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Boardman Bugle goes to online only format

By Kalea Hall

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Student newspaper goes to online-only format

By kalea hall

khall@vindy.com

boardman

The Boardman Bugle student newspaper did not die — it just switched its method of delivery.

Now its readership is flourishing.

“Our main [goal] was to take it online,” said Gina Crilley, the student newspaper adviser and teacher.

The Bugle began in 1967, and a printed copy came out every three weeks.

When Crilley took over the newspaper in the 2013-14 school year, she knew she wanted to change things.

Her class of 12 invited the student body to submit new logos for the paper. A “300” style Spartan helmet with BHS drawn into the plume on the helmet and a quill pen are now the symbol for the online publication.

Outside of the new logo, new adviser and new method of distribution, the paper also has a mostly new staff.

“Because it is a different adviser, we are going to have to have different ways of doing things,” Crilley said.

Topics from politics to student life are covered, and there are now opportunities to produce news on deadline. Before the paper switched to online, the students only produced stories for a publication that came out once every three weeks.

“We try to publish new stories every other day,” Crilley said.

In the yearlong class, students learn journalistic style and writing, communication skills, editorial writing and more. Crilley also keeps the students updated on current events.

“Most of the kids in the class are very interested in journalism,” Crilley said.

Now that the Bugle is online, readership is up, based on website statistics, and community members are talking about the stories the students cover. And the cost is cheaper.

“I was apprehensive about going online,” said Leandrah Hunt, editor-in-chief, “[but] it is a lot better than I thought.”

A poll offered on the website resulted in 25,000 people responding, Hunt said.

Crilley said her students enjoy the style of the class.

“We are learning, but it’s fun,” Crilley said. “The readership has exceeded our expectations.”

The paper one day could go back to periodically publishing a print edition, but for now, the students are focused on what they have and looking into more opportunities with an online platform.

Check out the latest headlines on bringing cellphones to school, Spartan spirit and the application of the month at boardmanbugle.com.

Mobile users also can download the application for the student newspaper.