Download - Journalism Portfolio
Action Photos- Photos capturing my moments in journalism 3
During a two week summer journalism camp,
held at Arizona State University, I used the
cameras provided to capture photos and videos
of the experience.
While riding a hover craft during a lab in physics, I picked up a camera
to grab perspective shots throughout the ride.
Filming a segment to be aired on the TUHSD website, I look to capture
unique angles and varied shots in order to enhance the story.
While finishing a stand up for a video to be aired
on the TUHSD website, I smile for the camera
during my sign off.
Walking through the halls of a high school campus, it’s impossible not to label students; there go
the band geeks, the socially awkward nerds, the preppy cheer leaders and every other student
with a predetermined name tag based on their interests and personalities.
So what was mine?
Journalist. I became the face of publications for our high school, being involved in every essence
of the word journalism. I became known as the girl always with a camera in her hand. I became
known as the one who makes the pretty cool segments that aired on our tri-weekly video
announcements. I became that girl. And I embraced it to the fullest.
However, I cannot just dive right into a story without starting at the beginning. This passion for
journalism did not develop overnight; four years ago I had no idea this would become my future.
As a freshman, I walked onto campus with high hopes of becoming a veterinarian. During class
registration, I had an open hour and was forced into Journalism 1-2. I dreaded this.
With a new adviser and old staffers with closed minds, I felt I was stuck in a class that was
driving quickly into the ground and I wanted out. But I could not change my schedule, as there
was nothing else available. I wasn’t half bad at throwing together a story, either. So I stayed.
And I grew. And I learned to love everything about writing stories.
Later on, I picked up a camera, just to see what all of the fuss yearbook kids were making was
about. Turned out, I had a knack for that as well. This landed me the role of Photo Editor my
junior year and I became the prominent photographer for our newspaper, breaking the reliance
on yearbook to do the deed for us, as we had for so many years.
During this time, I also had gained many leadership positions, as my adviser held an abundance
of confidence in me, my work and my ability to instill a dedicated work ethic into other students
on the staff. Over the course of four years, I’ve held seven editor positions just on our newspaper
staff. My senior year, I took over.
As Editor-in-Chief, I completely changed the format and expectations of the newspaper class.
Amazingly, my adviser, thrilled with my leadership, stood back and let me. Each day we speak
to the class, giving a run-down of what’s expected at the end of the week. During class, I’m
unafraid of being nosy of other student’s work; often times coming across as mean or bossy in an
effort to get work done. But at the end of the week, our online site is updated, our Facebook page
is filled with new story links and our tweets on breaking news are constantly surfing the internet.
This misconception of my attitude toward others in a journalistic setting, that I’m a mean editor,
is one that is often stated within the publications community. My personality often goes
misunderstood. I’m considered mean, when really I hold high expectations in those who look to
become a part of the journalism atmosphere. I’m known as an overachiever, when really I’m just
Personal Statement - 9
dedicated to every piece I create, pouring myself into them. I’m labeled intense, when really it’s
my passion seeping out.
Journalism, I later learned, stemmed to much more than just words on a page and a click of a
camera. Video was a whole new world, waiting for me to explore. However, this beginning is
similar to that of my newspaper experience.
Throughout my freshman and sophomore year, I had witnessed the video announcements, a silly
production of the same stories we were writing in journalism. I felt the staff was full of snobs
and held no interest in anything video. Yet, as fate may have it, the video adviser came to speak
to my journalism adviser, asking for a news reporter who would be interested in creating a news
package.
Almost immediately, I was assigned to the job against any desire that I may have had for it. The
video focused on a clothing closet on campus, allowing for kids to swap out old clothes for new
ones at no cost. After stumbling over a script and nervously interviewing an unfamiliar face, I
managed to see a light in the use of video.
The next year, I joined the class. I flourished. My segments, at first, were nothing special. Yet,
after a few weeks of exploring Final Cut Pro, I became one of the top producers. As a senior, my
adviser often looks to me to complete last minute projects; he holds trust in my ability to create
them quickly, yet still maintain a high quality.
Later on, I became a member of the district reporting staff, assisting in the creation of videos
highlighting schools from around the Tempe Union High School District. At this point, not only
was I making an impact on my school, but others as well. My stories were gaining coverage on a
larger community level, reaching out all around the valley.
However, as dedicated as I am to the world of journalism, my passion is not seen through the
everyday activity of writing stories and taking pictures. Rather, my passion is found in my
breaking moments. As a senior, I hold editor positions on the yearbook and newspaper staff, as
well as being a prominent leader in the video announcements, being a reporter for the district and
a member of the literary magazine club. All of this requires a lot of work, time and effort on my
part and some days are just too much of a struggle to survive.
