Marketing Strategies for Recruitment

Open Houses and Information Sessions: Host open houses where prospective students can meet current staff, tour the newsroom, and see the equipment and resources they’ll be using. Information sessions where you explain the benefits and opportunities of the journalism program can also be very persuasive.

Student Testimonials: Nothing is more powerful than hearing from peers. Have current journalism students share their experiences through testimonials. You can create short videos or written testimonials to share on social media, the school website, and during presentations.

Showcase Student Work: Highlight the best work of your students. Create a portfolio or a highlight reel that showcases the diverse range of stories, videos, podcasts, and photojournalism your program produces. Seeing the impressive work can inspire potential recruits.

Social Media Campaigns: Utilize social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok to reach potential students. Post behind-the-scenes looks at your journalism class, highlight current projects, and share success stories. Engage with students by creating interactive content like polls and Q&A sessions.

Collaborate with Other Teachers: Partner with English, history, and art teachers to identify students who show promise in writing, critical thinking, and creativity. These teachers can recommend your journalism course to students who might not have considered it otherwise.

Training Staff on Marketing

Marketing Workshops: At the beginning of each year, I conduct workshops where I train my journalism staff on the basics of marketing and branding. We cover topics like creating effective advertisements, understanding target audiences, and using analytics to measure the impact of our efforts.

Assign Marketing Roles: Just like you have editors and reporters, assign marketing roles within your staff. Have a team focused on promoting the journalism program. This could include managing social media accounts, designing promotional materials, and planning recruitment events.

Engage Alumni: Reach out to former students who have gone on to successful careers or further education in journalism. Invite them to speak about how the program helped them and use their success stories as part of your recruitment materials.

Revenue Generation and Community Engagement

Ad Sales Training: Teaching students how to sell advertisements not only brings in revenue but also builds essential skills like sales, communication, and networking. We hold mock sales pitches and real-world practice sessions to boost their confidence.

Community Involvement: Engage with the broader community. Sponsor school events, participate in local fairs, and partner with community organizations. The more visible and involved your program is, the more interest it will generate.

Making Registration Season Count

Course Catalog and Flyers: Ensure your course is prominently featured in the school’s course catalog and distribute eye-catching flyers around campus. Highlight unique aspects of your program, like field trips, guest speakers, and special projects.

Presentation to Underclassmen: Visit freshman and sophomore classes to present the benefits of joining the journalism program. Bring along a few charismatic current students to share their experiences and answer questions.

Interactive Demonstrations: During registration fairs, set up an interactive booth where students can try out journalism activities like writing headlines, recording a podcast snippet, or taking photos with professional cameras.