Sadie Thompson's Portfolio 2016

Sadie Thompson’s Portfolio 2016-2017

Self- analytical evaluation

Since this is my third year in yearbook I feel like I have developed a lot of people skills towards everyone in the class. I have a very different way of leading than the other two editor in chief’s. My style of leading is more relaxed.

I like everyone to think of me as their friend and I also want everyone to know that I have their back and will help them with anything they need. If I would do something differently it would probably have the team members think more for themselves because when someone is being lazy I just like to take matters into my own hands and so I don’t have to worry about it being completed on time. Being a leader does have a lot of pros and cons.

Some of the pros are that the staff respect you a lot and they feel that you know the answer to everything which makes me strive to be a better journalist. Some cons though would be having to crack down on your friends in yearbook, it’s even harder when they are the same age as you. I don’t think I will change how I lead next semester, I feel like how I have lead year works for my position and for my peers.

Production and deadlines are easily the most stressful part of

my job. Editing every story in the yearbook can be very time consuming and very meticulous. It’s hard seeing someone work really hard on a story and having to pin point out all of the issues with it but still encouraging them that the story is good. It’s also very stressful when it’s a very terrible story and it takes me thirty minutes just reading through it thinking of ideas to make it more interesting or just flat out changing it completely. I’m not too upset with all of the hard work because I’m going to use all of these skills for my major in college.

I feel like my dedication shows a lot through my work. This year I can easily say that the stories in the yearbook are they best they’ve ever been since I’ve been in the program and multiple people would agree. The angles and interviews are very in depth and are actually interesting. My major weakness is probably procrastination. I have so much going on in my life right now with sports, family, friends, and getting ready for college that my plate is full enough with out yearbook. For the future I just have to keep reminding myself that yearbook is a major priority.

Reflection #1

Being the copy editor means that I have a say in all of the writing in the book, I have dipped into every story in the book. My favorite story that I have written is the first day of school story. The lead is written very nicely and it is an all around well written story. Stories come pretty easily to me, so it didn’t take too long to write.

I was just in charge of writing the story so all of the interviews and hard work was already done for me. When writing a story I do my own take on it. I always start with the bulk of the story and then when my creative juices get flowing, that is when I come up with a catchy lead and headline.

My other favorite piece of work would have to be the homecoming mod I did for Kate’s spread. The mod is a take on Daisy and Griffin’s relationship kind of behind the scenes. The process that I went through to make it was I first called in Daisy and asked her a series of questions, and then I typed them up. Later that class period, I called in Griffin and asked him the same questions based on Daisy. The whole point of the mod was to see how well Griffin knows Daisy. Of course he got almost every question the exact same answer as Daisy. The mod was very different and turned out really cute, I am very pleased with it.

Copy editor

Personally, my role in yearbook this year has probably been the most important than the rest of my years in the class. My first year in yearbook I was just a team member so obviously I just did the grunt work. After going to New York my sophomore year and learning so much I advanced my role my junior year to being a team leader. I was very overwhelmed but I feel I handled it very well and produced a lot of good work. My senior year I was chosen to be one of the three editor in chief’s and specifically the copy editor.

The copy editor deals with every single word that is in the yearbook. So I’ve edited and critiqued every single story in the yearbook. My favorite part of my job, and most important I believe, is coming up with story angles. The key to a great story is a great angle. Mrs. Hart as my witness says that the writing in the yearbook is one of the best she’s seen since she has been in the program and that says a lot. Even the quality of work before I receive the stories is pretty decent.

Since summer camp the amount of knowledge that

I have learned is insane.

I really try to grasp everything I am learning and study it because journalism is what I’m majoring in, in college. Not only is my grade in yearbook good but I also have a 93% in my English 101 class and I just received a 94% on my last essay which is very impressive considering that it is a college level class and it is very rare to get an A on any essay in Mr. LaVigne’s class.

I feel like I achieved most of the goals I set for myself going into my senior year of yearbook. I want to get an A really bad in this class and I feel that I am capable of that after this project, and also because out of all of my semesters in yearbook I’ve always received an A. Not only did I set the goal for better writing in the book but I also wanted the staff as a whole to become better writers. Next year I am unsure if my position will be filled so I hope that I have taught the class this year enough for them to succeed next year. Overall I am very happy with how the yearbook is turning out and I definitely see a crown in our future.

All About ME