This is the page I designed for the March 30 issue with a couple changes.
Page Critique March 15, 2010
The front page of the Nov. 10 issue has a problem with the order of its elements. According to page 55, the order should be photo, cutline, headline, text. However in the issue, it goes headline, photo, cutline, text. “This reliable design will work with nearly any horizontal photo, no matter how deep, wide or directional it is – as long as all four elements are stacked in the correct order. When you mishandle the sequence of elements – in this case, putting the headline above the photo- you risk confusion. In news stories, the headline should touch the start of the story.” One good thing that is page has is the clean layout of the rest of the articles, one vertical column and a horizontal story. “Vertical stories are clean and attractive…Horizontal shapes are pleasing to the eye” (49). The horizontal story’s headline does all the way across the columns, a key feature.
Page 2 of the Nov. issue appropiately places the horizontal photo, cutline, headline, and text in the right order. However the cutline is on the photo, not under it. All the other stories are horizontal which looks nice, and all the headlines go all the way across. The second story contains an “armpit,” instead of dummying it, which is still okay. “It connects the photo more tightly to the text. On busy pages, that helps organize stories. One long, loud banncr headline call give the story more punch” (55).
March 2 Leads March 5, 2010
- “Be aware of what you are saying: ‘retard’ is not ‘stupid'”
Weak Lead: “The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines mental retardation as a “sub average intellectual ability…by learning difficulties, and by problems in social adjustment.”
Weaknesses: too long, not very eye-catching
New Lead: The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines mental retardation as a “sub average intellectual ability that is accompanied by significant deficits in abilities necessary for independent daily functioning.
Strengths: concise and to the point
2. “Chutney spices it up”
Weak Lead: “Chutney, a delicious new Pakistani and Indian restaurant, is located on 3352 Mowry Avenue.”
Weaknesses: Address is not the most important detail.
New Lead: “Chutney, a new Pakistani and Indian restaurant, is a great cultural experience with fast service and delicious food.
Strengths: Highlights overall impression of restaurant.
3. “Girls soccer loses NCS”
Weak Lead: “The girls’ soccer team lost in their first round of NCS losing 2-0 to California High, Feb. 17 after claiming the MVAL league title.”
Weaknesses: Depressing, redundant.
New Lead: After claiming the MVAL league title, the injury-stricken girls’ soccer team went on to NCS where they played California High, and lost 2-0.
Strengths: Gives detail to why they may have lost.
4. “Academy Award nominees reach for gold”
Weak Lead: “The Academy Awards ceremony is March 7.”
Weaknesses: very boring, not eye-catching or most important part of article
New Lead: Athletes are not the only ones fighting for gold, Academy Award nominees this year will have to “fight” harder for their gold, especially Best Picture, as the total number of nominees have increased.
Strengths: More interesting, ties the article together.
Blog Post #7: Leads (again) February 22, 2010
Summary Lead: A UC Berkeley physicist and a Nobel prize-winning colleague now in President Obama’s Cabinet report they have confirmed one of Albert Einstein’s most revolutionary theories 10,000 times more accurately than ever before.
This lead answers the questions who, what, and how.
Feature Lead: “Two lives cut short too soon,” Rhodessa Jones said in a voice that cut through the Buriel Clay Theatre like a fierce challenge. “Who are these people? Who are these kids with guns? Where do they come from? What can you say to people like that?”
This lead sets the scene, and adds suspense to what Jones is talking about. You are intrigued why she is talking like this and want to read more.
Midyear February 1, 2010
So I have completed a semester of journalism, and it was definitely harder than I expected. I had to learn to take charge and find my own articles, and not wait for my editor to assign me one. I do think I have my writing has improved this semester. I have also learned how to work with different kinds of people. I also learned how to do something that I didn’t think I would do this semester, be an editor. This came with learning how to layout a page, edit stories and come up with ideas for stories. I learned that sometimes you have to be harsh as an editor.
This next semester, I think will be still be difficult, but rewarding if I am still an editor. I will still need to look hard for stories, and develop my writing even further. I will also need to consider if I am going to take journalism next year and/or apply to be editor-in-chief.
Blog post 5: Infographics January 8, 2010
I found this infographic at: http://www.wired.com/images/article/magazine/1708/by_media_diet_f.jpg
This is a very accurate depiction of how Americans use their “entertainment time.” This would work very well for the Hatchet because teenagers spend a lot of time using technology as entertainment.
Beat Report #5 January 5, 2010
I talked to Melinda Kufeld on Monday Jan. 4. She said that PTSA is holding a mock SAT on Jan 30 and a mock ACT on Feb. 27. These will both have review sessions. Revolution prep is planning on holding SAT and ACT prep courses at WHS. Muffin Money will be distributed during READ/3rd to students who are PTSA members prior to finals. Student members will receive $3 in Muffin Money per semester good for either. One free muffin or beverage per $1 in “MM” PTSA is still waiting on approval from FUSD for special projects (basketball hoops). PTSA will honor those in the WHS community in Feb who have gone above and beyond to make difference at WHS. Kufeld is about to begin working with Mrs Wittmer to revise WHS PTSA scholarship process
Beat Report 4 December 1, 2009
I talked to Francine Louden and she said they are still waiting for the district to approve so they can order equipment.
Beat Report 3
There has been much heated discussion on the Yahoo group about students not being able to keep math tests.
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