication
information. Found on the rst page of your newsletter.
Masthead: List of publisher, contact information and other pertinent data.
Usually found on the second or last page of your newsletter.
Table of contents: Only need these if it is a large newsletter.
Body: Main text of the newsletter. Heads, subheads and titles: These are the
bold titles before your body copy or bold items within your body to help break
it up into sections.
Byline: Who wrote the article. It can be after the title or at the end of the body.
End sign: Mark placed after an article to indicate the end.
Pull-quotes: Small section of body pulled out and made decorative to break up
body copy and pull your readers interest to an article.
Photos, illustrations and clip art: graphics you can use to enhance and break up
the body.
Page numbers: use if your newsletter is longer than two pages.
8. Layout.
You want your newsletters to look similar when you put them side by side. This consisten-
cy allows your audience to quickly identify your newsletter. In addition, you want to makes
sure your design is easy to read. This cannot be stressed enough. If it is dif cult to read, it
is more likely to end up in the trash than read.
Templates: A template is a set of page sizes, columns, heads and everything else
you need to create a newsletter already laid out for you. Instead of designing
your own, you just put your text and images into a template. Some items will be
editable (such as body copy) and some may not. This will give you the same look
each time because someone else already set this up for you. Many programs
today ship with templates included. You can also nd them on the Web for
download.
Styles: A style is a set of fonts, sizes and spacing you have preset to keep your
look consistent. Items to check include head and body copy is the same size
and font; margins are consistent; tabs and indents in the body.
Grids, margins and columns: The easiest way to see columns is to look at a
newspaper. The columns are not too wide. Your eye moves quickly down the
column. Now, print out your e-mail to the full width of your sheet of paper.
Read it. Can you feel the strain in your eyes? Thats because your eyes are moving
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across the entire page and they have to shift because of the width. The narrower
columns of the newspaper make it easier to read. Next, look at the space
between the columns. It is the same. Even if copy runs across two columns, the
space on either side remains the same. By conforming to this grid, the pages still
have a consistency while adding interest because of the diferent widths.
One other item to think about, if you think youll be placing it into a binder, leave
.75 space on the inside margin to allow for three-hole punching.
Boxitis: If youve seen a newsletter where everything is in a box, youve seen
boxitis. Its dif cult to read because your eyes keep jumping to boxes. You need
to avoid this.
Images: Whether were talking photos, illustrations or clip art, try to put no more
than one or two on a page. A good rule is to put a dollar bill on your printed
page. If you cant get it to t without touching more than one graphic you have
too many. While an image or two can enhance a page, many will be distracting.
If you are highlighting an event and are not interested in copy, a photo montage
is a way to break this rule. Fill the page, or a portion of it, with photos and no
copy.
White space: White space is the areas left empty in your layout. White space
gives the reader the feeling that the copy is light and easy to read.
9. Fonts.
Here are a few things to remember when working with fonts on a publication.
Three or fewer type faces: Fonts come in a variety of faces and styles. Sans serif
have no feet and are more easily read on-screen. This includes fonts like Arial,
Helvetica and Verdana. Serif fonts have small feet (Times, Bookman and
Century). The feet on the serif fonts make it easier to read with printed text.
Type variations: Use non-regular faces for emphasis. Italic replaces underlined
items. Bold immediately draws a readers attention and helps them nd a
location in your body quickly. Use these sparingly and for a reason to keep from
making your newsletter dif cult to read.
Readability: The rule of fonts is to make everything readable. Ever wonder why
invitations are the main place to see script fonts? They are not very readable. So,
making body copy all italic or bold afects readability. Heads are a good place to
use bold text. Subheads and pull-quotes do well in bold and italic. Do not stretch,
distort or try to t type into shapes. This makes it hard to read your type. Flush l
left type (type that lines up on the left edge with an uneven edge on the right)
keeps the spacing between words. Type lined up on both edges (justied) can
create odd holes in copy. Also, do not center type so that both edges are
uneven. It is dif cult to read.
Smallest size: Another rule is to keep your body copy at 9 point or larger. Studies
have shown that older people have problems reading type thats smaller than
9 point.
10. Graphics and other fun elements.
Graphics, charts, quotes and other elements add interest to your newsletter. Dont put in
something because its pretty, put it in because it ts with your story or the theme of your
newsletter.
Youll be placing these elements after youve dropped in your copy. This allows you to
know how much room you have remaining. Remember to leave white space around
elements to draw the readers eye to them.
11. Proofread.
This cannot be mentioned enough. If you write the copy or do the layout, ask someone
else to do the proofreading for you. Studies have shown that people working on copy
often do not see mistakes. Their eyes see what their brains think they *should* see. During
proofreading, check the following:
Consistent fonts and styles
No widows or orphans
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Use inch marks and quotes correctly
Use foot marks and apostrophes correctly
Spell check is good, but read it also
Grammar usage
Dates and times
If using page numbers, make sure theyre in the same location
No strange color changes
No strange images added just to ll space
Check all URLs by placing them into a browser to verify no errors
It is easier to proofread on a hard copy, so always print out your newsletter. Youll be more
likely to notice layout errors.
12. Distribute.
Are you printing it or copying it? Handing it out or mailing it? Ask yourself questions about
your physical distribution. For example, if your newsletter will be mailed, take a sample to
the Post Of ce to review what you need to do to make it mailable.
Are you doing electronic distribution? Via e-mail? Web page? Blog? Have you been given
permission to distribute this to your audience? You dont want to upset others because
youre bombarding them with unwanted material.
Perhaps youre doing a combination of these. Check to make sure everyone on your list
has agreed to receive your newsletter and gets a copy.
13. Archive.
Some day, you may nd you want to review information in your newsletters. For example,
if you are planning a court of awards, you may use the meeting schedule in the newslet-
ter to help you review what you did. Perhaps you want to mentor someone and showing
them your newsletters gives them an idea of how you put together meetings, eld trips
and more. An archive is always handy to have when youre feeling low and unproductive.
Reviewing what youve done will often give you inspiration to continue on.
14. So much more.
If your newsletter is for distribution to a troop or family, you have time to experiment and
improve your skills. For a professional newsletter, explore online classes or those available
to you locally to improve your skills before releasing any issues.
Sites to Explore
www.freenewsletterideas.com
www.lifetips.com/search.asp?Question=newsletters
www.companynewsletters.com/pdfemailnewsletter.htm
desktoppub.about.com/od/newsletterdesign/Newsletter_Design_How_to_Create_a_Newsletter.htm
www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=216
www.newentrepreneur.com/Resources/Articles/12_Step_Newsletter/12_step_newsletter.html
www.ehow.com/how_4556766_create-newsletter-google-docs.html
www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/01/19/design-and-build-an-email-newsletter-without-losing-your-mind
www.makeuseof.com/tag/2-dead-simple-ways-start-email-newsletter
www.lunareclipse.net/templates.htm
www.writeawriting.com/business/3-types-newsletter-format-samples-examples
Check out larajlas Enrichment Project
to start your own adventure.