The Start the Presses seminar is a weekend-long, expenses-paid colloquium on college student journalism based on the ISI Books edition of Start the Presses! A Handbook for Student Journalists. The annual seminar, held in Washington, D.C., connects college students with journalism professionals to provide the training and direction needed for a student to launch a college newspaper or revive an existing publication. Designed for no more than 20 students, the seminar instructs students on how to publish an attractive, well-written campus publication. Topics include: investigative reporting, editing, pitching stories, cultivating sources, layout and design, graphics, staff recruitment, and fund-raising and business management.

The CN held the 2010 Start the Presses seminar in Washington, D.C. from July 8-11.

Topics covered at the 2010 seminar:

  • What Can the Collegiate Network and ISI Do for You?
  • Top 10 Things You Need to Run a Successful Paper
  • Sustainability - Making it Past the 5-year Mark
  • The Product - Importance of Editing and Revising
  • Non-Profit Status and Creating a Business Plan
  • Writing for the Mainstream Media
  • Layout and Design - Introduction to InDesign
  • Civic Literacy
  • Social Media - The Beginner's Guide
  • From Student Editor to Professional Reporter - Journalism Ethics
  • Making it Relevant - How to Reach your Audience

Introduction to the CN

Students also attend individualized sessions with CN staff and are introduced to the full slate of programs and opportunities offered by the CN, including:

  • Editors Conferences
  • Collegiate Network Newspaper Grants
  • Professional Reporting Courses
  • Summer Journalism Internships
  • Year-long Journalism Fellowships
  • The intellectual resources of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute

Students need not be members of the CN to attend. For more information, contact the CN at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .