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File: Guilds & Traders Journal Guidelines.txt

Written by: Raikana Plip.
Adapted by: Zakena Plip, High Bard in the Bards Association.

INDEX

1 -   Nature of the paper
2 -   Goals
3 -   Strategy
4 -   Roles
5 -   Rules of distribution

1 - NATURE OF THE PAPER

>>The Neutrality line
The Guilds & Traders Journal is meant to be a neutral voice. Every point of view is well accepted and, if polited, every idea will be eared and published. That's why the staff should be always aware to defend it indipendance.

>>Amusing and Useful
The intention of the paper is to combine information, utility and fun, producing a publication that may be interesting for both citizens veterans and newcomers.

>>Track the daily history
One of the primary functions of the newspaper is to keep track of events in the local history. Such source of information is needed for those who wish to deepen the events that occurred before their birth and that's why the paper will always return the dates corresponding to the listed events. The words fly, writings remain; people born and die but paper challenges the centuries.

>>Sustainability
The Guilds & Traders Journal is a low-profit organization that aims to the sustainability. This is the main reason why the newspaper needs sponsors and advertisers.

2 - GOALS

>>Withstand time
The main objective of the paper is to succeed in the difficult task of building a lasting newspaper organized to resist the coming and going of the editors, because it is virtually impossible for one person to keep a newspaper alive over the years. To achieve this we need the help of everybody: writers, distributors, guilds, traders and, of course, readers.

>>Wider distribution
Thanks to our vision of sustainability, we hope to be able to get the newspaper into the hands of every citizen who wishes to remain informed. 

>>A fluid organization
We wish to create a small cross-guild group of well-intentioned and enterprising people able to interchange themselves in different roles, united by the respect and trust. The fluidity could be the key to keeping the newspaper alive, without requiring too much continued effort from the same people.


3 - STRATEGY

>>Free to announce
The "free announcements" method allow the newspaper to have a high rate of interesting content, making it really useful for the reader, the real user of the product. Obviously if you have something to say to the world and you want more visibility, you can always request a paid advertisement.

>>Limited edition
The number of printed copies will be strictly controlled in order to keep track of sales. This also allows to objectively evaluate the rarity of each issue, offering to the collectors a safe way to estimate the effective value of the missing pieces. 

>>Special re-prints
If the editorial staff receives requests for a certain issue of the journal that has sold out, they will reprint new copies on demand, which will be strictly numbered and perfectly identical to the original. The price for this "reprint on demand" is 2000 tria.

>>Dissemination initiatives
The funds in excess will be invested in regular campaigns to promote the dissemination of the newspaper.

>>Free for readers
The newspaper will be distributed free of charge, to all those who wish to read it.

>>Donations and paid advertisement
Donations are always well accepted and we thank everyone in advance for their help. It is preferable to deliver the donations directly to the editor. We are also glad to give more visibility to your activities by providing a paid advertisement service.

4 - ROLES

>>Editor
The work of the editor is the most difficult and often forces you to work longer than expected. Each edition of the newspaper will be entrusted, from time to time, to the care of a single editor, who will have the following tasks:

1) Contents: Make sure that all sections show updated contents, that  texts are correct, both grammatically and bibliographically. Choose the contents of the various sections, providing for filling the gaps with personal contributions if necessary.
2) Editorial: Writing the editorial for each issue.
3) Layout and printing: If needed, make minor changes on each issue, to avoid traumatizing the reader's eye. The editor must take charge of duplicating each copy of every issue.
4) Economic Administration: Pay salaries, buy books, authorize fees and sponsorships for events, pay cash rewards of competitions and manage the incomes from sales of advertising.
5) Negotiations: Negotiate with representatives of guilds and merchants  and respond to complaints.

>>Reporter
There are at least two types of reporter, the correspondent and journalist. The first performs the tasks assigned by the editor, while the second takes charge of the investigations personally and develop products on its own initiative. The reward for this task may vary depending on the amount of work required. Anyone will be able to write something interesting may publish in the newspaper as freelancer, though not belonging to the group, for free or for the corresponding reward.

>>Collaborator
The collaborator normally in encharged to find contents for the Relax and Announcements sections, but they can also provide more traders for the Traders List (Guilds Descriptions will be most likely collected from trustful members of the newspaper).

>>Distributor
The distributor hands out the copies and spends much time in contact with people, represents for many the "face" of the newspaper. In addition to good education, the distributor is asked to respect the rules of distribution (section 5) and the places established for it.

5 - RULES OF DISTRIBUTION

>>The trading set
The distributor should always be provided with a support to place the flyer of the newspaper, this guidelines and all the material belonging to the current issue. He/she should decorate the "store" with a fancy decoration. The newspaper will provide the written material but not the rest of the stuff.

>>Fixed Places
Every distributor should find a place in which to mount his "store". This place should be always the same to give customers a point of reference. This rule can be ignored in case of events or meetings.

>>Respect other distributor
Every city should host only one distributor at a time. Therefore, respect is needed for the existing distributor.

>>Respect the customers
The kindness and patience are essential qualities for the distributor.