Newsletter Help

[aprilmcan]

Hi!

I work for a Health Authority regional office in Alberta, Canada.  Our regional office governs several different districts with hospitals and public health programs.  I would like to start a newsletter that will help us admin support staff become more of a network.  Any ideas, hints, websites, etc. that you can supply?  Also, anyone know of any copyright issues if I wanted to use a cartoon strip in the humour section?

[countrigal]

I'm not a lot of help, but my thoughts on copyrights as far as the cartoon strip --  Get permission from the author of the strip and you should be ok.  Generaly I try not to use something like that, which will be duplicated in print or sent to numerous folks in one e-mailing, without written (even e-mail) permission from the author.  And then when you do use it, give credit to author and possibly even where you got it from (i.e.: Jane Doe, NY Times, Sat, May 15, 2001).

CountriGal
Deskdemon Editorial Board Member

[bethalize]

Tell them all about DESKDEMON!

Have you considered having your own message boards? They would have to be secure and anonymous though.

The difficult thing about running a newsletter is finding the content. Are you going to do it by e-mail? It's a lot easier because then you can make it short and put links in. If you want original content, you need to appeal for writers and people to phone you. And if you start not putting things in, people will get the hump.

An excellent aim.



Bethalize
Deskdemon Forum Board Staff

[superninjaadmin]

Hi Aprilmcan!  

Welcome to Deskdemon!  

For two years, I was the editor for our local IAAP chapter's newsletter, and it was lots of fun - I learned a lot and it was a great way to be creative.  

This is what I learned regarding copyright laws:  

Before you use information in your newsletter, keep this in mind - several caveats to consider:  You should always ask for permission to use copyright material.  And, in general (overall), most owners of copyright material do not have a problem with you using their stuff as long as:  

1) You are not using their stuff and charging a fee for your customers (basically you are getting money for using someone else's info).  If the newsletter is free, and you are just sharing information, I've never had someone deny me use of their material.  Be sure to always reference the author and source of your information inside the byline or at the end of the information you've published.

2) If you are using information from the Internet (a great source) be sure to publish the hyperlink location at the end of the story.  

3) Cartoon strips - be very careful about using these without specific permission from the owner!  Cartoonists are kinda sticky about this - I've never used somebody else's cartoons...  Perhaps you could get an idea from the cartoon and draw your own?  (just an idea)

4) I had subscriptions to several newsletters and sometimes I would publish little tidbits from those newsletters.  The owners of that material generally did not have a problem with me using their info (because I SUBSCRIBED to their publication), and I always referenced the source.  If you subscribe to other little newsletters, that is another great way to find neat little tidbits...  

Enjoy and have fun with your newsletter!!  

SNA in Alaska

[tnvolgalcps]

Hi aprilmcan,

I edit our local IAAP chapter newsletter and I have to agree with the previous poster. Be careful with comic strips...they are very picky about those. Other things, you can usually use if you site the author and publication. It isn't really difficult to find things. I believe there are probably "filler" websites around that have information you can put in your newsletter. I usually have to cut some things out to keep ours down to 14 pages! Of course, it includes lots of IAAP news and stuff but I always have an overabundance of information for the newsletter.

Take care and good luck.

Judy in TN