Need some ideas....

[Jenson71]

For the school newspaper. We want some interesting, fun features. We have a sailor speak where we ask a certain few a question (like, 'what do you look most forward to during thanksgiving?') and then print their response along with their pictures. But that's about it for features. The rest is articles. Got any suggestions?

[Jenny Gump]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

For the school newspaper. We want some interesting, fun features. We have a sailor speak where we ask a certain few a question (like, 'what do you look most forward to during thanksgiving?') and then print their response along with their pictures. But that's about it for features. The rest is articles. Got any suggestions?

Sounds like your paper sucks.

Why don't you try outing gay teachers.

[NewChief]

If you're writing for a high school paper, I highly recommend reading abook called "The Radical Write" by Bobby Hawthorne. It does a good job of showing you the way newspaper feature articles should be written to succeed with teenagers.

I don't really think that filling your paper with articles is a bad thing. Most high school papers err on the other side, filling their rag with mindles filler like cutesy clipart and word searches and crap. Write interesting, probing articles and people will read it.

[Extra Point]

Originally Posted by JennyGump

Sounds like your paper sucks.

Why don't you try outing gay teachers.

NCFB

[NewChief]

I just realized I didn't really give you any feature ideas, so here ya go:

1. Personality features: cover an ordinary classmate and find out what sets them apart. If done well, these are awesome.

2. Occasional Piece: based on holidays or special events (like Thanksgiving/Christmas). Find an intersting slant and cover it. Maybe some of your classmates volunteer at a homeless shelter for the Holidays

3. Historic features: how did your school get its mascot? What's the history of your school building?

4. Shared-experience feature: serve up some information to the reader in an interesting way. Tell them what it's like to go snowboarding for the first time, play a game of paintball, or attend a Chiefs game.

5. How-To article: tell them how to do something. From installing a car stereo to baking cookies. Whatever. Just write it in an entertaining way.

6. Consumer report: kids are tech savvy and heavy tech consumers. Find a staffer than knows something about technology and have them write reviews of products (like MP3 players).

What I would not do:
Crosswords, games, puzzles, advice columns, horoscopes, gossip columns. These don't belong in a real high school or college newspaper.

[leviw]

Originally Posted by NewChief

What I would not do:
Crosswords, games, puzzles, advice columns, horoscopes, gossip columns. These don't belong in a real high school or college newspaper.

If they took the crossword out of our paper, I'd be irrate. What else would I do in class?

The rest of the above, I could live without.

One of the most popular things in K-State's paper is a forum ("Fourum, 532-4444). Students (or anyone, for that matter) can call in and say anonymous things about...well...anything. They have a section everyday with these recorded snippets printed on the page. It's always a great read. Tell the students keep it short and clean, and it will be joyous.