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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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