Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Calling all aspiring journalists

It's been a busy year for the St. Petersburg Times X-Team.

X-Team members have taken you inside the world of Cirque du Soleil. They have traveled to the National Hockey League All-Star Game and seen the great Zamboni. They have told the tale of a teen rapper who wants to break stereotypes as she breaks into the hip-hop world.

The 2003-04 X-Team has had great ideas and has had fun getting them into the paper. Some of the team members started discussing prom, and out of that came stories on buying a tux and the right dress, and staying safe on the big night.

The X-Team has spent the day with Tampa Bay Lightning star Martin St. Louis. It has interviewed a student who traveled to Egypt as a member of a student ambassador program. It has chatted with R.L. Stine about his new passion for writing for young adults.

It has reviewed or previewed video games, television shows and books.

The X-Team has been busy. But now it must pass the torch. And that's where you come in.

If meeting interesting people and telling their stories appeals to you and you like to write, you may be right for the X-Team.

X-Teams have been writing for Xpress, the Times' special pages aimed at readers 9 to 18, since 1995. Now we begin the search for the 2004-05 team.

Reporting and writing interesting stories is a huge part of what the X-Team does. But members also spend the year learning the art and craft of writing at monthly workshops with seasoned journalists.

So apply right now to be considered for the next X-Team. An applicant - that's YOU, not your PARENTS! - must follow all the instructions below, or your application will not be accepted.

Here's the first instruction: Before you start, read this list of MUSTS to see if you qualify:

* You must have a talent for and a love of writing.

* You must be full of good story ideas about people, places, things and events (no fiction!) and be comfortable interviewing people for your stories.

* You must be able to meet deadlines without being nagged by your editor.

* You must be comfortable talking with editors, who will need to converse with you regularly by phone and e-mail, as well as in person for editing sessions.

* You must be able to attend X-Team workshops once a month from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, usually at the Times building in St. Petersburg. Please consider your time obligations with school and other extracurricular commitments before applying. Being an X-Team member is a big time commitment.

* You must have a parent or guardian willing to drive you to and from X-Team assignments and workshops or, if you are old enough, be able to drive yourself. (Keep in mind, you might have to travel outside your county, so this is very important.)

* You must have access to e-mail. (You don't have to OWN a computer; you just have to be able to use one and check it regularly.) You will send your stories to the Times via computer, and we communicate workshop reminders and other important information via e-mail.

* You must be age 9 to 18.

* If you aced the above test, we want you to apply! The competition is tough, so we need to know as much about you as possible. Please fill out the attached coupon and include it and a photo of yourself with a letter covering the following points (sorry, we can't return material):

* What being a member of the X-Team would mean to you;

* Why you are the best person for the job;

* Five absolutely fabulous story ideas, two examples of deadlines you have met and some samples of your writing (nonfiction stories, if you have any).

* All the activities you're involved in outside of school hours and how often they meet.

* Use your best handwriting and follow directions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Mail your application to:

THE X-TEAM WANTS ME!

c/o Sherry Robinson

St. Petersburg Times

P.O. Box 1121

St. Petersburg, FL 33731