Staff membership on The Whetstone is by a voluntary basis. Students from all classes and majors are welcomed and encouraged to join the staff. Prior experience is a plus, but not necessary. Commitment and determination are required from the staff members for each issue. All staff members must follow guidelines for operation and the principles of ethical journalism.
The Editorial Board:
The Editorial Board is the governing body of the student newspaper staff and makes major decisions of the newspaper. The Board consists of the Editor-in-Chief, who is the chairperson of the Board, the Assistant Editor, the Layout Editor, the Opinion Editor, the Sports Editor, and the Business Manager. The Advisor participates in the Board meetings, but does not have a vote.
Editor-in-Chief: Provides leadership for the newspaper staff and acts as a representative to the administration, faculty, and community-at-large. Serves as head of the Editorial Board. Oversees assignment of stories, headlining, layout, copy-editing, style, and production of each issue. Also responsible for the content of the newspaper and the financial integrity of the organization.
Assistant Editor: Meets with the Editor-in-Chief to edit copy before deadline and as prescribed by the Editor. Contributes ideas for content of each issue, enforces deadline, and participates in production. Also assists writers in style and ethical journalism, and organizes the proofreading process.
Layout Editor: Structures and organizes the newspaper on Quark Express and Adobe Photoshop. Coordinates the copy and headlines with the Editor-in-Chief.
Opinion Editor: Organizes the Opinion page of the newspaper. Solicits and gathers opinion writers on various viewpoints with some relevance to current topics. Also in charge of organizing the Letters to the Editor and making sure they comply with the newspaper policies.
Sports Editor: Organizes a crew of staff writers to report on current sporting events, players, and coaches at Wesley College.
Business Manager: Monitors all expenses and revenue, keeps track of the budget, mails ads and tearsheets to advertisers promptly after each issue is printed, solicits subscribers and mails newspaper promptly after each issue. Consistantly tries to recruit local businesses to advertise in the newspaper. Designs advertisements when necessary and participates in layout to make sure ads meet contract specifications.
Editor and Staff Selections:
The Editor-in-Chief is selected in the spring of each year to serve during the following academic year. The selection of the Editor is made by the Publications & Media Board. All full-time students are eligible to apply. Other Editorial Board positions are selected by the Editor.
Dismissal:
A staff member who violates any newspaper guidelines, policies, or ethical standards is subject to dismissal. An example of such actions is knowingly giving false information in a story. The Editor and Advisor will consider complaints made against other staff members and make a decision regarding dismissal. Dismissal decisions may be appealed to the Publications & Media Board. Appeals must be made within five school days after receiving a dismissal notice.
Dismissal of the Editor-in-Chief will be the decision
of the Publications & Media Board. Although the Editor may not
be dismissed for his/her editorial views, a dismissal may occur due to
managerial ineffectiveness, failure to abide by the guidelines for operation,
Wesley College policies, acts which create or promote a disruption of the
normal functioning of the College, or acts which place the newspaper and
the College at risk of legal action.