How to Join

Pirate Media 1 welcomes students from all backgrounds and walks of life to join our team! We offer real-world experience through a wide range of positions in the media industry. Whether you’re a writer, reporter, broadcaster, podcaster, artist, or salesperson, we’ve got a place for you.

Print Division Candidate Programs

Students interested in joining the staff of our award-winning newspaper and magazines can do so through the Student Publication Candidate Program. This is a semester-long, once-a-week training session for prospective staff members. Participants in the Candidate program meet for one hour weekly.

Students in the program take part in essential lessons on best practices in student journalism, including effective interviewing techniques, media law, multimedia reporting and foundational principles of creative and long-form writing. Successful candidates graduate out of the program to become writers and reporters. Eventually, they can go on to become part of the management for their respective divisions.

No experience needed! All majors welcome.

Students must have a 2.25 GPA or higher to apply. 

Spring 2025 Tryout Dates:

Rolling tryouts will be held in Pirate Media 1’s main office, located on the ground floor of Mendenhall in G51. Students interested in trying out should bring a Blue Book and a pencil with them on the tryout date of their choice. For more information on the Print Division’s Candidate Program, contact Adviser Cherie Speller at spellerch16@ecu.edu.

WZMB 91.3 FM

The Zombie Radio Corp Program is an opportunity for students to learn how to be the best on-air personality they can be. The Zombie Radio Corps is an eight-week program that includes informational sessions on assigned Monday nights and practicum experience. The sessions cover such topics as building an on-air personality, preparing a show, FCC rules, libel and slander laws, announcing and production. Practicum experience includes learning voice tracking, Adobe Audition, PSAs, working the board and doing your own show.

Successful graduates of this program can go on to become DJs and eventually part of the radio management team.

Spring 2025 Interest Meeting Dates:

WZMB’s interest meetings will be held in Pirate Media 1’s conference room, which is located on the ground floor of Mendenhall in G26F. Come prepared with any questions you have about the Zombie training program or radio station.

For more information, contact Adviser Shayna Jones at jonesshay17@ecu.edu.

Creative Quarters

The Creative Quarters offers two apprenticeship programs for individuals looking to get involved with the visual arts of Pirate Media 1. Both programs are six weeks long and include weekly hour-long sessions on foundational knowledge for either design or photography, as well as take-home assignments. Design apprentices will engage in sessions on the basics of newspaper, magazine and marketing/advertising design. Photography apprentices will focus on sessions about news photography, magazine photography, photo editing and video production.

After successfully completing the apprenticeship, students will become paid staff members of the Creative Quarters and may eventually go on to become a part of the management team.

Students looking to join the Creative Quarters should, of course, be creative, as well as deadline-oriented, a team player and a collaborator.

Having prior experience with Adobe Creative Cloud products is a plus, but not required.

For more information on the Creative Quarters Apprenticeship opportunities, contact Adviser Annah Howell at schwartza18@ecu.edu.