Vol. 8  2021

Staff Selection

To become a member of yearbook, newspaper, or staff photographer, a student must meet one of the following criteria:

  • Complete Journalism I with a B average or better and fill out a proper staff application.
  • Be a transfer student who has journalism training, and who has a B average in journalism as a transfer grade. (A letter of recommendation from the former school is suggested.) This student will enter the class on a trial basis for one semester in which the editor staff will evaluate the student’s progress.
  • Be a student who, not having taken Journalism I :
  • receives strong letters of recommendation from two teachers, including an English instructor
  • has a strong sense of responsibility and work ethic, or
  • who is accepted by the adviser after a conference.
  • demonstrate special skills and interest in photography, art, cartooning, computers, sales, bookkeeping, advertising, or any other area accepted by the adviser and editor staff

 

Editor (Executive) Board

The Editor Board is the decision-making body of the journalism department and consists of:

♦ Yearbook Editor-in-Chief(s)

♦ Newspaper Editor-in-Chief(s)

♦ Photo Editor(s)

♦ LBTV Director

 

The responsibilities of this Editor Board are

  • Discusses and determines themes and overall ideas for each publication.
  • Sets policies and governs the day-to-day operations of each publication.
  • Constantly communicates in various methods to each class, staff member, and publication
  • A policy decision may be overturned by at least a majority vote of the Editor Board
  • Plan staff building activities outside the classroom
  • Keep in communication with adviser of any problems
  • Attend a required meeting on the first day of each week after school in the journalism office.

 

Editor-In-Chief

The responsibilities of the EIC consists of:

  • Act as the official representative for the publication at meetings with administrators, faculty, community, media and professional groups (and representative to Bronco Club Council)
  • Chairs Executive Board meetings and has the authority to call unscheduled meetings.
  • Is in constant communication with Managing Editors for deadlines and story flow
  • Has final say on all decisions in all publications
  • Writes for all publications
  • Opens the staff business meeting (beginning of each class period) with a publication progress report, reminders, deadline notices and other items that relate to the entire staff
  • After the staff business meeting is concluded, the editor holds individual conferences with managers, staff members, page leaders, writers and photographers as necessary to make sure tasks are completed on time and with reasonable skill and expertise.
  • Although not required, the editor will spend numerous hours working on specialized tasks, personal projects, proofreading, and other items after school.
  • An editor’s office space is provided for these tasks. This office is used by editors from both publications and the business manager.
  • Each editor is responsible for the neatness and professionalism of the office and the surrounding area
  • An editor’s computer will also be provided in the office area, which is to be used and maintained professionally
  • During normal class time, the editor is expected to work with staff members on projects relating to the publication – personal stories and tasks must be completed during editorial leadership or after school
  • Coordinates news operation of the publication in an efficient and orderly manner
  • Writes and reports only for a specific publication
  • Maintains a story assignment sheet (newspaper) or ladder guide (yearbook) to assure deadlines are met
  • Acts as the final decision maker of content, style, theme and appropriateness for the publication
  • Approves all dummy pages, rough drafts, photographs and other material produced by the staff
  • At times complete projects of staff members who failed to meet a deadline
  • Act professionally and respectfully with all staff members at all times
  • Assigns beats, stories and pages within the publication
  • Checks the progress of each staff member and keeps up with progress of each assignment
  • Sign off on final proofs/layouts before shipped to printer
  • Help solve problems as they arise
  • Helps layout pages, making sure layout follow the style guide and set themes
  • Attends all work sessions
  • Attends outside seminars to enhance and refine skills
  • Works with Adviser in all aspects
  • Sets goals and evaluates how successfully goals are being met
  • Signs time sheets at the end of each week or publication
  • Responsible for morale of the staff as a whole
  • Assists the adviser in selecting editors for the following year
  • Sells Ads
  • Is in constant communication with the campus principal

 

Assistant Editors/Section Editors/Coordinators

The responsibilities of the managing editors each publication consists of:

  • Takes over when other editors are absent (daily meeting)
  • Assists the Editor-in-Chief in all duties
  • Responsible for designing fliers and writing letters to inform faculty, staff and students of journalism activities/deadlines
  • Works with staff members to meet daily deadlines and goals
  • Maintains official calendar for the publication
  • Actively edits pages and stories
  • Communicates with advisers
  • Responsible for yearly polls and surveys to be used in the publication
  • Creates/types colophon in August/September and maintains accuracy until final deadline
  • Helps other editors solve problems as they arise
  • Delegates responsibility to others to assure that work gets done and that the paper comes out on time
  • Helps copyedit, making sure all copy follows the this style guide
  • Helps layout pages, making sure layouts follow the year layout style guide
  • Attends all work sessions
  • Works with adviser and Executive Board in setting or revising publication dates, and implementing or changing policies or procedures.
  • Sometimes must complete tasks which are assigned to others to assure that production deadlines are met.
  • Sets goals and evaluates how successfully goals were met each issue
  • Assists the adviser each issue by providing specific information regarding staff performance on the Staff Evaluation form – assignments given, assignments completed, deadline met
  • Sells Ads
  • Keeps a poster/scrapbook of all trips

 

