If your high school doesn't have a newspaper, you can help start one online. If your high school already has a print newspaper, adding an online version can help you reach new audiences and add new content. It's also cheaper to produce than a printed version. A digital newspaper can be a chance for high school students to gain experience with journalism and with working online.

Creation
Brainstorm with other student journalists to decide what kind of online newspaper you want. If your news site will only have an article or two a day, you may want to use a blog template or format. If you plan to publish a more magazine-style weekly edition with more stories, you will probably want a more complicated front page to showcase what's in each issue. Your website will also need to support any additional features such as slideshows and polls.

Fundraising
After you have decided what you want your newspaper to look like, try to do some moderate fundraising. Although it's possible to launch a website for free, even $50 will help your newspaper buy a memorable website address and quality hosting from a site like godaddy.com or dreamhost.com. These expenses can be made back later through online advertising.

Build your news website
Most high schools have students with excellent computer skills who are talented at building websites. But if no one knows HTML or CSS and learning website-building tools seems too intimidating, then look to services such as School Newspapers Online, which will create a website that will make publishing online easy. (See the resources section below).

Create content for your newspaper
Along with written articles, an online newspaper is a great place for multimedia and interactive content such as photo slideshows, videos, podcasts, polls, forums and calendars. Use a mix of content and a variety of voices to encourage more page views.

Market your newspaper
You can promote it through old-fashioned announcements such as flyers and word of mouth, but it might be better to advertise via email or through messages and posts on social networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter.

Schools are often willing to fund school newspapers. However, finding some alternative sources of funding can help the newspaper staff retain editorial control of the content. You can solicit donations, sell merchandise, or sell ad space on your website.

Putting things online makes them accessible, often permanently, to anyone. As you move online, consider the repercussions of your work very seriously. Make sure the stories are accurate, fair, well-reported, well-written and definitely not libelous. Any information that could reflect poorly and inaccurately on any student, teacher or staff member could haunt them for a long time on the Internet.