Staff+Contract

= Contract for Staff Members  = ** 2009-2010 **  || // To students and parents of students accepted as members of the // Advocate //school newspaper staff:// Participation on the school newspaper 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 paper, 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 newspaper staff, agree to abide by the following code of conduct. Guidelines for video/camera equipment: 1. Any staff member whose classroom/work area is impacted by the taking of pictures must give approval. Disruption to instruction should not occur! 2. Any person having his/her picture taken must give verbal consent before the picture is taken. 3. Taking pictures in the locker area, or any common area, must receive approval from administration. Consequences if the above guidelines are not followed: 1. Restriction from use of school equipment 2. Loss of credit in class 3. Restricted use of hall pass 4. Suspension 5. Removal from class/course (where project guidelines were abused) 6. Recommendation for expulsion (where extreme misuse occurs that has resulted in detriment towards other students or staff members) // I understand that failure to abide by the terms of this contract can lead to my dismissal from the staff. // Signed:  Signed: Parent Student Date: Date:
 * 1)  I will not take advantage of the freedom given staff members to leave class to cover assignments and do other work for the paper. 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 newspaper projects. If I find that it may be difficult or impossible to meet a deadline, I will inform the editor and/or adviser 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)  I agree to produce at least 20 inches of publishable material (at least two -11/2 page articles) for each issue. This includes stories, graphics, and/or advertising—or its equivalent in adviser-approved effort. (Sometimes space limits the number of stories in //The Advocate// and work produced may not necessarily be published in the issue for which it receives credit. Such work not published cannot again be used for credit if published in a following issue.)
 * 5)  As a representative of the //Advocate// 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.
 * 6)  I understand the responsibility involved with taking pictures for the //Advocate// and agree to follow the rules set by the Lodi High School Administration.