Editor Corner: Preparing Your Newsletter

by Jackie Damrau, Managing Editor

Preparing your monthly newsletter is like preparing a cup of tea. Or, in my case, a gallon of unsweet iced tea! You get out the container (pitcher or pot) the drinking receptacle (cup, mug, tall glass), the desired number of teabags or loose tea and teaball, spoon, and other assorted items to sweeten or enhance the tea’s flavor. Newsletter preparation is not any different.

Each month, your newsletter is assembled by my:

• Asking your administrative council for their committee articles or other contributions they wish to see published.



• Asking you for contributions that you wish to see published.



• Researching through all the e-zines and other items (hard or soft copy) that come across my desk, my computer, or may mail to provide you with timely technical communication information

I then follow these activities by having the copyeditors read through each article, make edits, then I begin inserting that information into the online template, and finally I go back through and try to add graphics that complement the articles.

I use similar same techniques in everything I create like presentations, procedures, and other technical documentation.

It all comes down to knowing my audience and what information is the most relevant and necessary for them to know. Like preparing tea, I know the temperature that I like (hot/cold) and the type of container or receptacle (user guide, online help, presentation, job aid, etc.) that is needed to get the message across.

The next time you are enjoying your cup of tea or choice beverage, think about how you can enhance your technical communication projects using the right amount of ingredients.