Business Manager/PR Manager

The responsibilities of the Business Manager of all publications consists of:

  • Organizes ad sales contacts at beginning of the year
  • Supervises ad sales
  • Works with adviser and school bookkeeper in paying bills and justifying the ledger.
  • Gives weekly (Monday) progress report on how advertising sales are going by reporting amount sold and quotas to be met.
  • Responsible for summer advertising campaign letters
  • Produces a list of all “sold” ads and when/where/size to be published
  • Sells ads.
  • Responsible for Weekly deposits and check requests (Wednesday)
  • Supervises computer production of ads and edits for errors
  • Makes sure ad deadline is met so editors can meet deadlines.
  • Works with editor in dummying ads for book according to publication needs.
  • Contacts clients about their accounts, if necessary
  • Makes sure ads have been placed on correct pages.
  • Sends out invoices and letters.
  • Maintains a file on each advertiser which includes the contract and previously published ad paste-ups.
  • Keeps accounts receivable ledger up to date
  • Organizes and is responsible for Senior Ads.
  • Responsible for faculty purchases of the yearbook
  • Responsible for organizing supplies and materials for each staff and notifying adviser when items need to be ordered
  • Sends out receipts and thank you letters when accounts have been paid in full
  • Keeps accurate record ledger of income and expenses
  • Gives monthly financial statement to adviser and editors. (First Tuesday of the month)
  • Follows up on delinquent accounts.

 

Publication Photo EIC

The responsibilities of the head photographer(s) include but are not limited to:

  • Works closely with reporters and staff members to obtain desired photographs
  • Sells Ads
  • Turns in requests for supplies ahead of time to adviser or business manager
  • Responsible for keeping backroom clean and supplies and equipment in good condition
  • Works with page leaders in laying out pages with photos to assure proper display.
  • Scans pictures as necessary
  • Know and use Photoshop for requested projects
  • Helps copyedit, making sure all copy follows the yearbook style guide.
  • Attends work sessions
  • Sometimes must complete tasks which are assigned to others to assure that production deadlines are met
  • Keeps up with Photographer Assignment Sheets and sports info board
  • Assists the adviser each issue by providing specific information regarding staff performance on the Staff Evaluation form – assignments given, assignments completed, deadline met

 

Online Editor (Newspaper EIC)

The responsibilities of the Online Editor include but are not limited to (in addition to Managing Editor duties):

  • Coordinates computer/production aspects of the online paper website in an efficient and orderly manner
  • Works closely with photography editors and section editors on the development of the design and layout for web pages, assisting in the completion of stories
  • Maintains flow of daily new content and updates daily (at least three new posts)
  • Helps section editors with production and design of special pages or section
  • Responsible for proper care and maintenance of computer equipment
  • Maintains the department’s information website as well as the newspaper website
  • Cleans and maintenance of all computers
  • Reports problems immediately to Adviser
  • Removes unauthorized software or downloads immediately
  • Assists staff members with web content
  • Responsible for working with LBTV Production Manager for pod casts for the news website
  • Helps staff members with slideshows and other multimedia presentations for the web
  • Maintains and updates social media sites and updates readers via text message service

 

LBTV Production Manager

The LBTV Production Manager is under the direction of the Photojournalism Teacher and duties include:

  • Keeping a constant flow of professional pod cast for the online newspaper
  • Works with editors for content ideas
  • Is responsible for LBTV studio and its equipment
  • Assigns stories and video assignments to all staffers
  • Maintains consistency and theme in all podcasts

 

Social Media Director

The Social Media Director is responsible for:

  • Keeping a constant flow of communication between all staffs
  • Updating Social Media outlets daily with news, videos, scores, photos and more
    • – Daily Photo with caption
  • – Stories and photos posted on therideronline.com
  • – Scores (with photos)
  • – Create graphics to promote Legacy events
  • Monitors comments and handles replies with readers
  • Updates the mobile (app) version of newspaper
  • Conducts monthly giveaways/contests to attract more readership and followers
  • Helps sell the yearbook via social media
  • Conducts live events from social media accounts
  • Update daily announcement page

 

Yearbook Copy Editor

The responsibilities of copy editor for the yearbook include but are not limited to:

  • Assign yearbook stories to writers on each staff
  • Aid members of The Arena with the journalistic process of reporting and coverage
  • Actively edit yearbook copy
  • Coordinate communications between each staff
  • Continue to write stories for both newspaper and yearbook
  • Offer ideas for coverage and stories to both publications
  • Maintain the beats folder(s)

 

Staff Members

The responsibilities of staff members include but are not limited to:

  • Complete deadlines of all assignments, photographs, artworks, layouts or any other assigned project
  • Reports for all three publications (print newspaper, online newspaper and yearbook)
  • Work on computer to complete assignments assigned by editors
  • Participate in story/idea conference sessions
  • Regularly cover beat assignments
  • Help with advertising campaign
  • Write as needed for other staff members in danger of missing a deadline
  • Provide ideas and creative innovations in staff meetings
  • Report directly to the editors
  • Act in a professional manner when representing the journalism department
  • Attend workshops to enhance skills
  • Produce slideshows, podcasts and other multimedia content for the web