Moving into paperless communications E-News newsletter - first published December, 2005 - Background: The electronic newsletter has been developed by IFAJ News Editor Liz Kellaway (Australia) and the IFAJ Communications Committee, to help improve communication with, and services for, our members around the globe. A special edition has been prepared to generate feedback from IFAJ executive members and the national guilds that are members of the IFAJ. The IFAJ will review this feedback at its next executive meeting in Berlin in January 2006 before deciding whether or not to go ahead with the concept. The E-News will be distributed every two months, together with one edition of the traditional IFAJ News per year. Positive feedback from members in general: "…prefer the email version but would make the text font size of body text bigger." "…Really like this format – much more likely to read an ezine than a print format! "Would like the font to be more modern as I HATE Times New Roman – but that’s just me!" "…As excellent as the pdf format of IFAJ news is, I can fully understand the reasoning to publish in e-format. However all the links which are normally in blue in the e-format must be able to be opened. The version I received created some problems in that regard.". "…The e version gives scope for many more stories from around the world and could also be used for links with individual national organisations and their members in a way that was only available through the main IFAJ website." "…I was delighted with the electronic version of IFAJ News. For me, it's the future." Note: We will still need printed copies of the newsletter for those who cannot access this technology. Monthly e-mail briefing -Briefing started in 2005 from Communications chairman, to keep executive updated on IFAJ issues. Positive feedback. We will continue the practice New initiative: Making the website more useful and generating more activity Weekly website features - In an effort to generate more interest in the website, we will provide weekly human interest or issue-oriented features on IFAJ members or issues. This would be broad-based in nature, ranging from interesting profiles of members to controversial media issues in specific regions of the world. It would also perhaps build activity on the new Member Forums. Stories would be short and would be generated by the Communications committee and the executive in general. Member forums: We will ask the executives to promote this service to their members and evaluate how often it is being used, in one year. Website teasers: In the newsletter, email briefings and other communication with members (from executives to members) we will provide teasers - short highlights with instructions, "further information is available on the IFAJ website." The committee will explore possibility of sending automated email when website is updated - We will look into using this technology to alert folks of website updates, along with the Listserv. "Hot topic" resources on the website: We will ask each executive to provide a name and contact information on important media topics such as WTO and avian bird flu. This will be collected in a list on the website and promoted as a member benefit. National contact list We will work with the webmaster to make a printer-friendly version so that the national contact list can be downloaded as a PDF and tucked away in a file or coat pocket. Freelance directory and member sign-up -We will place on the website a freelance directory - worldwide publications which accept freelance. Plus, we will provide an electronic sign-on form for IFAJ member freelance writers and photographers so that they can be listed with their contact information, as available for paid assignments. This is a key member benefit and eventually should be put behind a password. Language -We will seek out volunteer translators and determine potential cost for adding German and Spanish to the website. Website redesign As information needs change we will look into potential cost of redesigning the website to better serve our members. TOP