DAISY BOLIN
NEWS GATHERING
BUILDING A NEW FUTURE
September, 2016
I wrote this story about the installation of electric car chargers for the SMSD district in the newly built all-purpose building. This was partly tied to the use of spending which I later wrote about. I spoke with the deputy superintendent and researched the uses of the building through the building coordinator, planners and East staff.
To read the story click on the photo.
Photo courtesy of: MCT Campus
CUTTING MORE THAN SPENDING
March, 2016
I spent two weeks along with my co-writer interviewing PTA members of the SMSD district, attending education board meetings, speaking with political officials of our area and talking to hesitant staff from our school. Staff was hesitant because they felt they would risk their jobs to speak against the districts choices and political officials typically scooted around answers to questions directly associated with the budget. I spent ample time going through past years budgets for the district and analyzing previous major changes such as cuts.
To read the story click on the photo.
RECOGNITION
After the paper is sent in to print, I started recognizing staffers who showed excellent journalistic qualities, worked especially hard or improved a skill throughout the two week cycle. This has benefitted the staff because not only are people recognized briefly for their improvements but they are then encouraged to further work on their skill. Because of this new recognition period each cycle, I have seen many staffers work harder on their next projects, designs and articles. It has also motivated multiple talented students to plan ahead, have plentiful sources and take on hefty edits and critique so that they may be recognized and in turn, they work harder for the sake of journalism.
LEADERSHIP / TEAMBUILDING
PASSION-PALOOZA PRESENTATION
After reading through one of our final issues this year, I realized how many stories seemed half-baked. They weren't as good as they could've been and I was offended to find out that certain people were avoiding "harder editors." To address the issue I gathered the class, read an impactful story and then presented this power point.
CAMERA OPERATING
In addition to Snapchatting and Tweeting, frequently I am a camera operator following the action of each play in primarily football and basketball.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
BREAKDOWN PREVIEWS
September, 2016
To incorporate mixed media with sports games and promote broadcasts, I encouraged the creation of breakdown previews. These were designs to show the record comparison between teams before they play. The breakdowns were posted on both Twitter and Instagram.
COPY EDITOR TESTS
August, 2017
As Head Copy Editor, it's my job to ensure that copy editors are editing consistently and improving relationships among their groups. In order to check up on the editing styles and quality of edits, I started printing rough stories for each copy editor and giving them two days to edit it the best they could. Once all articles were turned in edited, I meticulously went through each. I added edits and comments to show different ways to approach structure and reminders of important AP style rules. I returned these copy tests graded and talked to each copy editor about what they can work on. I also gave each of them the opportunity to tell me what I can improve on when editing.
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DESIGNS
BRAINSTORMS
At the beginning of each cycle I lead a brainstorm with the class to choose story ideas, come up with potential angles and name sources for each writer. This form of brainstorm with all writers is beneficial because it allows everyone to hear other input for the story they will write and gather information and sources early. Because we frequently have new staff members, I work on bringing new people into the conversation so they are able to learn initiative and become comfortable with open conversation and offering ideas in the journalism room.
Plato
"Writing is the geometry of the soul"
CUTTING MORE THAN SPENDING
March, 2016
In order to write about the district's controversial budget, I had to research the past six budgets created by SMSD. I also dissected the different areas which fluctuated and contacted former board members to hear their contributions. Another important part about writing this was understanding each term and sector of the budget because certain numbers go to certain functions for schools which explains the budget's deficit in areas. It was important to speak with multiple members of both political parties as well because of the bias point of view. This story was one of the most informative pieces I've delved into.
NEWS LITERACY
MULTIMEDIA BROADCAST
DURING MANY GAMES, I BROADCAST SCORES, PARTS OF GAMES, AND STUDENT INPUT THROUGH SNAPCHAT. MANY STUDENTS FOLLOW OUR STORIES TO STAY UPDATED.
THIS IS THE MOST RECENT GAME I SNAPCHAT-BROADCASTED. I STOOD IN THE STUDENT SECTION FOR PART OF THE TIME TO CAPTURE THE ENERGY OF THE CROWD.
I HAVE TWEETED MULTIPLE GAMES. OUR TWITTER HAS 3,138 FOLLOWERS AND IS USED BY MANY STUDENTS AS WELL AS PARENTS AND FACULTY TO STAY UPDATED ON SCORES.
