1. Club magazines and web content What works
Plus removing stress as the deadline looms

2. Should be club magazines not motoring magazines
“Our communications should not just be directed to the “blokes”
Motoring clubs have males, females and family members

3. Magazines and newsletters
To produce a successful club publication, an editor must be interested in people and their stories as well as their vehicles
Must get out and engage your members
Must be organised
Important your copy is accurate – you owe it to your club members

4. What tools are needed Desk computer with a clear big screen
An ergonomic chair
Up-to-date virus and malware protection
A good filing system and a regularly backed-up hard drive
An Australian dictionary
A grammar text
Several good reference books on your club cars

5. Your team Editor Deputy editor Writer/s Classified taker Photographer
Proof reader

6. Planning Start over the summer break
Prepare a publication/copy list table
Delegate
Organise interviews for feature stories
Spread your workload over the month

7. April CAT-A-LOG page layout
Story/article
Agreed/OK
Front cover
Garry Smith’s XJ6 – need new photos – available after March 12 2
Jagdaim
Ok - ad 3
President’s column & headshot
Contents
Front cover credit 4
Contacts – ok unless changes requested 5
No April Club Run - move the National Rally copy to here. 6
Minutes and Next meeting details 7
Meet our Register Secretaries – 7-10
Cat Kwiz feature
8 & 9
Member feature article – Gary Ball and Ken Seleenmayer – interview organised 10
Cruden Farm Club Run – Sun March 16 – will be late – ask Peter M. 11
Garry Smith’s modified XJ6 – d-Etat winner – final para to complete 12
Full page – editorial 13
Half page – editorial
RACV – half page ad Ok

8. Finding your content
Engage your membership - make your magazine inclusive rather than exclusive
Probably up to 50 per cent of your membership will be women and families – don’t forget to include them
Ask around your membership
Your content should include a range of writing - technical and human interest, vehicle profiles, social, reports, sporting and classifieds.

9. Types of articles to include
Member profiles
How-to or technical articles
New member snapshots
Committee member and register secretary profiles
Quiz
Advertisers’profiles
Submitted articles
Classifieds
AOMC and Club Plates updates
Reports
Manufacturer’s web pages or news feeds

10. Writing up your copy Remember the “what, where and when”
This will give you the introduction to most articles and stories
Story should grab the attention in the first paragraph
If the most interesting aspect of your story is buried then you have probably lost your reader
Copy should have a beginning, middle and an end
Beware of overly-long sentences
Watch use of exclamation points and apostrophes

11. Photos Can make or break your story Don’t use lousy photos
If you have good photos – use them large to good effect
Remember the old adage – “A picture paints a thousand words”
Reduce your copy to accommodate a terrific photo
Caption your photos wherever possible
Insist that submitted photos have people’s names
Give the photographer a byline

12. Web sites Very hungry communication sources Keep your content current
Update at least once a week
Web copy should be brief and to the point
Again photos should be good quality and used large
Remove copy when it reaches its use-by date
Remember all your club communications should be linked – magazine, web, Facebook etc.
Stay on message – copy should match across all your club’s media.