Readers eagerly await all the junk fit to print
Young editor has a following for his weekly newspaper
By Tony Staley
Compass Editor
DARBOY -- An 11-year-old sixth grader at Holy Angels School,
Darboy, has found a way to make junk pay by packaging it weekly and
selling it to eager buyers.
The "junk" is a collection of whatever interests Jordan Mader,
who puts it into words, then publishes it in a four-page,
8½-by-11 inch newspaper he calls The Junk
Journal.
His newspaper started last March, almost by accident.
"I had a notebook I won at the Darboy picnic," Jordan recalls.
"I was going to do a journal, like an everyday journal, and I wrote
'The Junk Journal' on it. Then, I thought, 'Instead of that I'll
make it like a newspaper.' I was going to set it on the table so
Mom and Dad could read it every morning."
He did that once, before deciding both that a daily paper was
too much and that his potential audience might be larger than just
his parents.
He typed his first real issue, which filled only a half-page, on
an old Macintosh computer. The next week, he filled 1½
pages, which included a contribution from his brother, Lucas,
8.
Immediately, he had five readers. Others laughed.
"Then when we got into the sixth, seventh, eighth issues, a lot
of people thought it was something to read," Jordan said.
Now the paper has more than 50 subscribers, plus advertising.
Jordan has no subscription or ad rates, leaving it to people to pay
what they wish. His first ad came from a friend of his father, Tony
Mader.
The boys have opened a bank account, Tony said, and he hopes
The Junk Journal will help finance their college education.
The front page of a typical issue features a column by Jordan
and a story that interests Jordan - perhaps an interview with his
grandfather about serving during World War II, an homage to Holy
Angels' parish picnic or twice now, the adventures of Mootilda, a
Mader cow that escaped and wandered around the countryside. The
front page of the 10th issue showed a miniature version of the
front page of each previous issue.
The second page usually carries an article about an animal, by
Sarah Horn; "Wild, Weird and Wacky," a collection of unusual facts,
by Cody Van Roy, - both friends of Jordan and Lucas; and trivia or
riddles.
The third page is reserved for a poem, cartoon or puzzle by
Lucas or perhaps some color photographs he likes. The back page is
reserved for ads, a word definition and a movie or book review.
As the weeks went by Jordan and Lucas upgraded their production
facilities, switching to a newer printer and Windows computer and
adding a scanner.
Besides writing and editing The Junk Journal, both Jordan
and Lucas do chores morning and evening on the family farm and
attend school. Jordan says he always keeps a notepad with him so he
can write when he's inspired or has time. His mother, Sue, types
all his articles, then he puts the pages together in Microsoft
Word.
Just like a regular paper, Jordan has page deadlines. Monday
night he writes an article and does the word of the week. Tuesday,
he does trivia and gets the columns from Sarah and Cody and Lucas's
contribution for the week. Next comes his idea for his main
article. On Friday, he puts all the pages together.
Friday night or Saturday morning, the issue goes to press on
their printer. By 11:30 a.m., it must be folded, stapled and
addressed so they can take it down the road to the nearest mailbox.
Each issue is dated Sunday.
At Lucas's suggestion, The Junk Journal just published a
10-page cookbook of recipes submitted by readers.
Jordan pays attention to his readers. At first, he featured
sports, until readers objected. One week, he printed The Junk
Journal horizontally, rather than vertically. Readers objected
and back it went. He also did a weekly reader poll, until they
overwhelmingly said they didn't like responding to polls.
But, in two areas, he has remained adamant. It must keep the
name The Junk Journal and, as editor, he will determine what
goes in his newspaper.
Jordan keeps a copy of every issue and enjoys showing back
copies much like a proud parent with photos of children, though on
a couple of issues he'll say, "Please don't look at that one."
Among those delighted by the paper is the boys' aunt, Sr. Pat
McCormick, consultant for administrative development in the Green
Bay Diocese's Department of Total Catholic Education. She has shown
the paper to friends and colleagues and helps sell
subscriptions.
"The Junk Journal is an uncommon accomplishment of Jordan
and Lucas that delights and informs its readers," Sr. McCormick
said. "With hard work, commitment and talent, the TJJ unfolds
weekly. You bet I'm proud!"
The paper also earns high marks from Sue Simonsen, principal of
Holy Angels School.
"I subscribe to The Junk Journal myself and I enjoy
getting it every Monday, but I think the greatest thrill is that a
student in our school has a passion for writing," Simonsen
said.
Simonsen said she has seen many of Jordan's skills and ideas
improve over the course of several issues. But beyond that, she
said, "I see a young person who has a goal and is taking something
he loves to do and moving toward that goal. This is a great
experience for him. I've really enjoyed watching it take shape. He
is learning a variety of skills in management, public relations and
marketing. And he comes from a great family that is an asset to the
parish."
Journalist Kathy Walsh Nufer, a staff writer with The
Post-Crescent in Appleton, also has high praise for Jordan.
Nufer, who wrote a story about Jordan in July, called him "a
wonderful example of young people trying new ideas. He's a great
entrepreneur with a terrific work ethic that bodes well for his
future and ours. We can use more journalists like him."
Nufer said she's impressed by how the publication continues to
expand and how Jordan is interested in both writing about his
family and larger issues, such as growth in Darboy.
"People look forward to getting the paper and reading it," Nufer
said. "They are not just being kind."
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