Re: Newsletter guidelines?

[Penny Staples <pstaples -at- AIRWIRE -dot- COM>]

I worked on a Company Newsletter for a large company, a few years ago. What
people liked most were:

- the cafeteria menu for the coming week
- an employee buy/sell column
- birth, death, and anniversary announcements

We got *lots* of complaints any time we tried to remove any of these items
to make room for more serious material. People also liked human interest
articles about interesting individuals in the company (e.g., an interview
with Bob in the mailroom about his skydiving hobby). There were other
internal publications that carried more professional, industry-related
stuff.

So.... don't be too quick to dump those recipes and cute stories. What may
seem trivial and dull to you may be very important to your audience. Maybe
try a survey to find out what employees want to see in their Company
Newsletter?

My .02 worth.

Penny Staples
pstaples -at- airwire -dot- com

>
>Hi all--
>
>They've recently moved the employee newsletter here from HR to me.  In
>doing so, they are hoping to try for a more professional angle with the
>newsletter ... no more recipes, no more cute little blind items about
>"what is it that has put the sparkle in Carrie Smith's (Shift 1, Line
>Leader) eyes?  Could it be that new engagement ring we see on her
>finger?!?  Congrats Carrie!"
>
>[shudder ...]
>
>Still, I'm getting lots of questions about what is and what is not
>acceptable fodder for this beast.  Weddings?  Nah, I don't think so.
>Births?  None of those either.  Deaths?  Only if it is an employee ...
>
>Has anyone else been saddled with the employee newsletter, and have a set
>of guidelines of what is included?  I will create my own if need be, but
>would rather not reinvent the wheel.
>
>Thanks!
>
>
>
>Patty Ewy
>Marketing Communications
>pewy -at- midcom-inc -dot- com
>http://www.midcom-inc.com
>