Bry Leach Portfolio

News writing and reporting portfolio

MIPA Student Journalist Staff application

Bryanna Leach

Cover

News writing and reporting portfolio

Writing

This is a sophisticated, in-depth news style article. This story I wrote on the state’s school ranking practices exemplifies that, and shows my ability to communicate with professionals such as government workers.

Page one

News writing and reporting portfolio

Writing

This article is important to me because it is the first article I had published. It was written over the summer of 2012 at the MIPA summer workshop and edited it to relate back to my school for publishing on our first day issue. With this article, I was able to cover a national issue, and relate it back to my school.

Page two

News writing and reporting portfolio

Writing

This article was the result of a lack of entertainment material the day before publication and my adviser assigned me the extra story. In between the time I got home from school and the time I went to bed, I had the interview done, the story written, edited and ready to be placed on the page.

The subject of the piece also lived 200 miles away at the time, so all interviews had to be done from afar.

Page three

News writing and reporting portfolio

Writing

My first year on staff, I was a “freelance” writer for the newspaper due to scheduling conflicts, so all of the work was done on my own time.

This article exemplifies the early stages of my ability to illustrate people within a short story, as well as interview many sources and put the information I am given together in a well-writen piece.

This story required another fastpaced deadline, as we published soon after the game’s date, which was announced only a few days in advance. I obtained special media passes to be on the floor of the Breslin Center where I reported and took photos for the story package.

Page four

News writing and reporting portfolio

Writing

When I heard about the incorporation of the Smart Snacks in Schools initiative at the beginning of this year, I immediately wanted to write an article to explore the real effects that the law would have. An issue I found was with the ambiguity of the nature of the law, which many professionals I talked to could not even explain.

Page five

News writing and reporting portfolio

Writing

The more mature nature of this story brought out the softer side to my interviewing and writing style. To interview a student about something so personal was difficult, I had to be extremely careful as to not offend them in any way while still maintaining the focus of my job.

Page six

News writing and reporting portfolio

Writing

This piece was a difficult one to write, due to the close timing of me writing it and the information coming out and changing, I had to pay attention daily to the new information being presented by the state and double check accuracy within the article when all was done because of the extremely important factual nature of the story.

Page seven

News writing and reporting portfolio

Writing

What I didn’t ask for

This column was a turning point for me — from the unbiased, generalized reporter into one with a voice, a concern, an opinion.

Through writing this I learned that although sometimes it is necessary to be impartial in writing, there is a time and a place where it is also my job to speak with a purpose, as someone whom people listen to. I wrote this in the Bobby Hawthorne Experience last summer, and although its touchy nature has led to it being unpublished thus far, I intend to have it published in college, where student newspapers are more laissez faire.

The last clear memory I have from that night is the first shot of that clear booze.

It was a cheap vodka that tasted like Lysol.

I also remember chugging Dragonberry Bacardi. I remember the nameless bottle that had a Flamingo on it.

I don’t remember much of anything after that, and God knows what else there was to remember.

When I came to a couple of hours later, I remember looking up from my daze and seeing a massive figure - a boy. He was older than me, late teens or early twenties, with light hair and blue eyes that at a first glance, looked innocent enough. Like a baby face. But he was naked, and so was I. I was a babbling mess. I tried to say “No,” tried to tell him to get off of me, but no words came out. I tried to move, but my body was numb from the countless shots I’d taken and no part of me could get the strength to move from that bed.

The bed that I had laid in to comfort my limp, drunken body.

What I got was the farthest thing from comfort.

At 5 a.m. the next morning, I dashed out of that putrid trailer. The carpets were blotched with leftover stains from booze spills, vomit, and ashes from a spilled hookah. The air had the reminiscing smell of tobacco smoke mixed with weed.

The night before was not unlike any other in this house - a bunch of lonely teenagers looking for something to do, a way to escape their rotten lives. This was the party house - the kids lived alone and everyone knew they could get away with whatever they desired in this shack. I left with the vow that I’d never go back.

