If a publication is going to be distributed on time, deadlines must be met by each person on the staff.

Be on-time

If even one staff member fails to make a deadline, the whole production schedule will be thrown off.

Be on-time

If a reporter fails to make a deadline, then the person doing layout for the page on which that story is to appear will be late getting the page done.

Be on-time

When the design editor is late – the section editor, copy editor, assistant editor and editor-in-chief will be late getting their jobs done.

Be on-time

Printers generally run on a tight schedule, and if the publication is not received on time, they will move it to the back of the line and print the publications of those who got theirs to press on time.

Be on-time

Production schedule

The editor and assistant editor of the paper will provide each staff member with a production calendar.

Working backwards from the distribution date, the editors will determine when each item to appear in that issue must be turned in, completed, in order for the publication to be printed on time.

Meeting deadlines is your responsibility as a staff member.

The following are some tips to help you meet each deadline.

Production schedule

Keep your deadline calendar with you so that you will be reminded when something is due.

Production Schedule

Reporters

Begin working on your story immediately. As soon as you get your assignment, start scheduling interviews and researching the background information for the story.

Reporters

Organize your notes immediately after your interviews are completed.

Reporters

Sort through the information and determine how you can best tell this story.

Reporters

Select your opening and closing quotes, write your lead and fill in the body of the story by alternating quotes and transitions. This is the rough draft.

Reporters

Submit your story to your section editor as soon as your rough draft is completed. You do not have to wait until the deadline to do this. The sooner you do it, the faster you can work on your revisions and get to the final, publishable version.

Reporters

After each editor has checked your copy, make the needed revisions immediately while the needed changes are on your mind. After running it through the spell checker and editing it for style and grammar, save your final story.

Reporters

Now your story is ready to be placed on the page by the page editor.

Reporters

Section editors

As soon as you know which page you will be creating for the paper, get the page ready:

• Duplicate the template

• Make sure everything on the page is current

When the final copy of the story for your page is completed, immediately begin placing it on the page.

Editors

You do not have to wait until just before the deadline to do this. Work with the reporter and photographer and artist to find out what sidebars, photographs or artwork is available or needs to be obtained.

Editors

Give the photographer or artist enough time to get the job done for you.

Editors

When everything is placed on your page, check it over. Run the stories, headlines and captions through spellchecker.

Editors

Double check headlines to make sure they reflect what the story is about and do not have repetition of key words.

Editors

Double check captions for accuracy.

Editors

Make sure your font styles are correct for each part of the page.

Editors

Make sure you have placed bylines, photo credits and page creation credits properly.

Editors

Finally, run a page proof so that you can check everything again on paper.

Editors

After checking the page proof for accuracy, make any needed corrections on the computer and print out another copy to give to the editor-in-chief and adviser to check over.

Editors

Make any needed corrections and print your final page.

Editors

Encourage your staff members to keep going when you see they are getting frustrated. Help them if you see they need help.

Editor

You know when you need something. Make sure you get it.

Editor

You are the leader of the publication. Honor that role by setting the example. Strive to finish your assignments early so that you can work with newer staff members if they need help.

Editor

All staffers

Download pictures from the digital camera immediately and erase the pictures from the camera.

Make sure to take out the batteries and put them in the charger when you are through with the camera so that they will be ready for the next person.

All staffers

If you are working on more than one assignment, give priority to anything which might affect someone else’s deadline.

All staffers