You might ask why I’m thinking about Spring Break already? The answer is that I have to already plan for it.
At the newspaper we have what we call a “budget.” In newspaper language, the budget is the schedule of all the stories running for the next few weeks. I just got finished budgeting the stories for the March 12 issue, the issue before Spring Break.
It is important that I budget this in advance because our staff writers need at least two weeks notice to ensure they have enough time to do the stories.
The other problem Spring Break can pose is the issue after Spring Break. All the copy has to be turned in before Spring Break so we can do the issue right before we start back to school. This requires me to plan at least 3 weeks in advance for the issue.
It reminds me of the boy scout motto “be prepared.”
So when you pick up a copy of the newspaper the week after Spring Break, remember that the writers have worked weeks in advance on those stories.