When I walked into the trailer, I had a vague, although naive, knowledge of what I was getting into. I heard of kids going there after school to drink, smoke, and hookup. I knew the stories of how many girls this boy had been with and how messed up they all were. But I didn’t know how easy it would be for me to drown in the alcohol, I didn’t know that chances were I’d wake up the next day to texts about the night that I’d never remember, I didn’t know that I was going to spend a night with a stranger that I never would have even kissed sober.

The difference between me and the other girls is that I am not going to let myself be taken advantage of. I did get too drunk that night. But I was also raped. He knew that I wasn’t with it, that I couldn’t scream NOOOOO! couldn’t stand up for myself, would just have to let him have his way.

He raped me.

I’m not a party girl. I’m the girl who everyone goes to with questions about the latest Student Council activities. I’m an editor on my school’s newspaper. I’m in National Honors Society and Rotary Club. I’ve been on the dance team and in the choir and in the chorus of four school musicals, including Les Mis and Phantom.

I’m a good girl. Not a party girl.

But for that one night, I was. And someone who should have helped me acted not just like a criminal, but the lowest form of an animal.

Page eight

News writing and reporting portfolio

Nw.

Design

2

The Comets’ Tale • News • October 2014

Summer projects promote pride at GLHS

Last year brown goo leaked from the roof, dripping water in the cafeteria; the gym floors were scoffy and gross, carpets in the classrooms smelled like mildew; and one classroom could be sweltering hot while another could be freezing cold. This year students will not have to deal with most of these problems due to the new renovations that happened over the summer.

The new renovations include: re-roofing over the English hall, kitchen and pool area; the heating and cooling airlines in the basement were replaced; the new gym floor was completely refinished and has new wood, and completely new carpets in five of the English classrooms.

Comet pride for the new gym floor One of the most visible changes is the new gym floor.

The gym floor wood was original, dating back more than 18 years. Floors after 10 to 15 years need to be completely sanded down and when that happens, the paint is removed too.

The floor has not been sanded down since 1996.

“The previous paint had faded to the point that it was bluegreen and not even close to our school colors,” athletic director Steve Baker said. “Our new floor is all about Comet Pride — the big GL logo in the middle, Comets in huge letters on both ends and our Comet mascot in both areas on the floor.”

The new floor design also includes volleyball lines, basketball courts, 15 sets of agility dots and an agility ladder, which helps both the physical education department and school teams for training. The total cost of the new floor was just over $20,000, keeping in mind that next year and every year after, between $5,000 and $7,000 will be spent to scrub and refinish the gym floor.

“The feedback we have been getting so far on the new floor from students and community members has been great,” Baker said. “I think it is the best looking gym floor in the CAAC!” Above: This summer, new roofing pads were Cooler classrooms for students and teachers installed to protect the roof from being damaged If any students had John Ellsworth as a teacher last year, by ice in the winter. Icesicles form on the peaks they remember how hot his classroom was near the end of of the pool roof and can potentially puncture it. the year, but maintenance grounds supervisor John Piper said that this year, hopefully classrooms will have minimal issues. Over the summer, Piper and his maintenance staff replaced two miles worth of air lines down the main halls of the entire school; science, math, foreign language, English and social studies hall. The old air lines were rubber and became Right: After 18 years of constant use, the gym brittle over time. This created tiny holes in the rubber that floor was redone. The resigned floor shows allowed air leaks, so the right amount of air pressure was Comet pride and school spirit with the GL logo not being circulated throughout the building. The process and mascot Winkey. The floor will be scrubbed took a total of 60 days for the crew to finish. Most rooms in and refinished again every year to keep it mainthe high school are run separately with heating and cooling tained. valves, but six rooms are set on computers called DDC (Direct Digital Control ). DDC makes checking heating and cooling easier, as well as troubleshooting a problem. Converting the entire high school into DDC would be more expensive, but would also be easier and more reliable in the future. If the bond had passed last school year then the whole district would have been moved towards DDC. Piper hopes to see things go winter, Taylor’s univent had a frozen coil which leaked water all over the floor and caused a huge orange rust stain that smelled. more in this direction in the future.

