About
Scratch News is a fortnightly Scratch newspaper collaboration.

Rules for Members
1. Must not copy ideas, projects or sprites without giving credit.
2. When interviewing scratchers, be clear that you are working on behalf of The Scratch Record.
3. Complete your assignments on time (if you cannot, please tell us as soon as you can)
4. Check this thread regularly where assignments will be posted.
5. No off topic talk on this forum thread.
6. If you are going to be inactive for a period of time, please fill in the leave form.
7. Have fun.

Assignments
Here is a list of assignments, new and old. If you need an extension, go on leave, have too much or too little work then do not hesitate to say so. Also, if you don't like the current assignments you are being set and want to write about other topics then just say so. Your Christmas special edition will feature themed stories, poems, tips, columns etc. Specials are generally opt-in so if you would like to write for the Christmas special then say so. If I have missed anyone out on the list below, say so!

None so far!

Timetable
1:Release day
3:All scratchers, studios, projects etc to be featured/interviewed are selected
7: No more reporting should be done, all writing now.
9: Columnist submit their pieces
10: Page editors should have all their content
12: Chief editor should have all their content formatted correctly

Members List

Editor-in-chief: @TheExpert100
Headlines page editor: (Vacant)
Side note page editor: (Vacant)
Lime light page editor: (Vacant)
Business page editor: (Vacant)
Fiction page editor: (Vacant)
General Writers (interviewing, reviewing, reporting, writing etc)
- 10 (vacancies)

Fiction Writers (writing poems, short stories etc)
- 5 Vacancies

Columnists (write their own columns)
- 6 vacancies


Proof-reader (edits articles for spelling / grammatical mistakes)
- 2 Vacancies

Roles
Editor-in-chief: in charge of the final edit and publishing the edition on release day.

Page editor: in charge of their respective page. Must ensure that there are no spelling or grammatical errors and that the work included in their page is of good quality. They format the articles and submit them to the editor-in-chief four days before the release date with a list of contributors. If a page editor wants to break the content guide when putting their page together, they should ask the editor-in-chief.

General writers: write game/book/film reviews, interview scratchers for a wide range of reasons, write about featured studios, collabs, projects etc, report on breaking stories and write them up. They report to and submit their work to an editor.

Fiction Writers: write poems, short stories etc specifically for the fiction page. They report to and submit their work to an editor.

Columnists: Write their own piece about pretty much whatever they want as long as the editor is happy with it. Their work must be submitted five days before the release day.

Proof-reader: Ensures that articles are free from grammatical and spelling errors and that they are readable. They edit work as it is posted on this forum thread.

Activities
Interviewing: Members may need to interview other scratchers for the featured scratcher, studio, project, collaboration shop or perhaps relating to some other article. When approaching a scratcher to interview, be sure to ask them nicely and make it clear that you are asking on behalf of our newspaper. For example:
Good Interviewer wrote:

Hello. May I ask you a few questions about your project on behalf of The Scratch Record?
Ask one question at a time and wait for their response. Some questions to think about: what has been most challenging, how did you get into Scratch, what are you most proud of, any advice for other scratchers and anything that you would like to change about Scratch. If you are interviewing a scratcher in relation to a story be sure to tailor your questions towards that. When selecting scratchers to be featured, check their activity to see if they are likely to respond in time for the next edition. Be sure to thank them for their time once you have finished your interview. See these examples:
.
Reviewing: Members may need to review books, films and games. Make sure that reviews contain no spoilers. Be clear what aspects you enjoyed and what aspects you did not enjoy and let the reader know if you would recommend the book/film/game that you are reviewing. Consider commenting on the plot, characters cinematography, script, gameplay, graphics, tension etc.

Reporting: Reporting is simply finding the facts for an article and finding news around on Scratch. Examples of news include: new competitions, old shop closing down, shops expanding, collaborations bringing out their projects, announcements from the Scratch team.

