STAFF AND PHOTOGRAPHER
Publications Portfolio
This portfolio should allow you reflect on your year(s) in journalism. This portfolio must be typed,
designed and submitted as a PDF. This must have a professional look to it. I will be looking for a
well- designed portfolio (so, yes, design does matter- 200 points). This is 1000/1100 points of your
fourth nine weeks grade and your final evaluation for the class. Be honest with yourself and me.
Make sure your answers are as detailed as possible; short/brief answers are not the way to go. You
will be graded on grammar, so spell check and proofread everything! Put some thought into this.
• Don’t forget- if you are a returning staffer you are expected to have your previous portfolio(s)
included.
• DETAILS!! DETAILS!! DETAILS!! DETAILS!! Once you have completed your portfolio
draft, proofread it, spell check it, grammar check it and then do it all again. Have someone else look
it over, too.
• The portfolio concept/design should be evident on each page/spread.
• The portfolio must appear in this order. Think of designing as a spread, or for reflections to be on
the right side.
• The business elements (first two items) are due April 7/8 = 100 points, then the corrected and
final versions will also appear in the portfolio.)
Business elements (110 points total)- Create a professional looking package that has a consistent
look: same fonts, colors, graphics, etc. They need name, full address, phone, web address (if
applicable), Facebook and/or Twitter contact info, as well as other social medias you use (flickr,
tumblr, pintrest, four square, etc... (see example)
You will create two Resumes and two cover letters. One to post online and the other to keep as
your original copy. The online form needs to have your personal information removed such as your
address, phone numbers, etc.
1. Cover letter (50 points)- Create a professional cover letter to accompany your resume. This
cannot be longer than one page and should include: the position for which you are applying,
why you want the job, how your skills relate to the job, your knowledge of the organization.
(see example) DUE APRIL 7/8
2. Resume (60 points)- Create a professional resume. This cannot be longer than one page and
must contain six sections: Heading, Objective, Experience (and/or skills), Education,
Activities/Awards and References. (see example) DUE APRIL 7/8
3. ESSAY
A self-analytical evaluation (90 points)- How did you get started in journalism? What have learned in
this course this year. Provide specific examples regarding: actual production skills, deadlines,
teamwork, sales and/or advertising, journalism ethics and dedication. Why, if at all, was this a
valuable course to take? How can/will you use these skills in the future? DUE APRIL 10/11
STAFF AND PHOTOGRAPHER
4. Each is a separate entry:
Reflection #1 (50 points)- Choose what you consider to be your most significant piece of work
for the publication this year. Write a complete analysis of why this is your best work. Include: your
purpose and how easy or difficult it was to complete, how the work evolved from first effort to
published piece. Make specific references to the process you went through in creating this piece and
to anything you learned as you went along. Discuss what you particularly like about the finished
product. Be specific. Include first draft and final piece PDF. DUE APRIL 14/15
Reflection #2 (50 points)- Choose what you consider to be the piece that could still use work.
What did you learn, how did the work evolve from first effort to published piece, how could it be
further improved if you had the chance and what is your overall feeling about this piece now. Make
specific references to the process you went through in creating this piece. Include first draft and
final piece PDF. DUE APRIL 18/21
Reflection #3 (30 points) - How were you an asset to this staff and the 2014 edition of the
Appalachian Jr. Describe the extent of your commitment to the publication(s). Cite specific
examples. DUE APRIL 24/25
Reflection #4 (45 points)- a. What problems/hardships did you face this year? b. What did you
learn from the situation(s) and how would you handle those problems if they arose again? (Even if
you aren’t going to be on staff, some problems have life lessons to be learned.) c. Overall, how do
you feel you handled the situation? DUE APRIL 24/25
Reflection #5 (45 points)- At the mid-term you looked over your spreads and were asked, “What
three areas could you improve upon?” Did you succeed (or not and why)? Be specific.
DUE APRIL 24/25
Reflection #6 (45 points)- Look at the CSPA Crown Award Examples and/or the Gold Circle
Award Sampling Go to http://cspa.columbia.edu/ . These are located near bottom on of page.
Choose three items you would like to enter. Right click, save in your file directory: Yearbook:
Portfolio: CSPA Awards DUE APRIL 29/30
For each, provide the Award name, entry number, your selection title along with the page
number (and issue date, if applicable) and a brief paragraph of why you would like that piece
to represent you. Submit a thumbnail for quick reference.
