Do you love writing?

Do you love the feeling of the words spreading across your screen in a digital sort of subexistence?

Do you love the arts? Or maybe the news? Or maybe interacting with your fellow students and gaining their input on events at YLHS?

If so, The Wrangler might just be the place for you.

Before this year, The Wrangler was a print newspaper. Formerly run by Mrs. Mazurier but now advised by Mrs. Shay, it recently made the brave transition to the online world (ylhsthewrangler.com; if you’re reading this, you’re probably on the website right now). With its shiny red-and-white facade and constant influx of articles, one might never know the workings behind it. How many days and hours do photojournalists and editors put into it? Who are even the photojournalists and the editors?

The process is actually quite simple. Newspaper requires an in-class commitment of one zero period a week. Pitch and publishing sessions for editors occur on Tuesdays, with pitch sessions for photojournalists on Wednesdays. In addition, all the people who pitch the articles must put in an additional one to two hours of research and writing in their own spare time. Articles are due roughly one week from the time they are pitched, and there are a certain number of articles that each photojournalist must write by the end of each quarter (usually five to six).

The photojournalists must then upload their articles–as saved drafts–to the newspaper website, where editors will proofread, edit, and publish them as they see fit. Packets that accompany each article must also be turned in, consisting of at least one liability waiver for a student or teacher quote, a pitch form, a print version of the article and picture, and the rubric for Mrs. Shay to grade (don’t worry, she’s an easy grader if you can write). It’s a convenient way for all reporters to work, and the methodology is, as aforesaid, simple and rewarding. Two to three days after the article is uploaded and packet turned in, the photojournalist can click onto the website and see his or her article listed under the recently published articles, or perhaps even spinning on the revolving-article widget at the top center of the screen.

Newspaper is a fulfilling class: not only is it academically rewarding, but it’s also fun.  Ask any member of the newspaper staff–they’ll tell you. “I like newspaper because it allows us to work together and come up with creative stories,” Lily Rajaee (10) stated.

If one puts in the hours necessary to succeed, an experience with The Wrangler can be both a bonus on a college transcript and a wonderful opportunity. Applications as PDFs can be located on ylhs.org (just search for it) and are due on May 15th in Mrs. Shay’s room 370. Don’t miss this chance!