Clone of 2025-2026 Zachary Student Media Application

2026-2027 Zachary Student Media Application

Please complete all questions.
Dear Applicant,

Thank you in advance for completing this application! It may seem long, but we would rather ask certain things now.

Please note that this application does NOT guarantee selection. However, your counselor will receive the list of accepted students, and you will receive a personal notification if you are chosen.

Zachary Student Media includes some of the most rewarding courses students will ever take: Newspaper, Podcast, TV Broadcast, Social Media, and Yearbook. These classes are time-consuming but so worth it. Students are taught and expected to act like they have a real-world job, meaning your workday will likely NOT end at 2:45 PM if you have to attend an event/sport or if you need to finish some editing.

Our program has brought home many awards from several in-state conferences, including these first-place finishers:
- Video Editing
- News Broadcast
- Weekly News Show
- Sportscast
- News Feature Story
- Social Media Presence
Our program also had the opportunity to attend its first National Journalism conference in Boston, Massachusetts. It was a great week for our team, and our students returned ready to compete! Join us and see where we travel to next!

To become a member of Student Media a student must meet the following requirements:
- Be a current 9th or 10th-grade student. Current 11th-grade students should be returning staff members or highly recommended new members. You must commit to at least one full year.
- Have at least an overall 2.5 GPA with no lower than a C in English.
- Not absent than the required five classes a semester.
- Have an excellent discipline record when applying and maintaining a while a member. You are a representative of this school and the journalism program. We must trust that you will do what is right since you will work outside the classroom.
- Demonstrate special skills or interest in speaking, photography, videography, art, cartooning, computers, sales, bookkeeping, advertising, social media, design, or any other area accepted by the adviser and editor staff.
- Great recommendations from four of your current teachers, including English.
- Should have a strong sense of responsibility, accountability, and work ethic.
- Completed Journalism I with at least a B OR Be a transfer student who has taken or enrolled in Journalism courses that mirror ours and maintained a B average in those classes
  - KEEP IN MIND - Journalism I is a freshmen course. You are not required to take JOURNALISM I to apply for Student Media. Journalism I just provides you with a good foundation before entering Student Media.
- As a staff member, you will:
- Work as a team and individual to complete all assigned tasks.
  Be ready to take photos, shoot videos, interview students, teachers, and administrators, and research any background information needed to complete your assigned beat.
- Meet deadlines and be responsible.
  Come to class each day on time and be prepared to work. These classes require you to be on campus and have an excellent attendance record since things happen daily!
- You are responsible for having transportation to and from after-school events. Attending events so you can document them for your specific publication will count toward your grade. This includes activities, events, practices, and games.
- We do not have regular homework assignments, but you are still expected to put "homework time" into staying for preannounced workdays to complete an online news article, broadcast, social media post, podcast, or yearbook spread. See the previous bullet again.
- You are fully responsible for any equipment you check out. You will receive an equipment product list and contract at the July staff meeting. If something happens, you are financially responsible for getting it fixed.
- Need to pay the $50 staff supply fee. This fee covers the equipment and supplies you use daily. This does not include your staff apparel and conferences. In addition, we will have fundraisers throughout the school year to assist with conference costs.
- KEEP ALL JOURNALISM INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL.
The people on this staff "Make it happen! Not make excuses."

If you and your parent(s) believe you can do what is expected to succeed in this program, then check the box below and continue with the application.

We hope to see you at our first meeting of new staff members in May!

Mrs. McClinton, Student Media Advisor
I understand and will do what is expected of me as Bronco Student Media staff member.*

I understand and agree!

- Please select which best describes you.*
  Returning members are filling this out just to have updated information. Unless told by the advisor or you want to be in 4th and 5th hours, you will automatically move to the next course.
- What courses are you applying for? All courses will be held between the 3rd - 6th hours. If your schedule allows, you can also select the last option. If you aren't sure, check all of the ones you may be interested in.*
  
  Online Newspaper (Listed as Publications I-III Newspaper)Podcasting (Listed as Publications I -III Newspaper)Social Media and Website (Listed as Publications I-III Newspaper)WZHS (Listed as TV Production I-III)Yearbook (Listed as Publications I-II Yearbook)I would also like to take this course for two hours. (I understand I should let Mrs. McClinton know and meet with my counselor to make sure I have everything squared away with future courses. You will also be approved to take certain new credit electives online, if you and your parents agree.)
- Your Name*
  
  First NameLast Name
- Your Cell Number*
  
  Area CodePhone Number
- Parent's Name*
  
  First NameLast Name
- Parent's Cell Number*
  
  Area CodePhone Number
- Parent's email*
  example@example.com
- Graduation Year*
- Current Overall GPA *
  Access your Transcript via JPAMS
- Current English Teacher *
  2024 -2025 school year
- Current English Grade *

- Your responses will be used to assess your writing ability as well as suitability for the staff.
- Why would you like to be a part of the Student Media Staff?*
- What intimidates you about becoming a staff member?*
- How do you think being on staff will benefit you?*
- Explain two things you like about our school. *
- Give two ways in which you wish you could change our school. *
- Most students have very busy lives. How do you manage your time?*
- Student Media courses are a year long. Therefore, the expectation is that when you apply to be on either staff, you are committing to the ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR.
  
  IMPORTANT: Your dedication is essential because critical decisions about workload are made very early in the school year. If you choose to drop out of any course, fail to meet your deadlines, or fulfill your responsibilities, your decisions negatively impact your grade, each media outlet's quality, and the entire staff.
  
  It takes the WHOLE YEAR and the WHOLE STAFF to provide quality to our school and community, and we want you on board for the WHOLE PROCESS.
- Do you believe you will remain on staff for the entire year, including summer meetings, trainings, workdays. *
  Our year begins from 3rd week in July - May. Yearbook staff members who do not finish in May, must submit final pages for proofing by June 30.
- Once you have submitted your application, here is what you have to look forward to:
  - Brief Interview with our Advisers and an Editor between April and May
  - Summer Bootcamp TBA
  - Your first assignment - Orientation and Freshmen only day
- Please sign below indicating that you have completed the application and understand the above information.
- Student Signature
- Date
  
  MonthDayYear
  Date
- Parent Signature
- Date
  
  MonthDayYear
  Date

Should be Empty:

Rows	1	2	3	4	5
Approaching and talking to students and adults you don't know
Working independently
Meeting deadlines or due dates
Taking suggestions, recommendations and constructive criticism
Being a team player
Using computers and learning new programs
Writing creatively
Directing and Leading others
Maintaining a website
Having a social media presence
Staying Organized

2026-2027 Zachary Student Media Application