“My new carpet is amazing,” Taylor said. “It smells lovely and makes New carpets for English teachers Lots of students complain about the musty smell of classrooms, the room look new and put together.” especially when it is humid out in the English hall. The blue and grey Re-roofing over the high school The biggest project that happened over the summer was the reconcarpet was over 20 years old. Five English classrooms had new carpets installed. Two of these teachers, Jeff Belding and Abigail Taylor, struction of the school roof over the kitchen and cafeteria, between requested new carpet. Belding requested a new carpet in 2012. Last pool and the gym, and just short of the library. Last year water leaked down into the ceiling because the outer membrane of the roof was Sarah Clinkscales ‘15

MANAGING EDITOR

Sarah Clinkscales/The Comets’ Tale

Courtesy Photo

peeling away from the side walls, leaving pockets for water to fill and drip into the building. Also, added to the roof nearest to the pool was roofing pads, so that during the winter, when icicles form and fall, it will not puncture the roof. Modern Roofing, an outside bidder did the construction, and Clark Construction was the general contractor. The bid cost approximately $397,000. It was the longest and biggest project to manage, starting from the third week of June to a week before school started.

Juniors raising the bar in a new prep class

“The first week of school with, based on the stats from the test taken last year. went very well, which in my English will cover commas, judging relevance, expresclass involved kids getting to sion choice and transitions - the four most missed know my expectations,” sci- types of questions on the English portion of the ACT. ence teacher Michelle Hamilton said. “We focused the In the science rotation, students will be learning parfirst lesson on how to utilize and read tables. ticular strategies focused on how to read different viStudents did hands-on labs, including a pH lab and sual representations including tables, bar graphs, line a student measurement lab. graphs, and multi-line graphs. For math, it is broken “It is my belief that students who learn how to make into three categories; pre-algebra, algebra and geomand construct these ACT like diagrams themselves will etry. Each section is broken into sub categories like have a better understanding of how to read and ap- fractions and basic trigonometry for example. proach these visuals when they see them on the ACT,” “One of the biggest areas we want to improve is helpHamilton said. ing students make In 13 weeks 160 the connection from juniors, who did not class to the ACT,” have a college ready Westen said. score on their spring The first week of ACT, will be rotated the ACT class went through three classes smoothly according focusing on the subto Pippin. All three jects covered by the teachers met with ACT: English, math their students in the and science. Students library on the first will spend four weeks day and asked them in one class; one rotato fill in a blank on a tion will be with Hampiece of paper about ilton focusing on scihow they felt about ence ACT strategies, taking the class. another with Jennifer “I think that this Pippin focusing on class will help a lot,” English and reading junior Amy Case strategies and lastsaid. “I just wish ly will be with Katie they had told me Sarah Clinkscales/The Comets’ Tale Westen, focusing on about it last year ACT English teacher Jennifer Pippin goes over practice test probMath strategies. when I was making lems as a warm-up for junior students. The class is meant to boost Hamilton worked my schedule.”

ACT scores for juniors. as a tutor at Sylvan For junior Madfor roughly five years die Loftus, one of teaching ACT strategy classes. the most stressful part about the ACT is that in one “My tutoring background has given me general test test she has to apply everything she has learned for the strategies including identifying the types of science past 17 years. passages; how to find information quickly, what stanStudents review the topic, correct their actual ACT dard vocabulary will be consistently used on the ACT,” test from last spring and practice new problems. At Hamilton said. “I will also teach appropriate pacing the end of the trimester students will take a practice and different methods of attack that limit the amount ACT again, and based on that score they could receive of time spent on each section.” a letter grade, which would impact their GPA. HowThe average for last year’s ACT score was 21, as- ever, if a student does not get a letter grade they are sistant principal Sarah Hamelink hopes this course happy with then they can choose to accept the credit will better prepare 160 students’ to score higher. The but not have it impact their GPA at all. Students will goal of the class is to help juniors better prepare for receive an elective credit for the course. the ACT and be more college ready. The curriculum Westen hopes that after this year the school will have in the class is based off of two things: the areas where enough money to be able to support offering this class the school wholistically struggled as well as what the to all juniors. group of students in the class individually need help Sarah Clinkscales ‘15

MANAGING EDITOR

Although design is not my focus, I design one page every month to keep my Adobe skills sharp. Designing pages for our newspaper requires communication and teamwork, which has proven to be important and beneficial to me growing as a journalist in every way.

