This guide outlines a practical workflow for gathering, organizing, and writing a monthly Education Buzz report for the WordPress community. The goal is to highlight progress, celebrate wins, and keep updates consistent and easy to read.
1. Start Early: Ask for Updates (7–10 days before publication)
About a week before the planned publication date, post a short call (example call) for updates in relevant SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/. channels, such as:
- #campus-connect
- #wpcredits
- #community-events
- Any other education-related channels active that month
Your message can ask contributors to share:
- Event recaps or links
- Program milestones or growth updates
- Metrics (participant numbers, institutions, regions, etc.)
- New resources, guides, or announcements
- Published posts or press mentions
- Testimonials
This early prompt gives people time to respond and reduces last-minute scrambling.
2. Collect and Track Incoming Information
As updates come in:
- Save links and notes in a doc or checklist
- Group updates by program (e.g. WordPress Credits, Campus Connect)
- Flag items that may need clarification (dates, numbers, locations)
Don’t worry about wording yet — focus on capturing facts and links accurately. Previously compiled versions were drafted in this Google document– and you are welcome to use this document for your purposes for continuity.
3. Review Published Content Across Platforms
In addition to Slack responses, check for updates that may not have been shared directly:
- Recent posts on make.wordpress.orgWordPress.org The community site where WordPress code is created and shared by the users. This is where you can download the source code for WordPress core, plugins and themes as well as the central location for community conversations and organization. https://wordpress.org//community
- Event sites on events.wordpress.org
- Local or translated WordPress.org news posts
- Contributor or program announcements
- Recap posts linked from Slack but not summarized
This helps ensure nothing important is missed, especially for larger or multi-campus events.
4. Follow Up Close to Publication (1–2 days before)
A day or two before publishing:
- Revisit Slack channels to see if new updates were added
- Gently follow up in-thread if someone mentioned an update but didn’t share details yet
- Add late-breaking information to your draft
At this stage, you’re filling gaps and confirming accuracy rather than gathering brand-new content.
5. Organize Updates Using a Consistent Structure
Use the established Education Buzz format so the post is easy to scan. For example:
WordPress Credits
- Program milestones
- Growth metrics (mentorsEvent Supporter Event Supporter (formerly Mentor) is someone who has already organised a WordCamp and has time to meet with their assigned mentee every 2 weeks, they talk over where they should be in their timeline, help them to identify their issues, and also identify solutions for their issues., students, institutions)
- Events, presentations, or recognitions
- Notable achievements (e.g. first or new graduates)
WordPress Campus Connect
- Event-by-event summaries with:
- Location and date
- Number of participants
- Schools or institutions involved
- Key activities
- Link to recap or event page
Keep sections concise, factual, and community-focused. The content should not be promotional of certain tools or products, but simply focus on the educational outcomes and impact.
6. Write in a Neutral, Celebratory Tone
When drafting:
- Keep language clear and approachable
- Highlight impact without sounding promotional
- Let numbers and outcomes speak for themselves
- Credit contributors, organizers, and communities where possible
Aim for “informative and appreciative” rather than overly detailed narratives.
7. Final Review Before Publishing
Before publishing, do a quick check to ensure:
- All links work
- Names, dates, and numbers are accurate
- Sections follow a consistent format
- Nothing important from Slack or published posts was missed
Don’t hesitate to ask for a final review before publication by educational program leads. Once everything looks good, the post is ready to publish! Great job!
