M-T1-MP-08 · A 90-day try-out

A club plan for Community News Partnerships

Use this as a starting point. Cross out what does not fit, add what is missing and make it your club's own.

Where this idea came from

Playbook entry: M-T1-MP-08 · Community News Partnerships
Theme: Theme 1: Attraction & Visibility · Subtheme MP: Media & Public Relations
Source material: Existing checked Theme 1 guide
Linked playbook entry: M-T1-MP-08 · Community News Partnerships

1. Is this worth trying here?

What we hope will change: Supply a local news publisher with a dependable stream of independently editable community stories, notices and voices that fill genuine coverage gaps.

What is happening in our club or community now?What is the smallest useful version we could try? What will we leave out?

Board contactPerson leading the workPerson checking what happened

2. Our 90-day try-out

What our club will do for Community News Partnerships
Step	What we will do	Who could lead it
1	Agree the underserved audience and story categories with the publisher.	Partnership editor
2	Recruit community contributors through transparent, inclusive channels.	Community story scout
3	Commission and verify material to the publisher's specification.	Rotary copy editor
4	Submit on schedule and leave final editorial decisions with the publisher.	Content liaison
5	Review diversity, accuracy and reader usefulness each cycle.	Joint editorial review

3. Checks before we start

Things our club needs to check
Question	What it means for us	Who will check	Done?
Do not guarantee publication or use the partnership to suppress criticism of Rotary.
Obtain contributor and image permissions, especially for sensitive community experiences.
High — editorial independence, contributor consent and disguised sponsorship must remain clear throughout the partnership.

4. What changed?

What we will keep an eye on
What matters	Where we are now	What we hope to see	How we will check	Who
Publisher receives usable material to schedule.

After 30 days

Is it reaching the right people? Is anything unsafe, unfair or harder than expected?

After 60 days

Make one useful change based on what people have told you.

After 90 days

Compare with where you started. Decide whether to change it, continue it or stop.

Before your club says yes

Does the idea fit?

Talk with the people it is meant to serve and check that the need is real.

We have checked this

Who can say yes?

Name the person or group that can approve the work, spending and any safety arrangements.

We have checked this

Are people protected?

Check privacy, consent and safety. Collect only the information you genuinely need.

We have checked this

Can everyone take part?

Check the language, format, place, technology and cost for barriers.

We have checked this

Are the facts and permissions right?

Check names, claims, images, quotations, partner references and Rotary branding.

We have checked this

How will we learn?

Note where things stand now, check in at 30, 60 and 90 days, and decide what to do next.

We have checked this

Worksheets for your club

Open them online, print them or change them to suit the way your club works.

Partnership and stakeholder map

Use this worksheet to agree what the club and any partners will each contribute, decide and protect.

Open worksheet

Communications and content planner

Use this worksheet to prepare clear messages and check the facts, permissions and approval before sharing them.

Open worksheet

Workflow and minimum-data register

Use this worksheet to map each step and keep only the information the club genuinely needs.

Open worksheet