Sara-Beth Badalamente/The Comets’ Tale

During third hour principal Steve Gabriel presents information to the newspaper staff on how schools are ranked in the state. During the presentation there were examples activities such as blindly comparing schools to each other.

Comet-in-Charge Before the 20142015 school year started, principal Steve Gabriel had already been through weeks of meetings in preparation for the new year.

Among other things, the school has had to prepare for junk foods being taken out of schools across America due to new nutrition standards, and introducing a mentoring program to improve students’ success at GLHS. Junk food - Due to the Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards that took effect this year, junk snacks can no longer be sold for consumption during school hours.

This includes vending machines, school stores and lunch lines as well as student Bry Leach ‘15

NEWS EDITOR

run fundraisers like bake sales. Snacks sold now during school hours must follow a specific health standard, including being under 200 calories.

Mentoring program - This year, GLHS is reaching out to specific students with a mentoring program targeted at those with below average attendance, behavior and/ or grades. A list was compiled of students in this criteria, and teachers chose those whom they want to help throughout the year. It is based off of the University of Minnesota’s Check and Connect program.

The goal is that they will meet with their recruits on a regular basis in hopes of improving their performance in school and making a connection that will help the student overall.

Take a photo of this QR code for a link to more information about the Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards that took effect in schools this year.

Page nine

News writing and reporting portfolio

Sl.

Design

8

The Comets’ Tale • Student Life • November 2014

Cigarettes, sexiness and sass take over the stage Bry Leach ‘15 News Editor

Grease is the word at GLHS this fall, although maybe an inappropriate one.

With seven minute stage kisses, a pregnancy scare, and “cigarettes” on stage, Grease is one of the more racy productions that the high school has seen.

“There are some risque and sexual scenes—it’s not quite as bad as the movie but there are some adult-content type things similar to ‘Les Miserables,’ which also had adult content,” director Tracey Clark said. “I would say it’s no worse than Les Mis. Les Mis had drinking and Grease has drinking. Grease has fake cigarettes, Les Mis didn’t have fake cigarettes. Les Mis had prostitutes, Grease doesn’t have prostitutes, but there is kissing.”

Senior Rachel Rayl plays bad girl Rizzo, which she and Clark agree is the most controversial character portrayed. Rayl feels that Rizzo is a relatable character on an emotional level, however, noting how Rizzo has a confidence and spunk that Rayl herself relates to.

“She kind of has an attitude and is a little mean sometimes, and I have an attitude and I can be a little mean sometimes — but she’s also really positive and believes in herself, so I can connect with the role a little bit,” Rayl said. “She’s very badass in the sense that she doesn’t really care what other people think about her and I like that about her, too.”

However, Rizzo’s “I don’t care” attitude goes a little farther than Rayl would relate to, like in scenes where the teenager shows off her bad side.

“Rizzo is very risque, she thinks that she’s pregnant and her and Knickey get it on a little bit,” Rayl said.

Many of the actors are pushed out of their comfort zone by the edgy show, but Clark said her cast handles it well. Most of the “awkward moments” have come during the first rehearsals of specific scenes, when performers have experienced their first Grease stage kiss.

“You know you’re kissing in front of all these people and even though it’s not a “real” kiss, it’s real,” Clark said.

With only two weeks left before the first curtain is drawn, shows are already selling out despite the content.

“I remember being young and watching it, and now as an adult I’m like wow I can’t believe my parents let me watch that, but at that point I didn’t get the context of the stuff,” Clark said. “Some people say it’s a kid friendly show and I think that depends on the parent. I’m bringing my kids because I think it’s a kid friendly show and if my kids have a question about it I can talk to them about it. I say to parents, ‘Have you seen the movie?’ and they say ‘yes’ so I say ‘well then you know what could potentially be in it and if you’re comfortable with your kids seeing that or talking to them about that then bring them.’”

The generation of John Travolta and Olivia Newton—John fans are expected to make a big turnout to the musical, although Clark points out that some lifetime fans will be shocked by the differences from the 1978 movie to the musical.

“I think a lot of people will come because a lot of people love Grease, especially my generation,” Clark said. “They love the songs and it’s fun. A lot of people will come because they have a fondness from their childhood.”