There are days when I feel I have no place in journalism. Days when I want to throw my hands
up and walk away, leaving the problem for someone else to solve. Days when I want to quit. On
those days, I’m reminded of my passion that drives me forward in this field.
Being driven to tears because of clashing deadlines or extra weight added to my shoulders
because of uninterested reporters is a sign of my love for the art of journalism. I hold a sense of
pride in my work, and settle for nothing less than the perfect vision I have created. Journalism is
no longer just a class or simply a career choice for me. It’s a lifestyle. And it’s my passion in life.
Personal Statement - 10
Due to upset within the surrounding community, changes have been made to alter the traffic
flow in and out of the student parking lot, effective on March 4.
“Last summer we made some changes to the traffic flow; we had some disagreement from
the community because those changes had been made on isolation,” Principal Derek
Hoffland said. “We decided to analyze the situation.”
Hoffland, who was made aware of the situation from disapproval from the community,
acted quickly to made adjustments by making a committee to examine the issue.
“In the end the decision was made to create a committee made up of community members
that would be able to provide input and to really study the problem in depth,” Hoffland said.
The committee was made up of a number of individuals, representing different areas and
interest groups in the community.
“The committee was formed with staff members, City of Tempe Traffic Engineers, parents,
security, Detective (Gabe) Gomez and students,” English Teacher and Committee Leader
Adam Unrien said.
The committee looked to the City of Tempe for guidance when planning the new traffic
route, however were able to design an effective plan primarily on their own.
“(City of Tempe Transportation Department) participated in the committee, however the
committee (with students and parents) were the heroes of the traffic plan,” Tempe Traffic
Official Lorenzo Herrera said.
Originally, students and parents were directed to enter the parking lot off of Del Rio, and
parents to exit on to local neighborhood street Los Feliz. However, this caused for much
congestion on both streets 15 minutes prior to school starting and 10 minutes following the
release of students.
“I know there was a lot of complaints from students and parents entering from the same
direction, causing a lot of congestion 15 minutes before school started,” Unrien said.
The changes to be enacted will direct students to enter off of Del Rio, leading into the
parking lot, while parents will enter off of Los Feliz, snake through the parking lot and drop
off students along the walk way near the drama room. Both are to avoid driving near the
walk way next to the pool, as this area will be blocked off.
“Essentially, we made two entry points, one for students and one for parents,” Unrien said.
“We wanted to make sure that students could enter the parking lot safely and ease the
congestion around the houses surrounding McClintock.”
These changes will be implemented on March 4, a week before spring break, as an
experiment to gauge community reaction to the new system.
Writing – Top News Story: Traffic flow changes affect campus 11
This was one of the larger stories of the year, as the
traffic flow in and out of the main parking lot
changed due to community disapproval. This story
was written in order to inform students, parents and
the surrounding community of the change.
On October 16, Changing Hands Bookstore welcomed fashion icon and host of TLC’s What Not
to Wear Stacy London to the stage, where she discussed her latest book: The Truth About Style.
Around 100 men, women and hipster teens arrived at the book store around 6:00 pm to hear
London speak at 7. All participants were required to purchase the book in order to save a seat
for the talk, and were seated based on a letter system.
The session opened up with a five-minute video covering the background of her book, the
individuals she included, and the message she was trying to convey. The video also included
moments of her shopping alongside the women she provided make-overs for, including her
sassy attitude.
One woman said, “I hate dresses,” and London retorts back “Why? You just put them on and
then you’re dressed. That’s why it’s called a dress.”
After the video and some more waiting, London came to the stage and began her 20 minute
presentation. She discussed her novel, her show and how much she hated the writing process.
However, the most interesting part of her presentation was her personal background.
London describes her struggles with her body image in her childhood, and how her experiences
have taught her the importance seeing inner beauty reflect out through personal style.
Born with a skin disease that left her in rashes and red splotches, London has been concerned
with her looks from a young age. Trying just about everything to calm down her skin irritation,
nothing seemed to worked and London was hopeless.
Until she realized that hiding her skin was the wrong approach. By embracing her body and
accepting her looks for what they were, London was able to reconstruct her own vision of
beauty.
Shortly after, London’s skin condition disappeared, but she had put on unwanted weight. Yet
again, London looked to the positives in her figure rather than trying to cover the negatives.
London then went on to explain how she ended up on her show What Not to Wear. Originally,
she was not too keen on the interview process and almost backed out of one of the final scenario
interviews, but her family encouraged her to attend. Thankfully, she listened to their advice.
After her presentations, London answered some questions from the audience, using her sassy
responses to the max.
After about 20 minutes of Q&A, book holders got in line to have their copy of The Truth About
Style signed and grab a quick conversation with London herself.
