Creating Your Mission Statement

Defining your mission as a staff is a very important process in moving forward. The development of your mission statement can be a process that helps focus the staff and also dedicates them to a joint cause.

Here are some questions based on a text by Bill Ward titled Newspapering to consider when developing your mission statement:

1.  How will your broadcast report the news? Will you cover the good and the bad?

2. How much will you stress the positive in order to build school spirit?

3. Will you report on what the readers want to see? Or what you want to see?

4. Will you strive to record all events?

5. Will you attempt to be a watchdog for your community? Will you strive to uncover wrong-doing and find solutions? Or will you have a show that entertains?

The following is a sample mission statement your staff can use by simply inserting your organization’s name. Or you can use it as a guide to create your own unique statement.

The mission of [insert name of show] as the school broadcast newsmagazine for [insert name] High School is to provide a show that embodies the strongest professional standards while striving to present current and relevant stories about the community, inside and outside our building’s walls. The goal of [insert name of show] is to inform, enlighten and entertain the publication’s readers. The show will strive to continually provide an open forum for the school and community members to express their views. It is the desire of this show’s staff to uncover and tell as many stories about our students as possible during the year.