Top: Senior Jake Wilson and junior Olivia Conaty practice their roles, Kenickie and Rizzo.

Right: Wilson and Conaty work together on a scene. They will perform together in the Blue cast during the fall musical.

Middle: Senior Rachel Rayl recites her lines. Rayl plays Rizzo in the Gold cast for Grease.

Left: Cast members practice their various parts in preparation for the show, opening Nov.13.

Photos by Bry Leach/ The Comets’ Tale

More information about Grease can be found at

glmusicals.net

Bottom: Cast members rehearse their roles on stage during blocking, when some are learning what to do during a specific scene.

WANTED:

ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, SCIENTISTS, AND VISIONARIES. Lawrence Technological University isn’t for just anyone. We want the future designers, engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs who will create the innovations of tomorrow.

If you believe that everything is possible, and that possible is everything, we want you at LTU. Check out our Students’ View of LTU video at www.ltu.edu/svv.

Ready to apply now? Visit ltu.edu/applyfree.

Not only does this page represent my design skills, but it also contains my writing and my photography.

This page was mine from start to finish, so it truly allowed me to have a vision and see it through in the writing, pictures and presentation.

POSSIBLE IS EVERYTHING.

Architecture and Design | Arts and Sciences | Engineering | Management

Lawrence Technological University | Office of Admissions 21000 West Ten Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075-1058 | 800.225.5588 | admissions@ltu.edu | www.ltu.edu

Page ten

News writing and reporting portfolio

6

Ft.

Design

The Comets’ Tale • Sports • January 2015

FASHION ICONS of the TWENTIETH CENTURY STEAL THEIR LOOK for less

Marilyn Monroe’s iconic

Seven Year Itch dress, designed by William Travilla, has been seen around the world. The well known movie scene has been mimiced in modern movie such as “The House Bunny.”

Oleg Cassini was hired by

the Kennedys to dress Jackie for many of her

outings from 1961-1963.

This peach A-line dress was worn by the first lady on a trip to India in 1962.

The “Revenge Dress” was worn by Princess Diana on the evening of Prince George’s public statement announcing his affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles, now the Dutchess of Cornwall.

The People’s Princess almost didn’t wear the dress, for fear that it was too daring.

1955

1962 1994

ASOS, Pleated Midi Dress With Plunge Neck $90.96 asos.com

Rotita, Pretty Summer Essential Sleeveless Zip Fly Dress Pink $15.34 rotita.com

Forever 21, Glitter Velveteen Bodycon Dress $17.90 forever21.com

Shoes to match the style To complete your outfits make sure you shop the shoe department

Madden Girl Propose Platform Pumps $39.99 Macys.com

Ann Marino Kingdom Pump $14.94 DSW.com

Bandolino Capture Platform Pump $19.94 DSW.com

Bry Leach ‘15 News Editor Even before the royal wedding, The Duchess of Cambridge was stunning the world with her elegant style and natural beauty. Princess Kate’s wedding dress complimented much of her wardrobe, being designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. As many sources have noted, whenever Kate wears something, it goes

out of stock immediately. In 2011, Kate wore a Reiss dress to meet the Obama family. As Reiss’ founder and managing director, David Reiss, told Marie Claire, “The surge in web traffic following the release of the images (of Kate in our dress) caused our website to crash. The dress promptly sold out online when service was

resumed.”

The Princess is even well dressed in pieces of more modest prices, being spotted in Zara jewlery at Red Carpet events. Many of her casual dresses in shoes cost in the hundreds of dollars, a cheap pricetag for the palace.

Photos from “100 Unforgetable Dresses”

An Iconic Comet : Rachel Yee The style of this one pager was different for me, as I am used to writing feature and news stories. My goal was to have a package that would attract more of high schoolers’ interests and be a fun, refreshing page in our newspaper.

An outfit insired Betsey Johnson. Johnson’s style is over the top and colorful. The shirt and the skirt is from Forever 21. Yee likes Betsey Johnson because Johnson’s outfits and designs are “just so crazy.”

Zooey Deschanel inspired this simple and quirkey dress. Deschanel is known for her TV role in the Fox hit “New Girl.”

