Leander ISD High School Student Media Guidelines
The Purpose of Student Media
· The purpose of the newspaper is to inform, educate and incite thought and debate regarding school, local and national issues.
· The purpose of the yearbook is to provide an accurate record of the events of the school year. It is a historical document, reference book and picture book.
· Both publications serve as an educational tool for students, providing real-world experience in a high school setting.
· The student publications are published by the journalism classes in LISD. The publications are intended for the free and uninhibited exchange of ideas between the students and staffs.
· All stories are written in an entertaining, yet informative way that maintains journalistic integrity. The views published in student media do not necessarily reflect the views of the advisers and/or staff of LISD.
Story Decisions & Policies
· Story and content decisions are student-driven with guidance from the publications adviser.
· The staffs follow the Code of Ethics established by the Society of Professional Journalists. The four main principles include Seek Truth and Report It, Minimize Harm, Act Independently and Be Accountable.
· As part of SPJ’s Code of Ethics to Act Independently, the student journalists avoid conflicts of interest and deny favored treatment to special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
Errors
· All student media products are not professional publications; they are publications created by high school students. Every effort is made to produce a quality, accurate account of the year, but some errors are bound to occur.
· After the newspaper or yearbook is published, it is not possible to correct any mistakes. There are no refunds or reprints for errors. Students and parents are encouraged to focus on all the positive things the newspapers and yearbooks have to offer.
Deaths
· In the event of a student or faculty death, prior to the yearbook publication (mid-March), the yearbook staff will create a memorial tribute that will include the student’s photo, birth and death dates and the words, “In Memory.” The tribute will run in the current year’s yearbook in the senior ad section or the index, depending on where space allows. The tribute will be 1/8th of a page.
· Any deaths that occur after the final publication deadline will be included in the student newspaper.
· Parents have the opportunity to purchase a senior ad for the year the student would have graduated. This ad will run in the senior ad section or the index, depending on where space allows.
Yearbook Sales
· Only a limited quantity of yearbooks are ordered. Because the books are printed in one press run, it is not possible to order additional books. Students and parents are encouraged to order early and keep a record of their order to guarantee a copy.
· Additional books are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis at a higher price. There is no guarantee additional books will be available after the final pre-sale date has passed.
· Any books not picked up within the calendar year of distribution become property of the yearbook staff. This may include reselling the books. No refunds will be given in these situations.
Free Books
· Since the yearbook is a business that must cover its publication costs, the staff does not offer free books.
· A small group of complementary books may be given to the following people and offices:
Principal Office
Assistant Principal’s Office
Library
Student Resource Officer
School Namesake (when applicable)
Superintendent Office
· Any additional books requested by administrators, staff and district officials must be purchased.
Refunds
· Yearbooks are a custom product printed in one press run based on the school’s pre-sales. Therefore, there are no refunds.
· Refunds on duplicate yearbook orders are not guaranteed.
Club & Team Photographs
· Club and organization photographs are taken on a set day pre-determined by the adviser. The date (December - February) will be advertised on the yearbook website, school calendar and emailed to club sponsors. There are no retakes and make-ups of this day.
· As stipulated with the exclusive photography contract, all club photographs are taken by the contracted photo company.
· Sports team photographs are scheduled by their respective coaches. There are no retakes and make-ups of this day.
· Only team photos taken by the contracted photo company will be included in the yearbook.
Underclassmen pictures
· It is the student’s responsibility to take their school picture on the scheduled picture day or retake day. Please check with the school, adviser or school website for the specific dates.
· If a student misses all picture opportunities or enrolls after the schedule dates, the student may contact the contracted photo company to set up a portrait at the studio.
· Because of publication deadlines, yearbooks will not run school pictures taken after the portrait deadline or photos submitted by parents. Please contact the adviser for the final portrait deadline.
Senior portraits
· Only senior portraits taken by the contracted photo company will be used in LISD yearbooks.
· It is each student’s responsibility to take their portrait by the high school’s portrait deadline. Students must also choose the photo they want to use in the yearbook through the photo company’s website by the portrait deadline or a pose will be chosen for them. Please check with the school, adviser or school website for the specific dates.
