The Fortress - Basic Goals And Decisions

[Sue]

Posted: 26 Feb 2004


It actually looks good but obviously needs some work on it - it would be great if it the text can be broken up with photos also for the columns to be graduated so it doesn't look too formal - if a story doesn't fit is it possible to have it continued on the next page ? also to have the headlines ie: War Cry in different size fonts - the thing is now you know how to do it to experiment on what looks good and eye catching

[Maurice Ali]

Posted: 27 Feb 2004


We may still have to switch to another format, but I will try and see just how much space all of our quality articles will take, the we will see how much we still have to mess around with for pictures and outside submissions.

[Maurice Ali]

Posted: 29 Feb 2004


I have just finished updating our test paper with our news stories. I have good news and I have bad news.


First the good news:

We have more than enough material available to make the paper. I filled eight pages with text alone with stories from all journalists. That means that if we have the money, we can fill another sheet with non-news stories and poetry and such.



The Bad News:

Well.....all of our skills as journalists are not up to the level of the pros. This was obvious from the start and obvious on the layout.....nothing to be done here except we must all try to improve. We need more in depth reports. The Freenet story was the only one that qualifies under this heading and we have the files to back it up. All of our other stories appear to be reactionary pieces. There is still time to write a few more involved works. Lastly, our ability to layout the paper is problematic, I am learning on old software which may or may not work.....we can only cross our fingers.


Overall:


All of the above noted, we are nevertheless on the way to publishing our first paper. Just do not expect miracles here.....

[Sue]

Posted: 29 Feb 2004

The Bad News:

Well.....all of our skills as journalists are not up to the level of the pros. This was obvious from the start and obvious on the layout.....nothing to be done here except we must all try to improve. We need more in depth reports. The Freenet story was the only one that qualifies under this heading and we have the files to back it up. All of our other stories appear to be reactionary pieces. There is still time to write a few more involved works. Lastly, our ability to layout the paper is problematic, I am learning on old software which may or may not work.....we can only cross our fingers.


Overall:


All of the above noted, we are nevertheless on the way to our the publishing of our first paper. Just do not expect miracles here.....

Isn't the idea that the reports are not written by professional journalists and that anyone can be a journalists therefore the people you want to be writing for the newspaper are surely going to be fitting in writing with their paying work and their possibly busy homelife. Surely this is a reality and the stories may be reactionary unless someone is personally involved in a protest or a movement though I have to say that reading newpapers and listening to news radio recently a lot of reports by the professionals are reacionary the difference is that they have access to the great and the 'good' for quotes or interviews.

[Maurice Ali]

Posted: 29 Feb 2004


What we have below, is the first full sized representation of approximately what the main body of our paper will be:

All pages in jpg format

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 6

Page 7

Page 8


Check it out and post comments below. I will probably have to start all over again with a more modern format; but this exercise over the next couple of days will give all the opportunity to request changes and offer suggestions. Note that we only used seven of our eight page minimum. The extra page could be a full sized photo and title for the paper; poetry and short stories, or graphics on the first and last page.....

[Guest]

Posted: 29 Feb 2004


Ignore this post:

http://fortressoffreedom.com/FortressFrontPage2.wpd

[Maurice Ali]

Posted: 29 Feb 2004


Here is the latest example of our possible front page:

The Front Page

[Maurice Ali]

Posted: 29 Feb 2004


What we have below, is the revised first full sized representation of approximately what the main body of our paper will be (as updated from the version above):

All pages in jpg format

Front Page

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Page 6

Page 7


Check it out and post comments below. We have since learned that Adobe can change our Corel WP into PDF files; so we shall see if we can go this way.....more later.....

[Maurice Ali]

Posted: 29 Feb 2004


That is enough for tonight. A strange feeling came over me when I produced that front page.....it occurred to me that we were actually producing a newspaper? How the hell did this happen?

Just a lot of little things that we did are coming together to produce something bigger that the sum of it's parts. There are more projects ahead. This venture has taken a toll on my time but it was worth it. Getting our first paper in my hand will be reward enough!

Goodnight!

[Zahava]

Posted: 01 Mar 2004


I think we might attract more readers if we stuck to one or two gripping images on the front page that went with the stories presented. Also, if you feel that some articles are below par or not interesting, would it not be wise to at least accumulate a couple of pieces with substance and oomph before printing? What about an interview? Are we still accepting articles for the first paper, or is everything a fete accompli?