Your RTL Newspaper: It's Amazing What It Can Do
By Dave Andrusko
Your chapter or state newspaper is an extremely versatile tool which serves the dual purposes of allowing the Movement to "talk" to itself, if you will, and of playing a significant role in shaping the image outsiders have of you as pro-lifers. Properly utilized (and working in conjunction with your web page), it will effectively communicate the kinds of people who make up your chapter and what you are about.
How much of a priority your newspaper is depends on a host of factors, principally how much of your resources you can (or desire) to put into it and the extent of your volunteer support. There is enormous variety in pro-life newspaper (some are very sophisticated while others are less so). Therefore, this article will speak very generally about (a) what your newspaper objectives may/should be, (b) the content of what you might put in the newsletter, (c) who your target audience(s) should be, and (d) the basic components found in any good newspaper.
Basic Objectives
Most important, your newsnewspaper is a teaching/motivating vehicle which enlightens and energizes your readers and promotes your organization. Motivation does not refer merely to rah-rah type stories, although that is important. Rather it is the motivation that comes, thanks to your publication, when a person feels equipped to argue the issue intelligently.
Characteristics of a Solid Pro-Life Newspaper
* Accuracy. If your publication fails
that test, your credibility will be shot in record time. It is absolutely
critical.
* Timeliness. Much of the time your publication will act as a
"bulletin board." The information about a bake sale will be a flop if
it arrives in people's homes two days after the sale. But since your publication
will come out (at best) monthly, this is only possible if you plan carefully in
advance.
* Visually appealing. Your publication needn't be USA Today to be
attractive. A couple of simple graphics, a good logo, different line lengths,
maybe a cartoon or two, and some " breathing" room between stories
will help you make your publication visually appealing and more readable.
(Having someone else besides you proofing for typos will eliminate most of these
annoying distractions.)
* Content (See below.)
Sources of Information
* Borrow liberally from NRL News and your state RTL newspaper.
* Your local newspaper. (Usually it tells only half the story; your job is to
use that as a starting point.)
* Other state and local newspapers. By all means, exchange newsletters.
* Syndicated columnists. * Personal knowledge. Your members are conversant with
all kinds of stories that would make for great reading.
* City, state, and national magazines.
* The pro-abortionists. Often times a source such as the Alan Guttmacher
Institute will have information that cuts directly against the abortion cause,
provided you dig beneath the positive spin.
Possible Content
* An action box. A reader should know that by the time she finishes your
newspaper, there will always be some action for her to take.
* An education column such as "Arguing the Abortion Issue."
* A column about (and for) young people.
* Columns by your project directors.
* Human interest stories, which are always among the best-read features.
* News stories regarding public figures and their views or actions on abortion
or euthanasia.
* Stories about alternatives/adoption.
* Promotion of upcoming events, arguably the most important feature.
To Whom Might You Send Your
Newsletter?
* Your members, of course.
* Clergy. If you're missing them, you're overlooking a tremendous resource.
* Media types.
* Politicians.
* Academicians.
* Librarians.
* Sympathetic family and friends.
Any inquiries you have, feel free to call (202-626-8824) or write NRL News (512-10th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004).
The following was sent to me by one local newspaper editor. It's good advice with which to end.
Your newspaper more than likely is the only publication which keeps your readers informed about pro-life news.