· Because of publication deadlines, the yearbooks will not run senior portraits taken after the portrait deadline or photos submitted by parents.
· The photo company charges a $20 fee for taking portraits at the studio. (This fee can be applied to any package order.) Students who do not wish to pay the sitting fee are encouraged to take their senior portraits on the designated days on campus. Please check with the school, adviser or school website for the specific dates. On-campus portrait times are limited so seniors are encouraged to sign up for an appointment early.
Senior Quotes & Superlatives
· The yearbook staff chooses the content to appear in the yearbook based on the theme, time, and space. Therefore, elements such as senior quotes and superlatives are not guaranteed.
· The staff has sole editing privileges and decision making when it comes to these processes.
Names
· Student names in the portrait sections and Index of the yearbook will be listed as the legal names that are given by the school registrar. Names on the other spreads in the book may be student nicknames if that is how the student introduces themselves to the staff members interviewing or photographing them.
· If a student wants to change their name in the entirety of the yearbook, they can change it with the registrar or have a parent email the yearbook adviser with their permission to use the name.
· It is each student’s responsibility to reach out to the registrar and yearbook adviser about a name change prior to the portrait deadlines. Please contact the adviser for the final portrait deadlines.
Senior Ads
· Senior ads must adhere to the picture, word limits, and guidelines set by the yearbook staff. The yearbook staff has the right to edit, remove or delete pictures and messages if the limits are exceeded.
· Proofs of all ads are provided via e-mail. Recipients have two to seven days to respond with any changes. Parents are encouraged to review ads carefully because the staff is not responsible for errors once the ad is approved. Parents have one opportunity to ask for revisions, additional revisions or photo changes will not be accepted. Any ads not reviewed will run as is.
· Photos should be school appropriate. No gestures of any kind, cups, nudity, kissing, drinking, smoking or any illegal activity. No bathing suits or torso nudity at any age. No firearms, unless used for sport; no photos of students brandishing weapons or firearms.
· Because of copyright law, poems, song lyrics or any creative works not in the public domain are not allowed.
· Pre-designed ads or PDFs of ads are not accepted. All ads are designed by the yearbook students and designed to follow yearbook design standards and be consistent with the rest of the book’s design.
· All photos, messages and payment must be submitted with the contract. For ad payments submitted online, photos, text and the contract must be turned in within one to two weeks.
· Senior ad prices are broken down into three price points, based on date of purchase. Full payment is required by the last day of the price point. Failure to pay by that date will result in forfeiture of the ad space and money submitted.
Business Ads
· Businesses can support the student media program by purchasing ad space in the yearbook or news media web site at the specific publications’ pricing and run time.
· While business ads may follow many of the content guidelines as senior ads, specific businesses may need campus or district approval to advertise.
· Businesses will sign a contract agreeing on pricing of the ads, size, run time, and to materials submission format and deadlines.
· All copy, logos, and images must follow copyright laws.
· Refunds will be allowed only for ads that do not run at all, but not for businesses that do not correct proofs or respond to changes in a timely manner.
Restriction Forms & Directory Information
· The school district gives all parents an opportunity to restrict their students’ directory information. If this option is chosen, by law the newspaper and yearbook are not allowed to run the student’s name, picture or any reference to the student.
· The yearbook adviser may or may not contact parents about this restriction.
UIL Journalism
· Any student may participate in UIL journalism events. The teacher decides which three students compete at the district meet in each event based on practice meet participation.
Letter Jackets
· Yearbook and newspaper students can earn a letter jacket for their respective staff once they have successfully completed two years on staff.
· UIL journalism students earn a letter jacket once they place first through third at the district UIL meet and qualify for the Regional meet.
Leander ISD High Schools’ Student Media
Cedar Park High School
The Wolfpack, newspaper
Tracks, yearbook
Glenn High School
The Growl, newspaper
The Grit, yearbook
Leander High School
The Roar, newspaper
The Lair, yearbook
Rouse High School
Raider Rumbler, newspaper
Replay, yearbook
Vandegrift High School
The Voice, newspaper
Veteran, yearbook
Vista Ridge High School
The Word, newspaper
The Lonestar, yearbook
July 2014
Updated October 2022