PHOTOJOURNALISM
Visual collection of photos I have taken as a journalist.
Top left: Woman hand sewing labels in China. Top middle: Senior cries at the end of graduation ceremony. Top right: graduate looks at her mom and smiles. Bottom left: Automatic thread maker in China factory. Bottom middle: Two best friends talk about how they met.  Bottom right: Woman poses with her fiancé as she brags about their engagement and her new purchases.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
April, 2017
I wrote this piece shortly after a boy killed himself while I was across the street nannying. I knew the boy and when our publication decided to write a piece in regards to suicide, I chose to write to those coping with loss by suicide. In order to write this I conducted a series of interviews with psychologists, therapists, teens who were previously suicidal and an assortment of people suffering with loss. I learned the proper and respectful way in which to write about loss by suicide, the diction to use, the amount of addressing I was able to do and the clarifications I needed to make. My education on this topic was vital to empathetically and effectively appeal to a reader both emotionally and ethically.
LAW AND ETHICS
EDITING
My first rule of editing my own writing is to put myself in the subject's shoes. This allows me to check whether or not I have done their story justice and ensure that I have properly quoted them. The next step is to get away from the story:Â walk, nap, eat. Next, I reread the story asking myself as many questions as possible: Why does this matter? What did I learn from this? Who is this person? How? Finally, I read the story out loud to find grammatical and structural errors.
note: the story below was also edited by others.
When editing another writer's story, it's important to first read their story through without editing. This gives the editor a general feel for major errors and what exactly it is they are editing. The second thing is to go through and comment on structural errors, fixing the flow first is vital. Then, the sentence structure, voice and concretes should be addressed or fixed. At the end of editing someone's story, it can be helpful to leave a note about major things to pay attention to or work on.
THE BUZZ ABOUT HONEY
March, 2016
This isn't one of my best pieces of work, however, this is the story which truly grasped me about journalism. Towards the end of my freshman year, as one of the youngest on staff, I spent four hours beekeeping and learning about the process with the beekeeper in her backyard. I put on the full white body suit and stuck my hand in the hive to help her. I talked to her friends who helped her extract and boys at the school whom she had influenced. I became fascinated with beekeeping because of this story and it showed me what true journalism is about – being genuinely curious, interested and dedicated. This was my turning point of becoming invested in the journalist lifestyle.
WRITING
A LIFE WELL LIVED
November, 2016
I had one afternoon to soak up the relationship between a son and his father who was dying of cancer. When I arrived at the house, I was surprised to find the father with his entire family, co-workers, friends and neighbors in a circle around his bed. After just an hour and a half of talking to all of his loved ones, later interviews with coaches who knew him and kids who were impacted by him, I was able to bring a piece of him to life through writing with the help of a co. This is the story of his impact on everyone he knew.
MIND OVER BODY
September, 2017
When I approached this sophomore girl to write her story, she was elated. She told me about the way misunderstanding absorbed most of her life outside of her home – no one knew her, no one knew why she was always "sick" and no one asked. Two rare diseases overtook her life and ability to attend school or make friends for two years. We spoke many times, once in her home where she showed me all of her tools and rehabilitation methods. This is the story of how she took control over her chronic pain and essentially fixed her own life.
FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY STING LIKE A BEE
November, 2017
After overhearing two boys talk about a junior's boxing match at school, I followed up and interviewed the boxer five times squeezed between his work hours. Although neither of his parents would talk, I watched his training session where I sat next to a woman who had seen Tyler box many times. She was the mother of a younger boxer. After I said her baby was cute she asked me what I was doing and, spontaneously, I found myself interviewing her. I experienced the art of naturally finding sources and it was awesome.
ABOUT ME
I am the Head Copy Editor of my school publication, The Harbinger. I have been passionate about telling stories since I could pick up a pen. Investing myself in journalism has been hard work and highly rewarding for me. I believe that giving a voice to those unheard and finding a person's real story are powerful skills. The dynamic world of journalism is truth, tragedy, relief and emotions – it's life and it's important.Â
Contact me: daisybolin@gmail.com
Student Journalist
DAISY BOLIN
Shawnee Mission East High School