After waiting in line, London signed my copy of her book in hot pink sharpie, a suitable color
for this fashionista.
Through her optimism about a positive personal image and spreading the idea of wearing trends
that match one’s individual style (rather than having the trends wear you), London has changed
the lives of men and women alike across the country.
“It’s not just about the clothes,” London said. She encourages individuals to be comfortable in
their own skin and reflect this confidence through a style they create uniquely for them.
Writing – Celebrity Conference: Talking it up with Stacy London 12
This is one of my favorite
stories, as I got the chance to
meet fashion icon Stacy London
during a book signing, writing a
story based on her lecture
focusing on confidence and the
importance of individual style.
Derek Hoffland, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, has been
named the new principal effective July 1, taking over for current
principal Kim Hilgers.
“I’m fortunate to be here,” Hoffland said. “I’m truly excited to be a
Chager.”
Hoffland is extremely thrilled to be joining the Charger family and
plans to work hard to better McClintock campus.
“I’ve got so much learning to do,” Hoffland said. “I am going to
bring (to the new school year) somebody who is going to listen.”
Even as the current year comes to an end, students are already
impressed with Hoffland’s relatable personality and hope for a
positive new year.
“My first impression was that he was nice,” 2012-2013 student body
president junior Carly Thornhill said.
Due to McClintock’s many positive attributes, Hoffland is looking
forward to working with students and staff.
“McClintock has got a great deal of diversity and a friendly, polite
and hardworking student body and staff,” Hoffland said. “It is the
very best school in the district.”
Not only is Hoffland impressed with McClintock’s many acedemic
and sports-related achievements, but also the sense of tradition found
on campus.
“McClintock’s tradition is the best in the state,” Hoffland said.
The 2012-2013 school year begins on August 6 and students and
staff are looking forward to working with Hoffland.
Writing – Top News Story: McClintock welcomes new principal 13
During the transition from the 2011-2012
to 2012-2013 school year, our campus
welcomed a new principal. I was one of
the first individuals to speak to him,
interviewing him in his make-shift office
found in the teacher lounge. It was a
great opportunity to get to know such an
influential leader on our campus, even
before his time as principal began.
Eight Peggy Payne Academy students received the honor of being National Merit Semi-
Finalists, scoring highly on their PSAT.
“All of our students are very deserving,” Peggy Payne Counselor and Spanish Teacher Laura
Zinke said. “They are an excellent representation of the high standards of academic
achievement here at McClintock.”
Seniors Eden Barnett, Stephanie Brabson, Karen Chang, Meera Doshi, Joy Nachman, Thomas
Liu, Eveline Postelnicu and Abhishek Rajadas scored within the top percentile on the PSAT,
the practice test for the SAT. Their score was compared to those across the state of Arizona
who had also taken the test.
“I’m really excited about this,” Nachman said. “Being a semi-finalist is a great opportunity.”
Through this honor, these students have been recognized as some of the top academic leaders
of today’s youth. This has given them an advantage while applying to college and
scholarships.
“(This is great for) applying for other scholarships; they like to see you are serious about
academics,” Doshi said. “It shows that I’m dedicated to academics and other universities will
be impressed.”
Students hope to be recognized by colleges with this honor in hand, as not many are picked
from around the state to receive such a prestigious title.
“Being a semi-finalist and hopefully a finalist will set me apart from other applicants and
distinguish myself to the universities,” Chang said.
Through their hard work and dedication, these students were able to score highly on the
PSAT. Not relying on just their brains, these students spent countless hours preparing for the
exam.
“Taking an SAT class was really helpful,” Postelnicu said. “It’s all about practice, not about
how smart you are.”
Some even took advantage of test taking timing, by studying for both the PSAT and the SAT,
both of which share common material.
“I decided to take the SAT around the same time, so I was preparing for both,” Barnett said.
“It’s helpful to look up words you don’t know; I read the word didactic in a movie review and
didn’t know the meaning. I looked it up and it just happened to be on the test!”
Now receiving the honor of being a semi-finalist, these students are able to apply to the
National Merit Scholarship, one that provides significant funds for a further education.
“The application (to become a finalist) is similar to college,” Liu said. “You write an essay,
submit your SAT scores and get teacher recommendations.”
Regardless of the later application, all of these students have gotten an abundance of attention
from universities around the country. From letters to emails, students have been bombarded
by schools, reaching out to congratulate them for their newly acclaimed honor.
“It’s nice to have this achievement,” Rajadas said. “Qualifying got a lot of college attention;
my (email) in-box is full.”
All very deserving, these students have shown their dedication and hard work to their
academics, and were awarded this honor in return.
