Posted on 05/16/2005 8:39:47 PM PDT by Roots
A group of us are in the works of putting together a Republican newspaper that will be distributed monthly to a few college campuses in Southern California and hopefully by mail too. We plan to give in-depth analyses according to a more conservative perspective normally repressed by our professors. It will be written by Republicans (to which we are not going to mask that fact (*cough*DanRather*cough*), but it won't be an "in your face, liberals suck" paper that is often published by the leftists on campuses ("conservatives suck" in these cases). Prduction will start next Fall quarter and will include: Politics and Government, Campus News, World News, Science and Medicine (and Health), Cultural topics (education, welfare and poverty, civil rights, drugs, environment, jobs, housing, minimum wage, unions, unemployment, social security, religion, abortion, arts - many of these can go under "Government", but you get the point), Sports (Angels vs. Dodgers), Interviews with Republican leaders, etc.
We are currently looking for a catchy name. So far we've got "The Majority Report", or "Think Right", but there's already a leftist radio station called "The Majority Report Radio" (not that it's a big deal, we're a newspaper not a radio show). Also, if you have experience starting one, and would like to give me tips, anything is appreciated. In fact, this post reflects my need for input and advice, thanks!
"Voice in the Wilderness"
The Straight Arrow!
"Be Seeing You" is a nice homage to The Prisoner. Every issue should be in Volume 6.
Sorry...couldn't resist.
Have you gotten in contact with the people at the Collegiate Network? They were very helpful when I was working at a conservative weekly in the 1980s.
http://www.isi.org/cn/
A few suggestions.
Don't make it a "Republican" paper, make it a "conservative" paper. Don't let yourselves become apologists when the GOP makes mistakes.
Get in some good humor and entertainment stuff. People will pick up the paper for those bits and some will read the political stuff.
If you want to do something really over the edge. Remember that you will be held to a higher standard than any liberal publication. Make sure you can stand behind everything you print, news, commentary or humor.
The Right Side or something....I don't know. I should be good with names since I am editor of my college newspaper, but I am not. Thank goodness the page editors write the headlines.
"Right Where You Belong"
Call it "The Nuclear Option".
Have a token leftie on there on the opinion page but make it mainly conservative. Do it how Fox News does it.
call it:
REEL RIGHT
"News For Those With The Brains To Understand It"
The best thing is the simplest: SoCal Conservatives, Southern California Conservatives, Conservative California (for shock value), or some such. The general public is not used to seeing conservative views coming out of California, so this type of title would draw interest from the "yeah, right" crowd. Then you surprise them...and delight them.
I'm going to give you a million-dollar reply. I hope you will take it and run with it and be a success.
PING
That's it. Short, sweet, unthreatening, welcoming, really...and it makes people want to know what that word means (it actually has several meanings, and as far as I know, they'll work). It makes them want to know what it means in the context of your paper.
Titles generally need to work on more than one level, and this does. And like I said, it's not threatening, very important for a launch on campuses--no matter what the enemies say about the content, subliminally, PING tells readers that this can't possibly be harmful.
Ping is signal sent, yes? How simple. (Of course, who knows what message the signal sends, but that's a different issue.)
It makes the reader ASK A QUESTION. Ping, what's that about?
And considering we're in the new media age, and you likely will have some sort of web backup or corollary, its electronic meaning fits.
Beyond that, with its catchiness, pithiness and simplicity, it's great for branding--it's a one-word sell, and a quite memorable one. And great on branded stuff: t shirts, mugs, etc.
I do this for a living. It's a good idea. I hope you're smart enough to use it. The only thing I want if you do use it is...to be kept informed.
And to maybe be involved in an editorial advisory way, with your launch. I bring much to the table. But that would come after your consideration, and our discussion, and is in no way connected to your use of PING. If you like it, take it in freindship, no strings.
Whatever you do...work even harder than you think you're going to have to.
whatever you call it..don't forget the mandatory pic of Ann Coulter on every front page..
The Mighty Righty
How about just labeling it like it is and calling it, "The Non: Scumbag, Crapweasel, Anti-American, Baby-killer, Neocommunist, Faggot, Socialist Newspaper." In fact, many dems may like the title and read it because it never says what it is for, only what it is against. Move the words around and there might be an acronyn or two.
Whatever the title of the liberal school newspaper, add an "Eclipse". So if is the "Daily Bruin" then make it "The Daily Bruin Eclipse" or "The Daily Bruin Eclipsed". Have two thirds of the paper up to date (current news/opinion)and the other third refuting articles from the previous lib edition.
Agree, if they want to make it a nationally-based org., otherwise I'd specify...like, SO-CAL COLLEGE REPUBLICAN PING. National database affiliation is great, but harder to maintain. Depends on how much time and energy they can devote.
Yeah, and what their vision for the thing is. Thanks.
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