FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK

BEGINNER APPLICATION- Due:

(for those who have take Journalism 1 or have no pre-requisite)

Name: _____________________________________Current Grade: 9 10 11 Student ID: _________________

Rank the positions you are applying for. Please mark UP TO five. Place a 1 next to your most desired and a 5 next to your least desired.
See attached for job descriptions.

Yearbook
___ Staff Journalist (Writer/Photographer)
___ Business Manager
___ Advertising Manager
___ Senior Survey Manager
___ People Page Editor
___ Clubs Editor

Which of the following classes have you taken or are currently enrolled in:
Middle School Newspaper, YBK Web Design Marketing Photography 1

Photography 2 Creative Writing Journalism Other ______________________

Please list your current class schedule, teacher and semester grade (subject to verification).
Class Teacher 1st Semester Grade

As of now, would you be available to attend summer camp in late July/ early August ___yes ___no

On a separate sheet, answer and respond to the following:

In 300 words or less, explain why you are applying to be a part of Freedom Yearbook. Please type this and attach with your
application.
What clubs/activities/after-school commitments/jobs/sports, etc. do you anticipate next year?
Please attach two samples of your work that demonstrate your ability for the position youve applied for (samples of writing,
design, or photo).
Please attach days and times during the week of before, after, and during school (study
hall and lunch blocks) that you are available for an interview.
***Dont forget to complete the back! Return completed applications to Room 603 or to a current staff member. KEEP
PAGES 2,3, AND 4. ONLY TURN IN THIS PAGE AND YOUR ANSWERS.
FYI: What follows is a copy of our code of conduct which, should you be accepted, you would be expected to uphold.
 Journalism Code of Conduct and Contract

Participation on a school media production affords students more freedom than most other classes. It also
requires them to take responsibility and exhibit a high degree of maturity and good judgment. As members of a
group that produces a concrete product that will be distributed to and read or seen by both students and adults,
those named to the staff can expect to be held to accepted journalistic standards and ethical practices. As
individuals, they are recognized by many as representatives of their publication, whether actually on assignments
or not, and they must respond and act accordingly.
To show that you fully understand the responsibilities of staff membership, please have the following
contract read and signed by you and a parent/guardian.

I will not take advantage of the freedom given staff members to leave class to cover assignments and do other
work for the publication. I will not use journalistic duties as an excuse for playing around outside of class, leaving
the building or disturbing a class. Doing so may result in an office referral and/or suspension/dismissal from staff.
I will meet deadlines for assignments, rewrites, reshoots and other journalist projects. If I find that it may be
difficult or impossible to meet a deadline, I will inform the editor and adviser at the earliest possible moment.
Failure to meet deadlines will result in grade penalties. Repeat offenses will be dealt with on a case to case basis.
I understand that being on a publication is a co-curricular obligation, and I therefore must devote time to
completing assignments as I would in another class and I must be available for work nights as I would in a club
or sport. I can expect up to one work night a month, and I should expect to spend at least one hour outside of
class working on my publication work every other day (this is the minimum, most staff members work more than
this).
I understand that not everything I produce will appear in the media production. I also understand that the staff is
organized in a hierarchical fashion and that I must show respect for the decisions of those above me. In addition, I
may politely disagree with decisions of editors and advisers and I understand the chain of command and
complaint.
I understand that irresponsible and inappropriate use of the technology provided may damage the equipment
and make me responsible for those damages (including photography/video equipment and
computers/scanners/printers).
I understand that Freedom publications are self-supporting and therefore I must play an active role in fund-
raising tasks for the publication. This may include, but is not limited to, book/subscription sales, advertising sales
and participating in fund-raising. I also understand that per the LCPS curriculum, my grade may be based on my
participation.

I understand that failure to abide by these terms may result in my removal from staff.

______________________________ ______________________________ _____________

Student Parent Date

Yearbook Job Descriptions

Positions with asterisks require previous publication work or Journalism 1
*Editor in Chief - First in command. Oversees the entire publication, including writing, photography, design and content.
Should have experience in all three areas. In addition, this person must take on leadership of meetings, classroom activity
and deadlines. Ideal candidates are comfortable leading their peers and are ambassadors of YRBK. Is a part of the Editorial
Board and will create Yearbook Policies.

