Project managing your publication

Sue ScottLaw and Justice Foundation of NSW

2008

Project managing your publication

10 steps 1. Plan the right product2. Start to shape your publication3. Plan your project4. Draft content5. User test content and re-draft6. Design and typeset7. Index8. Print9. Promote and distribute10. Don’t let your resource die of neglect

Plan the right product

• Need

• Aim

• Audience

• Scope

• What already exists

• Consult your users

What is the need?

• A group of legal and non-legal agencies in the Hunter found it difficult to easily access information about legal services in the local area. Each of them had their own home-grown lists which they found difficult to keep up to date.

What is the aim?

• To improve referral to legal agencies in the Hunter region and to reduce duplication of effort

Who is the audience?

• Non legal agencies, front desk staff in legal agencies, lawyers

• Not aimed at ‘punters’. Might develop a separate card for this.

What is the scope?

• Legal agencies in the Hunter including courts, clcs, legal aid and tenancy workers

• Lawyers in the Hunter who will do legal aid and/or pro bono work

• State wide legal services

• Not non-legal services

What already exists?

• Youth specific directory

• State wide community legal centre directory

• Home grown lists

Plain language law search

Consult your users

• Set up a reference group – this can be used throughout the project to assist with clarifying the need, scope, format, user testing and distribution

• Do user testing

10 steps 1. Plan the right product √2. Start to shape your publication3. Plan your project4. Draft content5. User test content and re-draft6. Design and typeset7. Index8. Print9. Promote and distribute10. Don’t let your resource die of neglect

Good luck!

Sue Scott, sscott@lawfoundation.net.au, 8227 3208Abigail Gray, agray@lawfoundation.net.au, 8227 3215