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"They've recently moved the employee newsletter here from HR to me. ...they are hoping to try for a more professional angle ...
... anyone else ... have a set of guidelines of what is included?
I...would rather not reinvent the wheel."
Thanks! Patty Ewy
Patty;
What sort of focus do they want for this newsletter? Are they looking to "pull the team together" and create a better morale-boosting atmosphere, or do they want to use it more for corporate and company news, or both?
I think that the first step is, as always, to know your reader...but also know the plan of the "powers that be" (corporate bigwigs). Then attempt to reconcile the two.
I used to put out a newsletter for my students (Adult continuing ed computer course) that included articles on upcoming computer events, new software, the occasional funny computer cartoon or email list ("how is a computer like a man?" and so on) , as well as an update on former students (kind of a "Where are they now?").
I found that a little bit of personal or lighthearted information went a long way, so I tried not to overdo it. You could focus on company events and trade information with a human touch and make it look bright and interesting the "ease" them into the new format.
Lisa Comeau
IS Super-User/Trainer
Certification and Testing Division
Canadian Standards Association
Rexdale, ON
comeaul -at- csa -dot- ca