Content Guide
General: each page is split into three columns. A ‘full length’ article covers one column and can contain 120-160 words. A 2/3 article is self-explanatory and can only contain around 100 words.

Headline News: contains all the breaking news from around Scratch from developments in collaborations, organisations, new trends and announcements from the Scratch Team. A 1/3 advert may also be included. The page editor is responsible for the production of the whole page excluding the 1/3 advert.

Limelight: contains an interview from the edition's featured scratcher, an article on a featured studio or project and a comic. The page editor is responsible for the production of the whole page except the comic.

Business News: contains an article designed to help with the management of shops and collaborations (e.g. Tips on Advertising) and a featured on a shop or collaboration (preferably with an interview or a few quotes from the owner). The page editor is responsible for the production of the whole page.

Side Note: may contain a range of material from book/film/videogame reviews, survey results, fun facts, trivia and more. It is preferable that there is at least one review and a fun fact or trivia. The page editor is responsible for the production of the whole page.

Fiction Note: may contain a range of fiction but usually a poem and a chapter from an ongoing short story. The page editor is responsible for the production of the whole page.

Columns: a page dedicated to a columnist's entry alongside a full length advert.

Application
Position applying for:
Link to any previous work relevant to the role:
How often will you check this thread:
On a regular fortnightly basis, how many words could you contribute:
Any other experience in collaborations / shops:
Any particular activity you really want to do:
Any particular activity you really do not want to do:
Would you ever be interested in becoming an editor:
Why do you want to be a member of this collaboration:

Page editor application form
Why do you want to be an editor:
Would you want to keep your current job as well (only really applicable to columnists):
1st Page Preference:
2nd Page Preference:
Failing to secure a place as a page editor in your 1st page preference, would you rather be a deputy editor in your 1st preference or try for a page editor at your 2nd page preference?


If you are applying for the role of a general writer, please complete the following exercises and attach with application:
-Write a +60 word game, book or film review or a +100 word article on a studio, project, shop or collaboration of your choosing

If you are applying for the role of a columnist, please complete the following exercises and attach with application:
-Write an 100 word column on anything or your hopes for Scratch 3.0

If you are applying for the role of a fiction writer, please write a +100 word short story that demonstrates you writing ability and attach with application.

Leave Form:

Start Date:
End Date:

Advert Placements
Here are the prices for placing adverts in our newspaper for your shop or collaboration:
1/3 Standard : Free
1/3 Front Page : Free
2/3 Standard : Not currently available
1 Full Length : Free
2 Full Length : Not currently available
1 Full Page : Not currently available
You must supply us with a project containing your advert in the appropriate size.
Template

Bump!

Bump +
Position applying for: General Writer
Link to any previous work relevant to the role: N/A
How often will you check this thread: 2 Times a day.
On a regular fortnightly basis, how many words could you contribute: 30-40 (I'm a fast writer)
Any other experience in collaborations/shops: 7 shops, 1 collab.
Any particular activity you really want to do: Just reviewing, reporting, etc.
Any particular activity you really do not want to do: Writing.
Would you ever be interested in becoming an editor: Maybe.
Why do you want to be a member of this collaboration: Because i would like it to succeed, and be a better place, and working like a real newspaper.
I will write the report later.

AFNNetworkK12 wrote:

Bump +
Position applying for: General Writer
Link to any previous work relevant to the role: N/A
How often will you check this thread: 2 Times a day.
On a regular fortnightly basis, how many words could you contribute: 30-40 (I'm a fast writer)
Any other experience in collaborations/shops: 7 shops, 1 collab.
Any particular activity you really want to do: Just reviewing, reporting, etc.
Any particular activity you really do not want to do: Writing.
Would you ever be interested in becoming an editor: Maybe.
Why do you want to be a member of this collaboration: Because i would like it to succeed, and be a better place, and working like a real newspaper.
I will write the report later.

Oh whoops, forgot to close this topic. Reported to be closed.

This was my old account.