by Hilary Brumberg, Jay Feinstein and Perrin Stein
With the change in semester and in editorial board, this newspaper will discontinue its print issues and shift to an online-only publication.
Instead of producing a monthly print newspaper, the editors, managers and staff will produce and post articles and graphics daily to TheNewtonite.com.
The editorial board determined that moving completely online will maximize the newspaper’s effectiveness as a means of disseminating information about the school community. Other factors that affected the decision include English teacher Kate Shaughnessy’s decision to step down from her role as adviser of this newspaper, the unsustainable cost and time commitment print issues require of both the adviser and staff and the migration of the journalism industry to online.
In its new format, this newspaper will continue to uphold its high standards of accuracy, consistency and quality. The daily website will allow this newspaper to become a valuable source for breaking news and for keeping the community updated in all areas of the life of this school.
To ensure a successful transition, this newspaper has developed new editorial positions for innovating, expanding and publicizing the website. Students in these positions will work to enhance the quality and ubiquity of TheNewtonite.com.
Currently, this newspaper is in a two-week transition phase. During this time, the editorial board is changing the look of the website, so it will be more suited for the increased frequency in posting content.
This newspaper will also work of the next couple of weeks to develop systems to ensure that the quality and quantity of its content are not lost in this shift. The migration to online will alter this newspaper only in terms of platform.
By the end of March, the Newtonite will produce and circulate a bimonthly one-page newsletter highlighting the online content from the previous two weeks and previewing upcoming content.
This newsletter will be handed out on Fridays and will be available via email.
Community members can sign up for the free email newsletter on TheNewtonite.com.
Current subscribers to the print issue will no longer receive newspapers in the mail. These subscribers are encouraged to sign up for the newsletter.
Although this newspaper is moving completely online, it will continue to produce a printed graduation issue because it is the most widely read issue and is steeped in tradition. Current subscribers will receive this issue in the mail in June.