A lot has changed for this new school year: new computers, new usernames and passwords, no more FirstClass, new turf on the field, new milk containers (pouches instead of bottles) and a bunch of other stuff. In the journalism hallway, we’ve evolved, too.

This year, our publications are going to bring you a better product than ever, as we focus on combining each of our five publications’ strengths to cover all things Westside and high school better than ever. We have new logos and headers for all of our publications, and we have made a logo for our program as a whole, now called Westside Media Group.

But while we are changing, we’re also staying the same. We still have five publications, and in case you are a freshman, new student or just simply forgot about what we do, we’ve put together the following descriptions of each publication, written by each publications’ editors-in-chief or producers. We’ll start with the site you’re on right now, Westside Wired, and then proceed in alphabetical order.

Westside Wired

The Website: westsidewired.net

Dear Westside,

Craze

The Magazine: Released on Westside Wired.

Dear Westside,

Chances are, you weren’t ready for school to start. Many of us had to drag ourselves out of bed this morning, still clinging to the remnants of summer. Before 8 a.m., it’s almost impossible to remember why we would ever want to be here. Craze, Westside’s entertainment magazine, wants to remind you. We want to be your publication, to adequately represent your high school experience even as we find ways to help you make it more interesting. With every issue, we hope to help you be more proud to be a part of your school. Our methods of doing this are as varied as our student body. Opinions and advice columns give our experiences with and advice for any situation you may find yourself in. In the past, these have included topics like divorce, depression and freaking out over your favorite band. Our features showcase Westside’s students, clubs and teams and the unique challenges that we face. If you get bored of reading, we’ll always have photo essays highlighting our school’s diversity or detailing urban exploring adventures. While you look at them, you can enjoy our 8tracks playlists or check out the films, albums and shows we recommend. Our issues have so much more content than we could ever describe in a blurb, and we hope that you check out our next issue and see it for yourself.

Craze editors-in-chief,

Allie Laing and Lia Hagen

The Lance

The Newspaper: Paper copies distributed monthly.

Dear Westside,

Before the dawn of time, in a land far, far away, newspapers roamed the Earth. They’re the dinosaurs, from back in the good ol’ days before technology “ruined” everything, your grandparents told you about. You may recognize them as the thing laying on your driveway in the morning or the crumpled paper you use to avoid getting the table dirty. Here at the Lance, we aim to catch your attention. We’re a student-run newspaper that covers events all across the Westside community. In the past, we’ve written about topics ranging from LGBT discrimination to the Vine-famous Jack and Jack. Our in-depths delve into subjects like social media or sports successes, and opinions bring you a new perspective on PDA, school punishments and a number of other controversies. You can read a new issue every month when they are distributed around the school. We hope to be a publication you can be proud of, or at least one you won’t leave crumpled on the floor of the Landing (at least make a paper hat).

Lance editors-in-chief,

Estella Fox and Nata Ward

Shield

The Yearbook: Released in May. Buy your copy NOW!

The year is 2014. Westside has been dubbed “The Perfect All-American High School” by Vine fans around the world (thanks to class of 2014 graduates Jack Gilinsky and Jack Johnson, more commonly known as Jack and Jack). For 2015, we hope  to continue that legacy and we want YOU to be a part of it. This school year’s Shield is more about the people of Westside than ever before, and our goal is to feature all types of students and faculty. This year’s book is brought to you by editors-in-chief senior Courtney Strayer and junior Sophie Cosimano along with the rest of the Shield staff. Books are available for pre-order in room 251 and start at $65 (prices will go up after first semester). Pre-order your copy of the Shield today because I promise you, this isn’t something you want to miss. Also, look out for sneak peeks and other Shield staff work going up on Wired throughout the year!

Shield editors-in-chief,

Courtney Strayer and Sophie Cosimano

WTV

The Motion Picture: We don’t actually make movies, but watch out for our show, which is released on Wired!

Dear Westside,

We have all seen the #WelcomeToWestside thread on Twitter filling us in on what new students should expect out of their four year tenure here at WHS. Here’s our #WelcomeToWestside: expect an excellent broadcast called Warrior Television, or more commonly just WTV. With anything from arts and entertainment pieces to in-depth feature videos, the award-winning and extremely passionate staff will fight to get you, the viewer, the best video experience possible.

Every two weeks, a ten to fifteen minute episode of WTV airs on Westside Wired, but many more singular stories will also be a part of your normal Westside Wired feed. From things such as news stories and feature stories to sports stories and highlights, WTV covers it all. So whether you’re an incoming freshmen or an upperclassmen who hasn’t given WTV a try, we promise, you won’t be disappointed.

WTV producers,

Connor Flairty, Kady Hosman, Hannah Smith and Elias Ginsberg