Arrange a field trip to a local newspaper. Let the students see first-hand what goes into making a newspaper on a daily basis. Contact the newspaper's publicity department to arrange a tour of their facility. Tours usually include a stop in the newsroom, photographer's studio, advertising department and, finally, the composing and printing area, where they can see the presses running and the huge one-ton rolls of newsprint. Try to time it so they can get copies of the newspaper right off the presses to remember their trip by.
If you have newspapers in your school library, take your students there; otherwise, arrange a trip to a local library branch that has old newspapers on racks or microfiche. Make up a list of events in recent history -- without specific dates -- and have the students search through the newspapers for facts about those items. Include a wide array of topics, from natural disasters and celebrity deaths to sporting event results and movie award winners. Award prizes to the students who come back with the best information.
Assign each student a person to interview at the school or have them choose themselves or draw the names out of a hat. Arrange with potential interview subjects ahead of time so they are not caught off guard. Have the students interview people such as the principal, school nurse, head football coach (if there is one) or physical education instructor, and fellow students, such as the spelling bee winner or a soapbox derby contestant. Have the students come up with five questions to ask each interviewee. Have them write down their answers, then read them to the other members of the club.
Have the students design a four-page newspaper. Give them all the same specifications, such as masthead size, advertisement sizes, photo sizes and article lengths. Have them take the elements you have given them and turn them into their own newspaper. Keep it simple, such as not having stories jump from the front page to an inside page. Award prizes to the students who have the best-looking layouts as voted on by the members of the club.