Newsletters

In digging through a closet recently, I discovered a copy of the very first newsletter I wrote for and edited. There was only one copy, because that was sometime during elementary school, apparently for a history class. I got other kids to write for it and typed it hunt-and-peck style on one of those classic, manual Royal typewriters. Even then, I intuitively knew enough to write headlines in active voice and give the lead story prominent play. "Caesar Murdered," says the headline in the upper-right corner, and I'm proud to say that the first sentences answer who, what, where, when, why and how. I've been editing or publishing newsletters since, it seems, and have publishing newsletters online since 1993, before the Web even existed.

I launched the latest one, Health News Monitor, in October 2002. It's free, and you can subscribe quickly and easily on any page of this site (see upper-left corner). I'll be adding articles about writing and publishing newsletters to this site occasionally, so here's one to start with: 10 Questions to Answer before Launching an e-Mail Newsletter.

Ergovera Ergonomic Consulting's newsletter Ergovera launched their monthly Ergo Savvy Newsletter in November 2002. During the planning phase, I provided these services: Developed the content concept and monthly mix of stories Helped research and choose the name Wrote the subscription invitation letter, subscriber welcome letter, interest and info forms Advised on publishing and list-management service options Set up, customized and fine-tuned the templates for the newsletter and related publications on the newsletter hosting service's system For each issue, I edit the publisher's column, write the research feature story and promo sections, and do MEDLINE bibliographic research for the feature story as needed.

Internet Content newsletter
The newsletter for online content creators, providers and distributors

I was editor of this online newsletter for the year that it existed, until the dot-com meltdown in 2001, and wrote articles for it every two weeks. I hired others to write an occasional article, too, but the budget for that was quite limited, so it's nearly all my work. Here's a representative sampling [Update 3/03: Links not valid, because they just took down the site! I'll archive copies from the source documents as soon as I have time. Sorry for the inconvenience.]:

Adaptable Models: Watch How Entertainment Companies Syndicate Content by Judith Broadhurst

One-on-one with industry luminary Geoffrey Moore by Judith Broadhurst
The well-known author, strategy consultant and venture capitalist on the prospects for profitable online content

Lack of standards and security stand in the way of wireless by Judith Broadhurst
A Web content perspective on highlights from the M2001 conference in San Jose

Special reports are lucrative, but complex and costly to create and sell by Judith Broadhurst
Case studies of two special report publishers

Even English Poses Problems in Setting Style Standards by Judith Broadhurst
Our solution to consistent global communication despite the inconsistency of English usage

Multilingual Content Translates into International Success by Judith Broadhurst
IDC and eTranslate say, "Think globally, act now."

Netscape Communications' partner newsletter

I wrote a few issues of this one before they decided it wasn't high-priority, because the AOL merger aftermath was still in process and things were in flux.

CiscoLink channel marketing newsletter Cisco Systems I served as interim editor of Cisco's channel partner newsletter for four months, mostly planning the content, assigning stories to and managing freelance writers, working closely with the graphic designer and coordinating both print and Web production and publication. I also wrote the stories about my favorite Cisco-sponsored event during that time, NetAid, the global fundraising Web cast to raise money to help eliminate poverty. (That's how and when Sting got involved, and he has continued to lobby effectively worldwide since). Here's how the technology behind it worked.

Freelance Success newsletter for freelance journalists I founded this one in 1992 and continued as its editor and publisher until I sold it in 1997. It's still going. At that time, it had subscribers in 48 states and 16 countries. But the more impressive stat is that these were penny-pinching freelance writers who paid $97 for the online version and $107 to get it in print. I also developed and launched the online classes for writers, which were the first online. From the outset, we had very active online discussions, too. IT was that experience and my years before leading the Freelancers section in the Journalism Forum on CompuServe that were the basis for this soapbox piece in Internet Content newsletter: A View of What a Good List Moderator Does

Be sure to check the Recent Articles section at least monthly, because you'll find new articles there periodically about newsletter editorial content planning, as well as editing, producing, publishing and promoting online newsletters.