Newspaper Club

Founder
- Oct 2019 - Jun 2021
- Doha, Qatar
Overview
As the founder and president of the Newspaper Club at GEMS American Academy, I brought together a team of over 30 students to build a platform that kept our school community in the loop. We didn’t just deliver news. We created a full-fledged website and app that allowed students, teachers, and parents to connect, share pictures, and even participate in polls. We made it so interactive that even students who usually ran from the idea of a newspaper ended up signing up just because of my convincing skills (they probably didn’t even know what hit them).
Building the club from scratch came with challenges. I had to recruit members for this brand-new initiative, which was no easy task, but I convinced over 30 people to join through some good old-fashioned persuasion. This was my first time leading such a large group, which meant figuring out how to navigate and unite everyone toward a shared goal. Talk about trial by fire! One of my proudest achievements was successfully networking with the school’s director and accountants to secure funding for the club. This was the first time the school had allocated such a significant budget to a club, and it was all thanks to a bit of charm, negotiation, and strategy.
Our website and app became the hub of the school community, featuring articles, polls, study resources, and galleries that showcased the many activities happening on campus. We even created sections to highlight other clubs, ensuring they got the recognition they deserved. Leading the Newspaper Club was one of the most exciting experiences of my high school years, combining creativity, leadership, and a whole lot of learning along the way.
Skills and Lessons Learned
Leadership: Managed and guided over 30 members toward building a cohesive and impactful club from the ground up.
Recruitment: Successfully recruited a large and diverse group of members through persuasive communication and word of mouth.
Networking: Collaborated with the school director and accountants to secure funding, achieving unprecedented financial support for the club.
Project Management: Oversaw the development of both a website and an interactive app, ensuring smooth collaboration across different teams.
Technical Skills: Gained experience in coordinating photographers, journalists, website designers, and app developers.
Communication: Developed skills in sharing information clearly and engagingly, both within the club and with the school community.
Community Building: Fostered an inclusive space where students, teachers, and parents felt connected and engaged.
Problem-Solving: Managed the challenges of leading a brand-new club, balancing various tasks, and aligning members toward shared goals.
Creativity: Designed interactive features like polls, articles, and student forums to keep the community engaged and informed.
Adaptability: Learned to lead and manage a team of diverse individuals, many of whom had no prior interest in newspapers.
Achievements & Recognition
Successful Club Launch: Founded the Newspaper Club and built a team of over 30 members through effective recruitment and leadership.
Secured School Funding: Successfully negotiated with the school’s director and accountants, earning significant funding. The first of its kind for a club at the school.
Community Impact: Created a website and app that became central to school communication, connecting students, teachers, and parents through news, galleries, and interactive features.
Increased Club Engagement: Attracted members from diverse interests, even those not initially drawn to newspaper activities.
Personal Growth: Gained valuable leadership experience, strengthened networking skills, and learned how to unite a large team toward a shared goal.


