Technical Publishing Code and Contract for staff members

To students and parents of students accepted as members of the school paper staff:

Participation on the school yearbook affords students with 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 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 the yearbook, whether actually on assignment or not.

To show that you fully understand the responsibilities of staff membership, please have the following contract read and signed by both you and a parent or guardian.

I, __________________________________ (Your name), as a member of the school yearbook staff, agree to abide by the following code of conduct.

1. I will not take advantage of the freedom given staff members to leave class to cover assignments and do other work for the yearbook. I will not use journalistic duties as an excuse for playing around outside of class, leaving the building or disturbing other classes.

2. I will meet deadlines for assignments, rewrites and other yearbook projects. If I find that it may be difficult or impossible to meet a deadline, I will inform Mrs. Cassidy at the earliest possible moment.

3. I understand that I am expected to devote time to completing assignments and other production work for the paper, just as I expect to do homework for any other class. This means for a class that meets an hour a day, I am willing to devote the equivalent of up to five hours weekly, although this may not be required on a regular basis.

4. As a representative of the yearbook staff, I agree to abide by standards of good behavior, avoiding rudeness and disrespect to both students and faculty. I realize that the ability of a student press to cover sensitive issues may be questioned if individual staff members are observed acting in a childish or irresponsible manner.

5. I understand that I am responsible for taking any and all pictures needed on my assigned pages. I will make arrangements for another yearbook staff member of Mrs. Cassidy to take pictures for me if I am unable to take the needed pictures.

6. I understand that if I am unable to complete an assigned page I will complete one other of my assigned pages to be turned in on the deadline.

7. I understand that my grade depends on my completed work so any work that is not completed on the assigned date will be a zero.

I understand that failure to abide by the terms of this contract can lead to my failing the class..

Date ___________________ Signed ___________________________________________________________

Student Signature

______________________________________________

Parent Signature