Writing – Human Interest: National Merit Semi-Finalists announced 14
Our school had eight students
named National Merit Semi-
Finalists. I spoke to each one of
them, as well as their adviser,
about their thoughts and
emotions as they received this
honor. This story focused much
more on their reactions to the
honor, rather than the title of
‘National Merit Semi-Finalist’
itself.
Writing – Topic Exploration: Nation adopts anti-bullying campaign through
multimedia options 15
This story is one I hold close to my heart, as it
explores the national effort to put bullying to an
end. I conducted no interviews, rather took in
opinions of students on campus who look to certain
sites and individuals that have made an impact on
bullying, and researched them in detail.
As generations continue to filter through the schooling system, students are becoming subject to bullying at younger ages. However, the nation
has begun to take steps to fight for the anti-bullying cause.
“If there’s one goal of this conference, it’s to dispel the myth that bullying is just a harmless rite of passage or an inevitable part of growing up.
It’s not,” President Barack Obama said during the White House Conference on Bullying Prevention. The convention, which included The
President, The First Lady, students, teachers and other anti-bullying advocates, was held in in March of 2010, addressing bullying in schools and
ways to create a safer environment for the student.
Bullying has become a major concern for America, as studies have shown that students are becoming a victim of bullying more often and at a
younger age. This is thought to be due to the rise in social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. According to a national survey conducted
by the i-SAFE foundation, over 25 percent of adolescents and teens have been bullied repeatedly through their cell phones or the Internet. This
study also found that more than half of these young people do not tell their parents when cyber bullying occurs.
Bullying has escalated into multiple practices over time, including cyber bullying, verbal bullying, text bullying, name calling, harassment and
other forms of physical bullying. However, groups and avid supporters of the cause from across the nation have taken steps to put an end to
bullying through various ‘anti-bullying’ campaigns.
Many look to assist other through sharing personal experiences of bullying they have suffered during their lifetime. Shane Koyczan, founder of
To This Day Project, wrote a poem reflecting his struggles through his childhood, struggles of friends, and his motivation to believe in one’s
self.
"If you can't see anything beautiful about yourself, get a better mirror, look a little closer, stare a little longer, because there is something inside
you that made you keep trying despite everyone who told you to quit,” Koyczan wrote. “You built a cast around your broken heart and signed it
‘they were wrong’.”
Websites dedicated to the anti-bullying movement have also been created, providing a various amount of insight to the cause. Some, like
whatdoyouchoose.org, centers on personal stories of bully victims who aim to reach out to those too afraid to speak up.
“If you have to take the time to make a choice, take your time. Then make a choice,” said a representative of the organization in their
promotional video found on their site. The site has a main focus on the idea of making choices to better the surrounding community, ultimately
avoiding the choice of being a bully.
Other sites look to provide help to victims of bullying, teachers who look to assist their students and parents who aim to keep their children safe.
Stopbullying.gov, a site of this nature, was launched in conjunction with President Obama and the First Lady’s anti-bullying campaign.
The anti-bullying effort has also gained support through means of pop culture. Celebrity endorsements and television stations, such as Cartoon
Network, have begun to actively participate in the cause, creating organizations or public service announcements of their own.
"I had a really tough time when I was in middle school," pop icon Demi Lovato said in an interview with People magazine. In September of
2012, Lovato became the ambassador of the Mean Stinks campaign. "I heard about the program last year, and thought it was such a great
opportunity. They're really trying to put an end to bullying."
Supporters and advocates of the anti-bullying cause will continue to work side by side, aiming to eliminate the bullying threat located in schools
across the nation.
As I make my way through my senior year in high school, I’m confronted by the task of applying to college. There are some things that I
appreciate about applications and some things that just down right aggravate me to the core. If you’ve gone through this process before, I’m sure
you can relate to at least one of these.
When it comes to SAT and ACT score, this is my thought process: if a college is accepting you only because of one score from one that you’re
required to take, regardless of your field, that school doesn’t deserve to have you on their campus. A person isn’t a number or a combination of a
b c answers.
Students are constantly stressing over ‘is my score high enough?’, when that should be the last concern. I n reality, in two, three, four years, no
one is going to be asking what your SAT or ACT score was; they’re going to want to know what you’ve done with the knowledge you’ve
accumulated through school.
As for essays, what bothers me most are the prompts that are picked. I get it, being creative is awesome, but sometimes these prompts are just so
abstract, I end up staring at a blank Word document, hoping for inspiration to jump on the page by itself.
Class rank is another factor that I don’t think should be the deciding factor for getting into college, although I sort of appreciate this one more so
than an SAT or ACT score. Unfortunately, some classes get weighed higher because they are honors or AP and not all of us have the opportunity
a handful of AP classes. Let’s face it, they just don’t offer AP Journalism, because I would be all over that.
