In this course, students will have the chance to develop their journalism skills through writing, photography, interviewing, and designing spreads using inDesign and photoshop. Students should expect to learn all the roles a journalist is required to fill including photographing, interviewing, writing, and designing. In our fast-paced, multifaceted news world, students must be able to do it all. This can be a one-year course or multi-year course. I hope that students come back each year and make the publication their own. The Featherduster is a student-run publication. Staff members work together to create each issue and maintain our website and social media. Staff determines the content and designs, and they make the important decisions required for a publication.

Students will be asked to do work outside of class and attend events. Students must be able to commit time to the publication. If you have concerns about the time commit, please reach out to me. Many staff members are part of sports teams, clubs, other organizations, or have jobs successfully.

Students will learn AP Style rules, the writing structure for different writing styles and story types, teamwork, time management, and interpersonal skills. Students will learn how to write a feature, an editorial, sports, reviews, columns, and news. Students will learn about photography composition, technique, and lighting. They will also learn photo editing. Students should be able to successfully use the applications inDesign and Photoshop by the end of the course.

As a publication, deadlines are incredibly important. At college papers and other professional publications, if something does not meet deadline, it is not published. While there is more flexibility in a high school publication, deadlines will be enforced and celebrated.

There are many opportunities to get published, submit work for awards, and receive scholarships.

We plan on attending one JEA Conference each year that is designed to support the development of student journalism and teach students new skills. This can be a costly trip that students and their families are responsible for. If you have any financial concerns, please reach out to me. I don't want money to be a barrier for student attendance. Sophomores-Seniors are allowed to attend the conference and freshman on a case-by-case basis. This is a learning opportunity for students, but responsibility and professionalism are required traits for attendance.