PORTFOLIO
NEWSPAPER FIRST SEMESTER 2018-2019
MAX SOTELO
SELF REFLECTION
This semester, I have been truly blown away and amazed at how dedicated the staff and editors are to making the paper the best that it can be. It’s not like last year in digital journalism, where I worked on the online newspaper and had less strict deadlines to meet. I have seen with my own eyes, time and time again, that without teamwork, the newspaper cannot come together. Especially while working on the video, I simply cannot film the videos without having a team there to record footage and also for moral support. It is especially challenging to work on the video without much special equipment or technical knowledge. The biggest challenge I have had as a leader is learning how to manage my time, balancing getting the video done and finishing my articles. This semester, I have improved my editing and videography skills, but besides that, I have basically done it all. I do video, write articles, I have taken photos, and with the creation of this portfolio, worked on InDesign. I can use all of these skills to build a foundation for a possible future career in journalism. Unlike when I was a student working on the online newspaper in my freshman year, the deadlines in the print newspaper are tremendously more strict. However, I still have usually managed to get my articles and videos done on time. In December, I picked up three articles on top of filming the video and I was amazed with myself at how I was able to get it all done on time. I have gained vast amounts of knowledge of the significance of ethics in journalism. I have learned that it is actually not so hard to remain objective in a piece of writing. Also, there was a situation where I really needed a quote for my speed trending article in the December issue, and I had interviewed a teacher but I did not realize that my phone was not recording the interview until I got to my computer afterwards to type the quote. I could have just typed what I remembered of the interview, but this would not have been ethical. The next day, I ended up going to the teacher’s classroom again, explaining what had happened, and I made sure that my phone was recording her quotes. I do not think I have ever dedicated so much to anything in my entire life before. There are not many clubs that interest me on campus, but newspaper has provided me with an overall rewarding hobby. I take pride in the little things, such as knowing that I come up with a number of the headlines that go in the newspaper, and in . But also, I have done as much as I possibly can to help make the newspaper the best it can be. When I finish everything I need to do, I ask around, “Do you need me to do anything?” I have stayed at my computer working on editing the video during lunch. One challenge I have faced this semester is that it is personally very hard for me to be proud of anything I do. I love working on the video, but it is hard for me to watch without noticing every tiny imperfection that I should have taken care of while I was editing it. I should have learned by now that people usually don’t notice everything that my perfectionist mind does, and that due to the fact that I spend so much time rewatching the video multiple times, I notice all of the little imperfections and I don’t take the time to appreciate how great the video really is.
REFLECTION #1
My most significant work this semester has been the homecoming video for the October issue of the newspaper. This was our first video of the year and one of the first pieces of work I have been able to watch and be proud of. I wanted the first video to be amazing, as I was super excited to begin working on video for the CS Press. This video was definitely challenging but worth the effort. I spent much time during lunch and during class editing it. When it was finally uploaded, the video received much acclaim from my peers and teachers. I especially like how the interviews turned out from this video.
During the making of this video, I felt a certain type of pressure to make it the best thing I’ve ever done. It was an easy topic, homecoming, but I worked predominantly on this one video up until a few days before the paper got sent to the printer. While making this video, I worked with my own camera from home, which was a learning experience for both Miah and me. We experimented with filming from different angles during an interview with the camera and an iPhone. Before we started editing the video, I sort of knew that it was going to be a good video, but I also felt like it wasn’t going to come together.
REFLECTION #2 The three pieces of work I am most proud of from this semester are my CTED video, my article spotlighting Ms. Marsh after the election, and the homecoming video.
“CTED program comes to CCUSD” - NOVEMBER Getting to visit the EVIT campus near my hometown of Gilbert and recording footage of the school was an incredibly remarkable experience that I truly enjoyed. The experience of producing this video was enjoyable for me because I truly believe that the CTED program is beneficial to schools and would be an amazing thing to have in Cave Creek.
“Marsh loses bid for state senate seat” - DECEMBER Writing this article was fun because I have had Ms. Marsh before as a teacher my freshman year. I am specifically proud of how this article did not focus too much on her loss in the election, but it focused more on the future and what was next for Marsh. I learned some valuable information from her that really helped put the article together.
“Homecoming 2018” - OCTOBER Like I mentioned in my first reflection, I really am very proud of it because I put all of my effort into creating this. The first video of the semester reeks of motivation and determination for a good year for videos. I enjoyed interviewing the student body president and getting to have fun while filming the B-roll for it. I enjoyed the positive feedback we received from this video and how well we covered this event from the angle of how Tropical Storm Rosa affected homecoming this year.
TEAR SHEETS SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
TEAR SHEETS NOVEMBER
DECEMBER