*Managing Editor Second in command; is readily available to meet with team leads, EIC, and adviser to discuss book
progress; is available to meet periodically with editorial board and whole staff; is able to manage time effectively and help
staff meet timelines; is able to make hard decisions; has an eye for quality design, photography and copy; takes others ideas
into consideration and gives credit where credit is due; is able to defer some of her ideas in order to allow another team
member to try something; is able to step in last minute to fix, redesign or do an interview; has proven reliability and
responsibility numerous times; is meticulously organized and able to multi-task effectively; will assist in graphic design,
including advertising, infographics, and other duties as assigned. Is responsible for giving out coverage assignments and
keeping track of staffer attendance. Is a part of the Editorial Board and will create Yearbook Policies.

*Index Editor- Keeping track of people coverage in the book and communicating this via dead list to the staff; Ensuring all
people who bought a book are covered; Keeping detailed records of students four years in yearbook to ensure they have
been covered at least 1 time in their high school career; Designing and completing the Index of the yearbook; Working with
the Business Manager to keep track of people who bought the book; Responsible for maintaining a running list of who has
been used in the book both this year and in the past with the goal that every senior graduating this year will have been in at
least 1 of their four yearbooks. Approves usage of people in the book; The goal is to have every student in the book at least
twice besides their mugshot; Maintains dead list and checks availability of people for new content. The dead list is updated
every week; we will put this list on limited access; Will compile and design the Index. This position is ideal for a student who
is looking to become Editor In Chief some day. Is a part of the Editorial Board and will create Yearbook Policies.

Business Manager Will be responsible for yearbook sales. Will market the yearbook and work with yearbook staff to
increase sales. Must be detail-oriented. Ideal candidate has accounting experience and is familiar with Excel. Managing our
social networks; Keeping up to date with sales information (sales, price increases, etc); Recording sales of ads and books in
eBusiness; Distributing receipts to parents and customers; Lead marketing campaigns; Organize distribution; Make phone
calls to parents concerning financial information; Responsible for mentoring and overseeing the work of the baby ad
manager, baby ad sales, patron sales, and marketing for the book; Is a part of the editorial boardwill work with the board on
creating policies, will come to board meetings; Will give a monthly budget update to adviser; Will work with index editor to
make sure people who have bought the book are in the book.

Ad Manager Will be responsible for all advertising in the publication, including senior baby/grad ads and business ads. Will
solicit ads from businesses that are regular advertisers, in addition cold-calling new advertisers. Will keep accurate records
and design ads. Must be available to be trained on eDesign and Photoshop if necessary.

*Copy Editor Collecting, reading, and editing copy; Making sure cross-coverage is not happening; Lead Headline Team; Is
responsible for giving a 24 hr turn around for all copy; Will check photojournalists notebooks for signatures from interviewees
(no signature, no accepting the copy); Will check on the validity of interviews when necessary; Will make sure AP style rules
are used; Will not accept mediocre stories or writing; Will tutor photojournalists in their revision process; Will hold
photojournalists accountable for turning in their stories on time; Are a part of the editorial board and will attend meetings and
work with board on policies.

Photo Editor - Responsible for photo editing and taking photos.. Must train others in Photoshop and camera use. Will
monitor camera check-out, organizes photography folders on Limited Access. Understands what makes good, interesting
photos; Has an above average understanding of the way our cameras can work so that she can communicate tips to
photographers; Has time to sort and tag photos on both Google Drive and eDesign; Has time to come before or after school
to give cameras; Takes others ideas into consideration and gives credit where credit is due; Is able to defer some of her ideas
in order to allow another team member to try something; Is able to step in last minute to fix, take a photo, or create a graphic;
Has an above average knowledge of applicable Photoshop tricks to make textures, backgrounds, and graphics; Has proven
reliability and responsibility numerous times; Responsible for maintenance and inventory of cameras; Responsible for
training photographers and for organizing photos on limited access and eDesign; Sorting and tagging photos on Limited
Access and eDesign; Making sure cross-coverage is not happening/ guiding teams to choosing the best photos for the
spread; Lending cameras and keeping track of photography schedules.

