I'm looking for contributions to class discussions and evidence of improvement in your work. I'd like to treat you as an editor would treat reporters. In your case, it means coming to class, doing your work and respecting deadlines as you would if you were working for a news organization. You're training for your future. Little is more precious to a newspaper than its credibility.
Reporters lose their jobs for that.
A summary of the relevant sections of the Student Conduct Code is in the Time Schedule of Classes.