Try this: Partner with local newspapers

One of the best ways to put your student's work in front of thousands of new readers is to partner with local newspapers. This can be accomplished in many ways.

It's great to print your own publications and to develop fresh, new online products, as well as taking advantage of social media. You should certainly continue to do these types of things. I am suggesting that you take this a step further and submit material directly to your local and regional newspapers for publication.

Back in the 90's when I edited the Prairie Grove Enterprise, I used to publish student-submitted school news on a page with a mini-flag developed by the students. I should have accomplished something like this at Westville this year, but it's not too late to do it this coming school year.

Alan Weintraut leads by example because his school newspaper is published for free by a local newspaper. Your paper may not agree to do this, but the first thing you have to do is ask them. I have not tried this, but this year I plan to.

The second thing you will probably need to do is to offer for your kids to sell enough advertising to support this venture. It's only fair for the paper to recoup some of its expenses. It will be great experience for the kids and help them develop relationships with advertisers that can support your other products.

You might even work out partnerships for photography, reporting and production. Who knows what you will think of. Eva is probably already getting her kids videos broadcast on the local television broadcasts. We can do the same thing with local news websites too.

Once you're in the local papers, then you can write about your other products and how you are using social media, etc. The paper will probably let you publish ads promoting these too. Good luck.

Scott F. Davis
Westville OK High School