This article explains how to create a newspaper using the features built into Microsoft Word. Once you've decided what your newspaper looks like, you can create it with Word on both Windows and Mac.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Designing the Newspaper
Step 1. Analyze a few different newspapers
To understand how the basic elements of a newspaper are arranged, consider how the following parts are presented:
- Articles: the body of the newspaper, where most of the text is found.
- Images: photos and other graphics are fundamental elements of the design of a newspaper. They break sections that contain a lot of text and give context to articles.
- Titles: The title is the first thing a reader sees before deciding if an article is worth reading.
Step 2. Consider the size of the printer
If you don't have the ability to use an industrial printer, you probably won't be able to create documents larger than A4, which is considered the standard for printer paper.
This is also the default Microsoft Word page size on most computers
Step 3. Before you begin, plan your layout
It will be useful to have a basic idea of the newspaper design before opening Word and starting to format the pages. Grab a few sheets of paper and sketch out some test designs.
- Design a few different pages. The front page will look very different from the inside pages and the various sections will have slightly different styles.
- Draw lines to evaluate the impact of the columns on the composition of the newspaper. With too many columns the text will be confused, while if there are too few the articles will appear squared.
- Try placing the text in various places on the test page. Scroll it around the images or try placing a photo directly above or below the article it refers to.
- Experiment with title placement. These sentences are meant to grab the attention of readers, but they can't be big enough to distract.
Part 2 of 2: Creating the Newspaper
Step 1. Open Microsoft Word
Double-click the program icon, which looks like a white "W" on a blue background.
Step 2. Click Blank Document
The icon represents a white rectangle in the upper left part of the window. A new blank sheet will open.
You can skip this step on Mac
Step 3. Add a title to the newspaper
Write the title of the newspaper.
Step 4. Go to head
To do this, press Enter.
Thanks to this step you will be able to add columns without splitting the title
Step 5. Click Layout
This tab is located in the dark blue bar at the top of the Word window. Open it and you will see the toolbar Layout under the bar.
Step 6. Click Columns
This button is located on the left side of the tab Layout. Press it and a drop-down menu will open.
Step 7. Click More Columns…
This is the last item on the menu Columns. Press it and a window will open containing other options.
Step 8. Select a number of columns
For example, click Two at the top of the window to divide the newspaper into two columns.
You can enter as many columns as you like in the "Number of Columns" field
Step 9. Click "Apply to" from the drop down menu
You will find the button at the bottom left.
Step 10. Click From This Point On
You will find this option in the drop-down menu. Press it and you'll apply the column breakdown to the rest of the document, with the exception of the title.
Step 11. Click OK
The Word document will be split into two or more columns (based on your choice).
Step 12. Add the text
Start with a title, then hit Enter and start writing the article. When you get to the end of a piece, skip a couple of lines and resume with another title and a second article.
As you type, the leftmost column will fill first, then the text will move to the one immediately to the right
Step 13. Insert images
Click the place in the newspaper where you want to put a photo, then click the tab insert, click Images, select an image, then click insert in the lower right corner of the window.
- You can zoom out or zoom in on the photo by clicking and dragging one of the corners inwards or outwards.
- To place the text around the photo, click on the image, then on the tab Format, on Text arrangement and on one of the available options.
Step 14. Center the newspaper title
Click the tab Home, select the title, then click the "Centered" icon, which looks like a series of centered horizontal lines and is located in the "Paragraph" section of the toolbar.
Step 15. Format the newspaper
You can change a lot of elements of the journal before you save it, but you will probably make major changes to the following:
- Font and text size: Select the text to edit, then click the down arrow next to the current font in the "Font" section of the tab Home. Choose the font you prefer, then change the font size in the drop-down menu next to the font section.
- Headings in bold: select the titles you want to edit, then click G. in the "Font" section to change the bold text. You can also click the buttons C. And S. if you want to italicize or underline text.
Step 16. Save your work
Press Ctrl + S (Windows) or ⌘ Command + S (Mac) to save your newspaper, then select a path, enter a title and click Save. The newspaper is ready for printing!
