A proposal for a digital newspaper

A proposal for a digital newspaper

Learn how to write a proposal.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.

Preparation

Reading text

There are plans to stop production of your university newspaper. You feel that the newspaper should be saved. You decide to write a proposal to the university suggesting a digital version of the paper.

A proposal for a digital version of the university newspaper

Introduction

This proposal intends to outline how a digital version of the university newspaper, The Scallion, could function and aims to show that an online paper is viable for the future of the newspaper. It draws on the views of 3,000 students surveyed in May.

Background

The Scallion is printed weekly and distributed free in faculty buildings, with a readership of approximately 10,000 students. It is written and produced entirely by students. The survey shows that the newspaper is highly valued by university students and staff for entertainment, cultural enrichment and work experience.

Current problems

The cost of printing newspapers is significant. Furthermore, some students do not have easy access to the paper, since the only way to obtain a copy is to physically go to university. An additional environmental issue is that a large number of copies end up as litter on campus.

Proposed solution

It is proposed that the newspaper could shift to an online format. An overwhelming majority (95 per cent) of survey respondents were 'keen' or 'very keen' on this.

The key benefits would be:

  • Lower costs. Electronic publication is much cheaper than printing, and the website would require minimal maintenance. Although there are considerable initial costs of developing a website, these would be offset over time.
  • Improved accessibility. Students unable to collect a copy and those with visual impairments would be able to read the paper online.
  • Eco-friendliness. A website would reduce paper usage and produce no litter.
  • Digital media experience. For student journalists, gaining experience in running a web-based news site would be invaluable for any job which involves digital communication.

Drawbacks

One issue is information management. The site would have to comply with data protection and privacy laws. Advice should be sought from the IT department.

Another drawback may be personal preference. Twenty-five per cent of survey respondents liked having a physical paper to flick through in a café. However, as this is a minority view, I would suggest that the benefits of the online paper outweigh the inconvenience on this issue.

Conclusion

The results of the consultation suggest that moving the paper online is the best option given that it would reduce costs, be more environmentally-friendly and reach a larger audience. A change to a digital format is therefore recommended to maintain the benefits of the newspaper while addressing its current difficulties.

 

Tips

  1. Start by reading the question carefully. Brainstorm all your thoughts about the proposal first. Then choose your best ideas and plan your paragraphs.
  2. Use subheadings to make the structure clear. Start by stating the aim of the proposal (Introduction) and giving information about the context (Background).
  3. Next, move on to the Current problems and your Proposed solution. You can also mention the Drawbacks and how to address them before you finish (Conclusion).
  4. You should use an impersonal, formal tone for your proposal. Passive verb forms (e.g. It is proposed that … , Advice should be sought …) are a useful way to avoid I think or You should.
  5. The final section should include an overall recommendation based on your previous points.

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Discussion

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Average: 4.2 (21 votes)

Submitted by Amelie on Sat, 30/11/2024 - 20:10

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Personally, It depends on the situation. For instance, I prefer to read traditional newspaper when I am in a coffee shop becouse I want to desconect from social media while I am outside. On the other hand, at home, I always choose digital newspaper as it helps me to stay aware of the latest updates.

Submitted by MarianaR on Tue, 10/09/2024 - 00:56

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I really enjoy reading online newspapers because they offer a convenient way to stay informed about current events from around the world. The accessibility and variety of topics available at my fingertips make it easy to find something that piques my interest. Plus, the interactive features, like videos and comment sections, add an engaging element to the news experience. It's great to have the news just a click away!

Submitted by _Yan_ on Fri, 02/08/2024 - 14:37

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Hi team,

For task 3, question 5, "......meaning loss of subscription fees and .....", is there any difference if we insert 'a' before 'loss'? Thank you!

Hi _Yan_,

No, there's no difference. "Loss" can be countable or uncountable here.

I hope that answers your question.

Jonathan

LearnEnglish team

Submitted by csantiducey on Sat, 06/01/2024 - 19:56

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In my opinion, I find it more pleasing and enjoyable reading a newspaper online, rather than paper. The reason for this is that online newspapers are constantly updated, so, I can read an article, and after I have finished it, there's a new one I can start giving a look at. On the other hand, paper newspapers are only updated until the next day, leaving a lot of time for important events to happen. Also, online newspapers allow the distribution of better-quality images or even videos that complement the news description. Finally, it is important to outline the environmental benefits online implementation brings, as there is no need to use tons of paper that ends up being wasted and not recycled. As there may be many people keen to read news physically in a paper, I say that the benefits of online news consumption outweigh any possible drawbacks it can have.