A near-by store to find the Mary Jane shoes is Meijer.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City had iconic outfits and style.

This outfit was styled very similarly to the her charector Carrie Bradshaw. The fun lepord sweater is from Forever 21.

This outfit is inspired by Blair Waldrof, a main charector in the popular show “Gossip Girl.”

A very similar look to Waldrof when she wears a classic skirt and tights.

The shirt and the socks are from Yee’s favrotie store: Free People.

Kelly Osburne is a host on on E!’s show Fashion Police and has a signiture style of her own. This Osburne inspired outfit Yee is wearing is from Nordstorm (Studded Collar shirt) and Urban Outiftters (Shorts).

Senior Rachel Yee steps into GLHS everyday wearing noteably spunky, creative outfits. She draws inspiration for the outfits from many sources, from designers to celebrities to television characters.

Yee’s favorite place to shop is Free People, many of her clothes also come from Forever 21. She also dons clothes from top designers, such as the bright coral heels

by Michael Kors.

Photos by Sarah Sims/ The Comets’ Tale

Page eleven

News writing and reporting portfolio

Sl.

Photostory

6

The Comets’ Tale • Student Life • October 2014

1

Sarah Sims/The Comets’ Tale

3 2

This page was a project that I worked on with another member of staff. We both took photos, I wrote the story and she designed the page. It shows not only journalistic ability, but also my ability to work with another person and compromise on a page to get a holistic final product.

1. “Calculus is probably the most important one,” senior Jared Babcock said. He praised GLHS’s 11 AP classes offered at the school while fellow classmates Chris Occhiuto and Jake Devlin donned AP Chemistry sweater vests as a tribute to teacher Ben Lorsen’s top of choice.

2. GLHS varsity cheerleaders perform a cheer in front of the student section for the camera.

3. WILX reporter Haley Nelson gets ready to interview various groups at GLHS, such as the girls’ basketball, the equestrian team and the archery team. Groups were hand picked by principal Steve Gabriel to show Comet Pride.

4. Performing “We Go Together” is the cast of “Grease.” Tickets are now on sale for the musical that is in November.

5. Senior drum major Ryan Gerhardt conducts GLHS’s marching band and drum line to rally up student section.

6. Senior Hunter Locker talks about the volunteer work members of the National Technical Honors Society participate in.

Bry Leach/The Comets’ Tale

Sarah Sims/The Comets’ Tale

4

5

Comet P.R.I.D.E. goes live

Sarah Sims/The Comets’ Tale

Bry Leach/The Comets’ Tale

6

For the second year Bry Leach ‘15 in a row, students NEWS EDITOR filed into the new gym at 5 a.m. on Sept. 19 for WILX’s “Schools Rule!” program.

After impressing WILX’s staff last year, the broadcasting station decided to showcase GLHS at the kickoff of their program this school year.

“We looked over footage from different schools and Grand Ledge was really cooperative and we had a good time there, it was stress free for us,” video journalist Haley Nelson said.

Noticeably more students were present at this year’s event, with the whole east side of the bleachers filled, even while band and other clubs were on the floor. Last years attendance of roughly 400 was easily beat, with principal Steve Gabriel estimating over 500 students were in attendance.

Another distinct feature that GLHS offered

Sarah Sims/The Comets’ Tale

to WILX was the variety of sports teams, clubs and performances showcased during the shoot.

The Madrigals sang the Star Spangled Banner, the “Grease” cast performed “You’re The One That I Want,” and the band pumped students up throughout the event, as well as getting their own block on the show.

Gabriel was pleased with how the program turned out—from the attendance to the pepped up student section. “‘Schools Rule’ was awesome,” Gabriel said. “I was very happy with the way it turned out—not only how everybody performed and represented us here but also the way it came across on TV. I hear there were some audio problems with the first couple sections that had nothing to do with us—but the stuff that I saw as well as the story that ran at 6 o’clock put us in a pretty good light.”

Page twelve

News writing and reporting portfolio

Web

This story was written for the Online edition of our paper soon after news broke of the ACT’s appeal. The article was written within one class hour to be used as one of the first articles on our new website.

Page thirteen