Sue Jacoby--

I have been writing/editing/producing a bf newsletter for WIC moms for about 3
years now. "Moms & Babies" started as part of a contract I had to work for a
health department in the north Atlanta area. When the money for the contract ran
out, I started selling the newsletter by subscription. I sell bulk subscriptions
to WIC clinics and then personalize the subscription with info for that
particular subscriber. It is just a single sheet, front and back, with a box on
the bottom on the front that I put the custom stuff on (such as hotline numbers
or upcoming events) and a mailing area on the back that has the subscriber's
return address on it.  I mail out a stack of the newsletters to one address, and
they handle distributing them however they choose.  (I do NOT deal with
individual address labels.) I generate a camera ready copy and then bring it to
a copier for photocopying. I use a 24 pound colored paper and have 6 pastel
colors I rotate for the 6 issues a year.

When I initially started the newsletter, I planned to have multiple columns in
each issue. Reality set in quickly as I realized how little space there is by
the time you have the masthead at the top and the box at the bottom and the
mailing area on the back. And while I could go to a longer newsletter, I felt it
was important for the WIC population to keep it short and sweet. I deliberately
chose a name that would not shout to anybody and everybody that this person was
reading a BREASTFEEDING newsletter!

Topics I've used include such things as nipple pain, basic management, bf a sick
baby, bf when mom is sick, going back to work, nighttime issues, advantages to
mom, involving dads, etc. Not that you can tell it from my rambling Lactnet
posts, it has taught me a lot about writing succinctly and precisely!!

After moving from the Atlanta area to Tennessee, I have also started my own
personalized version, putting MY information in the box at the bottom and
bringing copies to the OB here in town. So far it hasn't generated specific
business, but I keep doing it anyway.

If you (or anybody else, for that matter) would like to see sample copies, send
me your snail mail address (privately, of course).

Writing the newsletter is a lot of fun--I have complete editorial control over
what goes in, though I welcome feedback from my subscribers. I'd love to hear
what others have done.

Melissa Vickers, IBCLC
[log in to unmask]