Submitted by Ensiye on Sun, 08/10/2023 - 20:23

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Do you prefer to read a newspaper online or on paper?

Personally, I'm not interested in following the news, especially on a daily basis. But if I were a big fan of the news, I would have preferred to read a newspaper online. There are some advantages to accessing the news online.

First, Given that speed and time are important in publishing the news, being online makes the news publish in the least possible time.

Second, it causes many high-quality pictures and videos to be used along with the news which, in turn, makes the news more interesting and real. Things that before the advent of the internet weren't possible.

Third, there is no need to take time to buy the newspaper. You can access the news whenever or wherever you want. I mean anywhere you have internet access, so to speak.

Fourth, you can comment on the news and share it with others, as well as read other's ideas.

As a matter of fact, The more I have thought about online news, the more I am convinced that the internet has brought massive growth in the news industry.

Submitted by Ensiye on Sat, 07/10/2023 - 20:34

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A proposal for the work permit of graduate students

Introduction

This proposal intends to outline how the work permit during studies for master's students could increase the quality of study and students' motivation to continue their education and aims to show that it's viable to work part-time and study at the same time.

Background

The faculty of Science has implemented the law of work prohibition of graduate students for several years to improve the quality of their education. The survey shows that applying this law has made many students give up their studies due to not being able to provide current expenses.

Current problems

Many graduate students have encountered a problem regarding the financing of their current expenses and university tuition. Furthermore, these financial issues, in turn, have led to a decrease in the quality of concentration and motivation of the students. Unlike what was supposed to happen.

Proposed solution

It is proposed that a work permit could be issued for graduate students. An overwhelming majority (98 percent) of survey respondents were 'eager' or 'very eager' on this

The key benefits would be

increase students motivation

Having part-time work gives students a freer mind to concentrate on their studies and reduces their financial concerns.

Preparing for a true job position

Although some of their time isn't spent studying, accepting responsibility even if their job doesn't concern their major directly makes them more responsible and confident.

Making a clear and decisive decision about the future

Without being under financial concerns, students can consider everything in the cold light of the day whether they would like to enter the Ph.D. or not.

Drawbacks

One issue is the approval of the new directive by the science faculty. The proposal should be brought up to the committee before the new year in order to be implemented in the next semester.

Conclusion

The results of the consultation suggest that the issue of a work permit for graduate students is the best option for creating reasonable conditions for students to continue their studies given that it would increase the student's motivation and the quality of their studies. Approval of a new directive is therefore recommended to improve the educational experience for graduate students.

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Submitted by joytriplejoy on Mon, 03/07/2023 - 15:06

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I prefer to read a newspaper online. When I read an article on my phone or on my laptop, I can tap/click on words that I do not know the meaning of. The definition of the word and the example sentences appear instantaneously. If I were to read a newspaper in print and encounter unfamiliar vocabulary, I would need to use the search engine on my electronic device. I find this process inconvenient and inefficient. When these interruptions become too frequent, I gradually lose track of what I am reading. The content becomes difficult to digest, and I get discouraged by my inability to digest what I am reading.

Submitted by rebecca_bl on Thu, 19/01/2023 - 16:58

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For my perspective, I’m neutral to the idea of changing print newspaper into the online format one. I can’t agree more that digital newspaper will cost less money and help students have access to online paper way easier. Moreover, this kind of newspaper especially improves young people’s reading experience. It is interesting and appealing to look at an online newspaper with colorful words, images and even some may have videos or gifs. Also, digital version can be designed with further articles or blogs after every single text to give you more sources of reading. However, besides the drawbacks that the writer discussed, one more disadvantage of online reading is causing bad effects on your health and visual ability due to screentime and electronic wave. In contrast, the paper version do no harm to your health. Another issue is it depends on personal preference. Some people, especially millennials and the elderly, favor traditional newspaper over the digital one. Print newspaper gives you the feelings of calmness and relaxation while flipping through the pages with a cup of drink, which brings people tranquility of mind and keeps the old vibe of lifestyle. As the writer mentioned about littering problems caused by newspaper, I think the matter is people’s poor awareness of protecting the environment. We should raise their conciousness and organize educational campaigns about the environment so that they perform well behavior. As a teenager, I’m interested in being close to technology but sometimes I still try reading on newspaper and I find its own attraction to do the traditional way.

Submitted by Johnhwang on Thu, 03/11/2022 - 14:11

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It is no doubt that the majority of people are currently getting information from online sources than conventional newspapers. Needless to say benefits of online media over traditional one in detail, our focus on online newspapers should be aimed at how to maintain the source reliability from a lot of rumors and wrongful intents.