Ethnicity has always been an issues, as there are faults on both sides. The school, which is trying to do a good thing and accept an ethnically
diverse group of individuals, ends up creating a formula for the colors of students they want to see on campus, and once these ratios are made, it’s
almost impossible to break them. So, students who don’t get accepted because they don’t fit in this forced vision of ‘diversity’ schools are trying
to create get upset because it’s some sort of discrimination. So, either way, someone is going to look bad. It’s just a mess and I wish this wasn’t
such a prominent factor when it comes to applications. I don’t think it is, but everyone likes to use this scapegoat.
However, I think the greatest aspects of applications have to be community service and work experience. Those who are active in a number of
things on campus can shine a little brighter because colleges are able to see the achievements.
Personally, I know how tough it is to juggle clubs, AP classes, outside activities and a part-time job on top of that, and I only work weekends! It’s
a lot for students to handle, and I really appreciate that colleges and scholarships take an interest in this aspect.
Writing – Opinions: Senior frustrations with college applications 16
This was an interesting
piece that actually
started out as a blog
post, but was slightly
tweaked to fit the
format of the paper.
Sometimes, posts from
my personal blog will
relate to campus,
allowing them to find a
place within our paper.
I enjoy using small graphics, such as this, to
enhance a story with a visual representation.
Students often look to creative means to stay active, branching away
from traditional sports offered on campus. Racquetball, a sport
similar to tennis, contains a more intense atmosphere for players, as
they are confined in a small space during game play.
“It’s just a lot of fun,” Sumner Farnsworth (12) said. “It’s really
active and you have to use strategic moves (when you play).”
Students, like Farnsworth, enjoy the high energy produced by the
game. However, many go unaware of the potential of the game until
introduced by family or friends.
“I’ve been playing for two years,” Ryan Patterson (11) said. “I
watched my dad play in a tournament and I wanted to try it.”
Farnsworth and Patterson often play together, using local courts, like
the ones at Tempe High School, Marcos De Niza High School and
LA Fitness.
“I’ve been playing for about a year,” Farnsworth said. “I mostly play
with the Patterson family.”
Similar to tennis, racquetball allows for a number of opponents to
play at one time, offering a single, double and trio-game play. Three
player games, also known as cut-throat, are considered the most
competitive, as individuals are up against two opponents in the same
round rather than one, like in singles, or a team, like in doubles.
“(My favorite part) is when I play doubles because it hard having to
play with more than one person,” Patterson said.
Racquetball proves to be an extreme, yet fun way to keep fit, as well
as experience a unique sport to students across campus.
“(I enjoy) running around and trying to beat the other person,”
Paterson said. “Also, (I like) playing with friends.”
Writing – Yearbook Feature: Racquetball spotlight 17
On a special features page in the yearbook, we
highlighted unique sports and activities
students take part in. I wrote on students who
enjoy staying active through means of
racquetball, a sport unknown to most of
campus. This was a fun story because it
focused on a sport that was not the norm for
most students, exploring new ways of
attaining physical activity.
Opening:
Good aftermoon, I’m Becca Smouse with C.T.P. Channel 7 News and you’re tuned in to our February 25th broadcast. Our first story is
discusses the upcoming Talent Show, sponsored by the Black Student Union on campus. Melissa is in the auditorium with more information.
Melissa:
Opening: Thanks Becca. BSU will be holding a talent show this week, highlighting the many talents of our students on campus.
Closure: The show will be held on this Friday, March 1st at 7 p.m. in the Boyle Auditorium.
(Becca): What a great opportunity for students to be a part of. Melissa, is there a cost to attend then show?
Actually, admission is free. Students and parents are encouraged to come out and support their fellow Chargers. Back to you, Becca.
Transition: Thanks Melissa. Breaking news has entered our studio as students and campus will be affected by upcoming changes to the parking
lot. Allison is on the scene with more information-Allison
Allison:
Opening: Thanks Becca, we’re here in the student parking lot where students and parents are subject to changes in the traffic flow system.
Principal Hoffland and Mr. Unrein worked to cultivate these changes for the rest of the year.
Closure: These changes will be implemented next Monday, March 4. Back to you Becca.
Becca Transition: Thanks Allison. Up next, we’ll take a closer look at the minds behind the mechanics here on campus, after this commercial
break.
Commerical Break
Becca Transition: We’re jumping right to Sissy with our next story, discussing the achievements of our Robotics Club. Sissy-
Sissy:
Opening: Thank Becca. Recently, students have embraced their nerdom, putting their heads together to create new advancements to the world of
engineering through Robotics.