Reflection #7 (60 points)- Look back at all of the pictures you have taken this year (photo days,
sports events, deadline subjects, etc...). Find three pictures you are proud you took. Place it on a
page along with a paragraph of why you are proud of the picture. Does it have an element of good
composition: center of visual interest, repetition, leading lines, rule of thirds, depth of field, framing
and/or filling the frame? What attracts you to this picture? DUE APRIL 29/30
STAFF AND PHOTOGRAPHER
5. Design (200 points) - You are to design two spreads that could be used for publication in
next year’s book. Both designs should have consistency (fonts, sizes, styles) and must
contain some form of secondary coverage that could be added to the library (you cannot use
something we already have). These should follow design rules. You are welcome to use
professional publications as inspiration. DUE MAY 5/6
Yearbook (design for one section. You may select a template and alter it): create a folio,
provide a head, subhead, body copy and byline style; layout needs an eyeline, 7 or 9 pictures,
captions by pictures (avoid clusters), good use of color, a folio and secondary coverage
(made to look like you want it to appear). Other graphic elements may be added. Don’t redo
what we have done! Be unique and creative.
6. PDF of portfolio (25 points)- Since you are to design your portfolio using Microsoft
Publisher you are to create the document in the order it is to appear then export as a PDF
print file (maurino_amanda 2014.pdf) and save in the Portfolios> PDF files folder.
Issuu version (50 points)- Upload your PDF to issuu.com
DATES to notice!!! Portfolios are NOT accepted late! Due: May 16, 2014
EVERYTHING IS DUE BY MAY 15/16
STAFF AND PHOTOGRAPHER
2014 Publications Portfolio Grade Sheet
Cover letter - includes: the position for which you are applying, why you want the job, how your
skills relate to the job, your knowledge of the organization.
Professional/neat/thorough _____/ (50 points)
Resume - contains six sections: Heading, Objective, Experience (and/or skills), Education,
Activities/Awards and References.
Professional/neat/thorough _____/ (60 points)
Self Analytical Essay How did you get started in journalism? What have you learned in this course
this year? Why, if at all, was this a valuable course to take? How can/will you use these skills in the
future? (30 points) Provide specific examples regarding:
actual production skills _____/ (10 points)
deadlines _____/ (10 points)
teamwork _____/ (10 points)
sales and/or advertising _____/ (10 points)
journalism ethics _____/ (10 points)
dedication _____/ (10 points)
photo name as saved on the server.
Essay neat/thorough _____/ (90 points)
Reflection #1 - Your most significant piece of work. Includes a complete analysis of why this is
your best work, your purpose and how easy or difficult it was to complete, how the work evolved
from first effort to published piece.
Reflection 1 neat/thorough _____/ (50 points)
Reflection #2 - Piece that could still use work. What did you learn, how did the work evolve from
first effort to published piece, how could it be further improved if you had the chance and what is
your overall feeling about this piece now.
Reflection 2 neat/thorough _____/ (50 points)
Reflection #3 - Three pictures you are proud you took. Do they have an element of good
composition: center of visual interest, repetition, leading lines, rule of thirds, depth of field, framing
and/or filling the frame? What attracts you to each picture? At the end of the paragraph provide the
photo name as saved on the server or CD.
Reflection 3 neat/thorough _____/ (60 points)
Reflection #4 - How were you an asset to this staff and the 2014 publication? Describe the extent
of your commitment to the publication. Cite specific examples.
Reflection 4 neat/thorough _____/ (30 points)
STAFF AND PHOTOGRAPHER
Reflection #5 - a. What problems/hardships did you face this year? b. What did you learn from the
situation(s) and how would you handle those problems if they arose again? (Even if you aren’t going
to be on staff, some problems have life lessons to be learned.) c. Overall, how do you feel you
handled the situation?
Reflection 5 neat/thorough _____/ (45 points)
Reflection #6 - At the mid-term you were asked, “What is your greatest weakness (publication
related).” What was this and how did you improve? Or “What are your three goals and how will you
accomplish.” Did you accomplish, why or why not. Be specific.
Reflection 6 neat/thorough _____/ (45 points)
Reflection #7 - CSPA Gold Circle- Choose three items you would like to enter. For each, provide
the entry number, your selection title along with the page number (and issue date, if applicable) and
a brief paragraph of why you would like that piece to represent you.
Reflection 7 neat/thorough_______/(45 points)
Design - You are to design two spreads that could be used for publication in next year’s
book/paper. Both designs should have consistency (fonts, sizes, styles) and must contain some form
of secondary coverage that could be added to the library (you cannot use something we already
have).
Designs follow rules/creative _____/ (200 points)
PDF of portfolio saved as last_first 2013.pdf Saved as PDF folder _____/ (25 points)
Issuu version - Upload your PDF to issuu.com then embed this into your site in the Portfolios section.
Uploaded _____/ (50 points)
Grammar, spelling, punctuation - _____ points
Portfolio TOTAL_____/(1000)
STAFF AND PHOTOGRAPHER