Clubs Editor - Oversees a section of the publication, including writing, photography, design and content. Should have
experience in all three. This person will organize, take, and ensure proper coverage of club photos in the book, typically done
2/3 deadline. A great way to get leadership experience in a small dose, and to test the waters for future advanced leadership
position. Is able to organize club coverage and keep track of coverage to ensure that clubs are getting covered; Is able to
organize club photos and communicate professionally with sponsors; Sorting and tagging photos on eDesign; Making sure
cross-coverage is not happening; Scheduling and staffing club photos; Designing and completing the clubs spreads.

Coverage Editor- Responsible for making sure cross-coverage is not happening on a group scale, responsible for overseeing
the production of the book to ensure fair coverage of all academics, clubs, and sports (IS THE EDITOR IN CHARGE OF
CLUBS and SPORTS EDITORS). This person should be aware of what is happening in the school on a large and small scale to
ensure thorough coverage. Is able to organize academic, student life, club and sport coverage and keep track of coverage to
ensure that all groups within each aspect is being covered equally and fairly.

People Editor- Is in charge of the mugshot section of the book and assigning and organizing coverage mods. Also, ensures
the accuracy of senior survey information and teaching positions for those sections. Finally, puts in the information from the
senior survey and teaching positions.

Senior Survey Editor - Oversees the collection of Senior activity data that is listed with senior names in the mugshot pages,
typically done 3rd deadline. A great way to get leadership experience in a small dose, and to test the waters for future
advanced leadership position.

*Designer/ Team Lead Will help coordinate yearbook spreads, from writing, to photos and captions. Will also fulfill the role
of writer or photographer on the spread.

Photographer Will take and edit photographs for the publication. Some photos will be done in school, while some require
after school shooting. Must have knowledge of photo composition. Ideal candidates know Photoshop.

Writer Will help coordinate yearbook spreads, from writing, to photos and captions. Must have interest in meeting new
people and recording memories.

What exactly is yearbook?

Yearbook is a combination of photography, writing (captions and copy), and design. Everyone in the class is required to
be a photographer and a writer, because whoever takes a published picture writes the caption for it. No prior experience
is required in any of these fields to be on the staff. After the first couple of weeks you will be exposed to and taught
everything you need to know. Yearbook (Photojournalism) counts as an elective and is a student run publication
(students produce everything that is published).
 Why should I join yearbook?

If you are hardworking, energetic, and dedicated, yearbook is the place for you! Yearbook is one of the few high school
classes where you get real world experience. Ultimately, we produce the school yearbook. In order to do this, we have
to make deadlines set by the publishing company or else the program is required to pay additional fines (this money
does not come from the staff members). This is incentive for us to make our deadlines, and in order to do this time-
management, organization, and planning are critical. Through yearbook, you will acquire leadership, time-management,
and social skills. Staff members have opportunities to become editors or team leads, both of which have extra
responsibilities and are leaders in the classroom.

What is a typical class like?

There is not a set structure for class. Usually at the beginning of class, we have a brainstorm session. This includes what
is happening at Freedom and needs to be covered or what needs to get done with spreads. After, we meet up with our
teams and figure out what we need to do for our team spreads. Everyone in the class is divided into teams with a team
lead and a designer. Spreads are assigned to teams and it is up to the team to fill all of the content on those spreads
before deadline. Sometimes interviews are done during class, but they are considered homework and are encouraged
to be done before or after school. Class time is also where staff members can get help from editors on copy or design.

How is the class graded?

Being a member of the yearbook staff takes hard work and dedication and it is so rewarding at the end of the year. At
minimum, you must go to 6 events and conduct 10 interviews per quarter. While these numbers seem high, if you are
doing your work for your team they are easily obtainable and often exceeded. At the end of each week, new staff
members turn in a weekly checklist and 2nd and 3rd years turn in a personal narrative. On these you say what you did
during the week (what events you went to, what interviews you did, what you designed, ect.) and assign yourself a
grade, but you are not guaranteed to receive that grade. Deadlines are also graded and they are pass or fail depending if
we make the deadline as a staff.

If you have any questions, feel free to stop by room 603 in the morning and ask! Follow us on Twitter
@YearbookFhs for more information in the upcoming weeks about the application process.