Closure: All students are encouraged to join. Meeting will be held on Friday’s at lunch in Mr. Fong’s room. Back to you, Becca.
Becca Closure: Thanks Sissy. That’s all we have for our broadcast today. Remember to pick up your trash at lunch, give us a two-week notice
for segments and like our page Charger Tradition Productions on Facebook for bonus content. I’m Becca Smouse with C.T.P. Channel 7 News.
Writing – Anchor Script: Broadcast themed anchor script 18
Generally, our video announcements are
known for containing casual anchors with
a script filled with puns and jokes.
However, I decided to take a more serious
tone during this version, creating a news
broadcast setting through a professionally
written script. This script allowed for an in
studio main anchor (myself) and on the
scene reporters to transition to each
segment. A frame from the anchors, which held a more serious tone through its
broadcast theme.
Well, obviously I’m no world class athlete, but here at Mountain Pointe, Coach Larry Todd
helped lay the foundation for alum William Claye, who brought home two medals from the
2012 London Olympics. Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with Coach Todd, who
spoke about his coaching philosophies.
So Coach Todd, how long have you been coaching?
How did you get into coaching track and field?
What were some of the challenges you faced getting Will to become the athlete he is today?
Obviously not every kid that comes in is going to be as easy to train as Will, so what are
some coaching approaches that you use with the other kids?
How do you communicate the importance of separating your social life, your academics
and your sports life to your students?
What are some lessons that your students gain through track and field that they can apply to
their life?
So what does hard work, dedication and expert coaching from a mentor like Larry Todd get
you? Two Olympic medals. I’m Becca Smouse, with TUTV.
Writing – Interview Set Up and Questions: Jump Starter 19
This was a neat story I got
the chance to cover, as
Mountain Pointe High
School’s Track Coach had
helped coach Olympic
Athlete William Claye, who
landed two medals in the
London Olympics. The
video centered on the
coach, his coaching ethics
and his proudness of
Claye’s achievements.
Frames from the
video:
Top left and right –
Interviewing Coach
Larry Todd.
Bottom –
Frame from closure,
standing at a
distance from
Claye’s jump record.
Intro:
With the school year well under way, Marcos De Niza Choir
gears up for their Broadway themed performance. Known
throughout the community for their excelling program, many
thanks can be handed to choir director Darin Shryock who
utilizes over 30 years of experience in the music industry and
teach profession to enhance his classroom methods. Catching
up with him at Marcos De Niza, Shyrock explains the ups
and downs of the audition process.
Transition:
Not limited to just show choir auditions, Shryock’s role in
the Marcos De Niza choir community stems much further.
Many of the practical skills the students acquire in his
classroom carry over to other aspects of their lives.
Transition:
Through his dedication to the arts and passion for his job,
Shryock has been able to instill greatness into his students.
Always encouraging growth, as well as well as developing a
welcoming environment for his students to flourish in. This
creation of a family unit atmosphere is one of the many ways
Shryock has enriched the Marcos De Niza Choir Program.
Closure:
For TUTV, this is Becca Smouse.
Writing – Personality Set Up: The Music Man 20
This story was under an interesting
circumstance, as the footage had
already been filmed and edited before I
had written a script. Based on the
video, I wrote a script to enhance the
visuals of the auditions and the work
ethic of the choir director, allowing for
smooth transitions from topic to topic.
Top and
Bottom:
Frames from
the video found
on the District
website,
highlighting
Marcos De Niza
Choir Director
Darin Shryock.
Intro:
With the holiday season approaching, each school
within the Temp Union High School District makes
a collective effort to give back to the community
through various clubs, organizations, and projects.
Here’s today’s giving back moment.
Closure:
By giving back, each school within the district
helps to create a better community shared by all.
Writing – Ongoing Series Set Up: TUHSD Gives Back 21
Although short, this was one of the most
challenging set ups to write, as it was
going to be the intro to a number of
segments relating to giving back to the
community through volunteer efforts
from the various TUHSD schools during
the holiday season. The script had to be
generic enough to appropriately open for
all of the segments, as well as avoid
becoming cheesy because of the
overwhelmingly warm nature of the
segments.
Top:
Intro frame to all of the segments.
Left and Right:
Frames of representatives from
different TUHSD schools, speaking of
their volunteer efforts during the
holiday season.
Layout – Campus Life spread 22
My sophomore year (2010), I became a
page editor, editing the Campus Life
section of our newspaper. This was my
favorite layout of the year, as it includes a
nice balance of photos, graphics and text.
It’s not too overwhelming, but provides a
variety of content for the reader to enjoy.
Unfortunately, the original InDesign and PDF files of these layouts had been
lost due to our computer lab being updated last year. These are photographs of
the actual pages of the newspaper.
