Commonly Asked Questions

Q: What is The Pioneer?

The Pioneer is the student newspaper of Maine East High School, with all reporting, writing, and photography done by freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Maine East High School.

Q: How often does an issue of The Pioneer come out?

The Pioneer publishes about twice a quarter, every 4-5 weeks, for a total of 8-10 issues per school year.

Q: When and where does The Pioneer staff meet?

Meetings take place after school on Wednesdays from 3:20 - 3:40pm in the Pioneer Office (Room 238).

Q: Is there a class I can take for The Pioneer?

Unfortunately, no. Not enough students enrolled in Newspaper Practicum for the course to run in 2013-14. However, any story submitted to The Pioneer by a Maine East student will be considered for publication.

Q: How can I contribute to The Pioneer?

The best way is to join the staff (see the next two questions). However, The Pioneer considers all submissions from Maine East students for publication, so if you write an interesting, newsworthy story or take an interesting, newsworthy photograph, submit it for consideration via email to Mr. Miller: mmiller@maine207.org.

Q: Who can join The Pioneer staff?

ANY student at Maine East High School interested in writing, reporting, photography, drawing (we would LOVE to see some more cartoonists out there contributing!), graphic layout, and/or digital media.

Q: How do I join the Pioneer staff?

Submit an online application by clicking HERE. Wait for Mr. Miller to contact you about Staff Meetings.

Q: How much time does it take to be on staff?

Depends on your commitment. Editors, Reporters, and Photographers are full-time staff members and are expected to show The Pioneer some dedication and scheduling priority. Free-lancers who submit stories or photographs for particular issues are not expected to show as much dedication.

An Editor devotes several hours every week to reporting, writing, organizing other reporters, and laying out the newspaper. In addition, editors work a few more hours during deadline weeks.

Reporters and Photographers attend school events as part of their reporting assignments; in addition, they devote time toward writing quality stories. Their overall time commitment to The Pioneer is less than the editors’ -- 1-2 hours a week in addition to attending school events and conducting interviews.

Free-lancers will write stories or take photographs for certain events and submit to certain issues throughout the school year. These students will devote several hours to each assignment, but will not have assignments every issue.