Staff Opportunities

Every year the Spray has opportunities for students to join our staff.

Photographer

Description: Photographers take pictures for specific articles or assignments and may be asked to attend additional meetings besides story idea meetings.

Requirements: There are no specific requirements, but it is preferred that a newspaper photographer has his/her own digital camera. The school owns a digital camera that may be checked out if needed.

Responsibilities:

  1. Take pictures requested by editors.
  2. Select pictures for newspaper and save to correct issue file in a Photos Folder.
  3. Write cutlines for pictures with correct spellings for names.

Cartoonist

Description: Cartoonists draw cartoons, sketches, or illustrations for the Lightning Press.

Requirements: There are no specific requirements, but cartoonists should have artistic ability.

Spray Reporter

Description: Reporter is an entry-level position. Reporters are first-year members working towards becoming a staff writer or only occasional contributors to The Spray.

Requirements: There are no requirements to be a Spray Reporter. Anyone who has published fewer than 10 articles is given this title.

Staff Writer

Description: Staff Writers are more committed members and therefore will write for most of the issues published throughout the year.

Requirements: To become a Staff Writer, a student must have at least 10 articles published as well as maintaining attendance at 50% of the story meetings.

Responsibilities:

  1. Turn submissions in on time
  2. Write articles that are requested by Editors
  3. Attend at least 50% of the story meetings.

Note: If a student does not submit anything for 3 consecutive issues, he/she can be demoted.

Staff Columnist

Description: A columnist for the Spray is expected to write his/her column for every issue.

Requirements: Staff Columnist is an honorary title granted by the Editorial Board and advisor, but there are requirements needed to be considered for the position. First, the writer must have published at least 10 articles. Additionally, the student must demonstrate commitment to the newspaper, proficient writing skills, and journalistic integrity.

Responsibilities:

  1. Turn column submissions in on time
  2. Write additional articles that are requested by Editors
  3. Attend at least 50% of the story meetings.

Note: If a student does not submit anything for 3 consecutive issues, he/she can be demoted.

Editors

Description: The Editorial Board typically consists of four editors: Editor-in-Chief, Front Cover Editor, News Editor, Opinion Editor, Feature Editor, Entertainment Editor, Sports Editor, and Business Manager. In addition to specific duties for his/her position, all editors hold meetings, edit articles, and are responsible for the quality and layout of their page(s) in each issue.

Requirements: Students can apply for an editor position in late spring. Editors are chosen by the advisor and Editor-in-Chief through an application and interview process. Editors should have proficient writing skills for editing articles, journalistic integrity, commitment to the newspaper, and competent computer skills (editors will learn how to use Adobe PageMaker/In Design for layout).

Responsibilities:

  1. Communicate with writers. Which articles can you expect to receive? Stay in contact with a mini-staff that can consistently submit for your page.
  2. Meet deadlines and hold writers accountable for deadlines and commitments.
  3. Get articles for page.
  4. Help with special projects

Editor-in-Chief

Responsibilities:

  1. Communicate with all editors and advisor ("Big Picture")
  2. Set deadlines for stories, photos, layout, and publication
  3. Meet deadlines and hold editors accountable for deadlines
  4. Proofread final product and prepare for pickup
  5. Communicate story ideas to editors/ Assignment Editor

Staff Advisor

Responsibilities:

  1. Assist the EIC and Editors in producing a quality publication (including
    helping with workshops or helping to teach PageMaker).
  2. Final check on paper
  3. Work with administration as a conduit between them and staff
  4. Stay up to date on what's happening with newspaper and who's doing what