Layout – News spread 23
My junior year (2011),
I was the News Editor,
in charge of creating
the front page. As
straight forward as
news is, I looked to
provide an interesting
format for the page,
including a shaded
box to avoid bumping
heads and graphics
along the bottom to
act as a glimpse of the
rest of the paper.
Unfortunately, the original InDesign and PDF files of this layout had been lost
due to our computer lab being updated last year. This is a photograph of the
actual page of the newspaper.
Layout – Feature Spread: Campus welcomes fresh faculty faces 24
This layout was
quite a challenge:
the day we sent
the paper to be
printed, we
received a call
from the shop
stating that the
spread had been
done in the
incorrect format.
This threw me in
a mad dash the
next morning to
quickly re-layout
the page in order
to make it to
press on time.
Top – Original
Bottom - Revised
In 2010, I designed the cover to our annual literary magazine
Voices, which includes student written poems, short stories and
art. The cover then went on to influence the dividers, as well as the
internal theme found on each page.
Cover
Dividers
Layout – Cover Design: 2010 Literary Magazine Cover 25
Photography – Yearbook Sports Photo: Boys’ Varsity Golf 26
One of my favorite events to
photograph is sports, especially golf.
Many times, I would take pictures of
boys’ and girls’ golf, landing some of
my shots on the golf spread in the
yearbook. Some of my favorite shots
have come from shooting golf, like the
picture on the left.
Despite being one of my favorites, this did not make it in
the yearbook, but was featured in a sports album on our
Facebook page where it gained much attention.
Red circles-
Photographed by myself
Photography – Yearbook Campus Life Photo: Physics Lab 27
During a physics lab, we were
discussing momentum and used a
hover craft to measure this. Wanting to
capture the moment, I ran to grab a
camera and immediately started taking
pictures of the lab, as not many other
classes adopt the teacher lounge to
ride around on a homemade craft.
Later, this was included in the yearbook
as an example of hands on learning.
Photography – Newspaper Photo Collage: Senior Solo Dance Concert 28
After large events, I like to
create collages for the
newspaper, allowing for a
number of students to be
represented through various
stages of the event. After taking
pictures at the Senior Solo Dance
concert, I felt there was no one
picture that could accurately
sum up the performance, so I
created a college to highlight
many of the dancers.
Photography – Yearbook Photos: Interesting angles and class perception 29
During a slow day of yearbook,
my adviser told me to wander
campus and snap photos. I
stumbled into the construction
and auto room, a place of
wonderful photography
opportunities. The top highlights
the extreme focus of students
while using tools. The bottom is
an interesting angle, as the boy
working on the car is interacting
with another student, who is only
visible from the reflection of the
bumper.
Photography – Newspaper Photos: Attending school events and functions 30
Attending school functions is a large part of my
responsibilities in publications; I take a camera at every
opportunity. These are some of my favorite shots during
a varsity football game, as they represent a range of
varied photo composition and captured emotion. These
photos were later featured in an album on our
Newspaper Facebook page.
Videography – Student Activity Highlight: Science Trip to California 31
This is one of my favorite segments,
focusing on a science trip students
(including myself) took Dana Point
California, exploring marine biology. The
video included video and photographs from
the trip, as well as interviews from students
who attended.
See Chapter 1 on DVD
Videography – News Package: Parking lot changes affect campus 32
Similar to the print edition, this was one of the
larger segments of the year, focusing on the
change to the traffic flow to the main parking
lot. The video included interviews from the
principal and the main teacher involved with
the creation of the changes, as well as an
explanation of why the changes were made in
order to eliminate campus confusion.
See Chapter 2 on DVD
Videography – Personality Spotlight: Teacher Spotlight 33
A staple of our announcements has become
the creation of Teacher Spotlight segments,
highlighting exceptional faculty. I created a
surprise spotlight for my journalism
adviser, interviewing students and teachers
across campus, including myself, who look
up to her. I also received a number of
photos from a family member to add a
more personal touch to the spotlight.
See Chapter 3 on DVD
Videography – Anchor Set Ups: Broadcast themed anchors 34
As project manager, I took steps to break the
mold of the generic anchors of our video
announcements, developing a more serious
and fast-paced atmosphere through a
broadcast themed anchor script. From script
writing to editing, the broadcast anchors
were a joy to create and were appreciated by
those who witnessed them.
See Chapter 4 on DVD
Multimedia – Broadcast Journalism: APS Grants awarded to THS teachers 35
As a Tempe Union Television reporter, I have
the opportunity to cover stories not just from
my own campus, but from schools around the
district. This was a very cool story, focusing on
grants awarded to Tempe High teachers to
help fund projects for various science classes
and groups on campus.
See Chapter 5 on DVD
Multimedia – Broadcast Journalism: Student internships with local businesses 36
One of the challenges of this TUTV story
was the amount of footage that was
required, as Compadre students visited
various local businesses around Tempe to
learn about their field of interest. My
adviser and I spent a day running around
Tempe, grabbing footage of the students
and filming my intro, outro and transitions.
See Chapter 6 on DVD
Multimedia – Photoshop: Multiple photo formats for different mediums 37
Because the newspaper uses so many mediums to
spread news to campus, we use a number of file
formats for photos. I alter size, color and file type of
photos depending on what medium it is meant for.
Format Medium
File: JPEG
File: GIFF
File: TIFF
Medium: Facebook
Medium: Online News site
Medium: Print newspaper
Multimedia – Illustrator: Original masthead design 38
With a new year came a desire for a new
masthead for the print newspaper. Never
having used Illustrator before, creating the
masthead posed both a challenge and a new
learning experience for me. We now use it in
all of our print issues.
Multimedia – ASU Summer Journalism Institute: Legally Blonde Auditions 39
During the summer of 2012,
I, along with 28 others from
around the country, had an
opportunity to attend a two
week summer journalism
camp held at ASU’s Walter
Cronkite School of
Journalism. The institute
provided a number of
lectures and classes from
ASU teachers, as well as
tours of local news rooms,
and television and radio
stations. As a group, we
created an online site that
included student written
stories and videos.
See Chapter 7 on DVD
Multimedia – Product Marketing: Yearbook Advertising Editor 40
During yearbook,
tensions often arise
due to high
expectations, as
students are
unaware of the vast
amount of work
that goes into the
creation of the
book. Near the end
of second semester,
an editor dropped
the class. I accepted
the position as
Advertising Editor
and picked up
where they had left
off
As Ad Editor, I created senior ad pages, ad requests to local businesses and
alum and campus announcements to promote the purchase of a yearbook.
41 Community Involvement – Use of Social Media: Facebook
I’m an admin for both C.T.P’s. (Video
Production) and The Guidon’s (Schools
Newspaper) Facebook pages, posting
regularly. This includes: status updates,
links to student-produced videos and
student written stories, and photos of
campus events. The community often
looks to these pages for information
regarding the school.
twit
ter
I manage The Guidon’s Twitter Page,
sending out tweets regularly regarding
sporting events, newly-posted stories
and breaking news on campus, as well
as checking tweets from local and
national news pages that we follow.
Community Involvement – Use of Social Media: Twitter 42
Multimedia – Summer Photography Internship: Southwest Portraits 43
During the summer of 2011, I served as an intern
for a profession photography studio: Southwest
Portraits. They are the company in charge of
taking senior portraits for the yearbooks across
the valley. As an intern, I worked with
photographers, learning about lighting, shot
composition and client interaction.
During my internship, I was able to learn
how to use new equipment, such as large
light fixtures.
The studio focused on senior
portraits, such as this, during the
summer I was an intern.
An inside look of the studio, a place where I spent much
of my time during June through August.
Multimedia – Featured Video on Cox 7 website: CCR Training 44
TUTV has offered me some
amazing opportunities, as
with my CCR Training video (a
segment focusing on CCR
training held at Tempe High
School), which was picked up
by Cox 7, a local channel.
They featured the video on
their website, along with
other videos relating to
health awareness.
See Chapter 8 on DVD
Multimedia – Featured Video on Cox 7 Local Channel: Anti-Bullying PSA 45
During 2011, a fellow reporter
and I created an Anti-Bullying
Public Service Announcement,
focusing on cyber-bullying via
Facebook. The video was picked
up by the school district and then
passed on to Cox 7, which aired
it on a local station. This was the
first time a video I had helped
create had been aired on
television, providing an
exhilarating feeling as it played.
See Chapter 9 on DVD
Multimedia – Media Outreach: Interview with Fox 10 News 46
After the creation of our Anti-Bullying PSA,
we received local news attention, as Fox
10 News came to campus to interview
myself and my fellow reporter. This was
another thrilling experience because the
segment was aired on the local news twice
and our video was featured on their site,
giving us an abundance of coverage.
See Chapter 10 on DVD
Our school suffered from a break in the water
main. Same day, I wrote the story and snapped a
picture. I forwarded the story the same night to a
representative at the Arizona Republic. The next
day, she published my story on their site and later
featured the story and picture in the Jan. 12
edition of the Tempe Republic, a section of the
Arizona Republic.
47
Community Involvement – Local Newspaper Publishing: Water main break
Tempe Republic article - Print
Tag to story located on front page
Azcentral.com article - Online