Info Graphics

Using infographics are important to the newspaper because they give you an easy to read visualization of the information in the story. If you are too lazy to read the whole story, then you can just look at the infographic for the basics, although i recommend reading the story first.

5 story ideas for the next issue

1. CD Reviews
2. Interview Volleyball team
3. Interview Girls or Boys Soccer team
4. Interview Girls or Boys Soccer coaches
5. Column about NFL season or MLB playoffs

part 2.

It’s the bus ride back after a loss, everyone is quiet and very frustrated. Disappointed is what the players say they feel after a loss. How would you feel after getting thrown up and down the field for an hour and a half, only to lose by more than 4 touchdowns. There's no doubt that our Varsity football hasn't had much success in its eight-year history. So far, this season hasn't changed that at all. But there's still hope with more than half the season left, and the players feel the same way. Senior Defensive End Zeke Spears says that he's really feeling optimistic to the district games. "If we (the players) get on the same page I think we got a chance." said Spears. October 7th is when district games start and that's what the players are most looking forward to because those games actually matter. Talent wise, this is one of the best teams we’ve had and to keep losing like this is a waste of talent . During practice the team shows so much potential, but that same chemistry doesn’t seem to click come game time. Mistakes after mistakes, Junior Center David Garza says that it’s all mental. One thing the players agree on is that they would probably play better if the school had more spirit. With no support, the players are basically by themselves out there, not just against the other team, but their fans as well. District games are about to start, they’re sort of in a position of lose, and the season is pretty much done, no playoffs, or win, and you’re still alive with a shot at the playoffs for the first time in school history. Senior Dre Raindle says that this isn’t a very good feeling either. Talk about pressure. In his four years playing football here at Akins, he’s had 3 different head coaches. This doesn’t help the team either. Some players are in it for the love of the game and want to win, but there’s a sense that this isn’t true to all the players. Some are just playing to say they play football or no reason at all. They make so many mistakes that they don’t even know what they can do to get better. Maybe if everyone played as a team and were on the same page, the results of the games would be a lot different. At a certain point in each game, the players accept defeat, and give up. This is a huge problem, and school spirit plays a role in this. If everyone in the stands were cheering their team on louder than the one on the opposite side of the stadium, the players would get pumped up and give it their all. But when half the people who came leave in the fourth quarter with 9 minutes still to play, then it really gets to the players heads. Add that to the players who give up before they even get on the field, and you’ve got problems ahead for the next 4 quarters. Vince Lombardi once said, “If you can accept losing, you can’t win.”

2011-12 Akins Football Article Newspaper

There's no doubt that Akins Varsity football hasn't had much success in its eight-year history. So far, this season hasn't changed at all. But there's still hope with more than half the season left, and the players feel the same way.
Senior Defensive End Zeke Spears says that he's really feeling optimistic to the district games. "If we (the players) get on the same page I think we got a chance." he told me after the homecoming loss to Connally. October 7th is when district games start and that's what the players are most looking forward to because those games actually matter. It's almost like our school is cursed. In the three years I've been going here, we've only won twice, and those were in my freshmen year, so we're currently on a 20-game losing streak. We should ask the 2008 Detroit Lions, who were the first winless team in NFL history, for some tips on how they broke that spell. Some say it's the coaching, some say it's the players, some would also agree it's a mixture of both. Whatever it is that goes through the player's minds before a game, needs to change. They need to stop continuing to do whatever it is they do to prepare for games. Practice more, workout more, focus more. Who knows, maybe in a year or two we'll make the playoffs. Maybe putting more motivating signs in the halls or rewarding players who score touchdowns or make big plays. The more we lose, the less players will want to try, and the more students will be reluctant to go to the games. As the late great Vince Lombardi put it, "If you can accept losing, you can't win." This is a perfect example of the way the students think. And it probably gets to the player's heads. Confidence for our football team is at an all-time low right now. But at least it can't get any worse.

Newspaper Expectations

Make the DEADLINE

Step 1: Pick your story.
Step 2: Brainstorm a list of who you'd want to interview for that story.
Step 3: Come up with a set of questions.
Step 4: Don't ask questions that can be answered with a yes or no.
Step 5: Communicate with your editor to find out what they're expecting from you.
Step 6: Make a rough draft or an outline of your story.
Step 7: Quote Transition style; tell a story.
Step 8: Always start piecing the middle of your story.
Step 9: Write your lead. First 5 words are most important.

 

 I chose this newspaper cover because it does good at showing the effects that Hurricane Irene left behind. It tells how many people died, and uses a good aerial view of some of the flooding. They also have a good story on the suicide bomber who killed 29 in Iraq. When i look at the paper, the first thing that catches my eye is the orange clothes that the people at the carnival are wearing. I also like how they show the weather on the side so you don't have to flip around in the pages to find the daily weather.

 

The Bakersfield Californian has a good sub headline because it pulls you in and makes you want to read the rest of the article. They also feature 3 other stories at the bottom which are pretty interesting. I like the name of the paper as well. It tells the name of the town "Bakersfield" and the state they're in "Californian".

Scavenger Hunt- Newspaper

1. The Principal is Mr. Girard, his office is the front office.
2. The bookkeepers are Ms. Sandoval and Ms. Villegas.
3. The Diamonds Director is Ms. Kay, Ms. Ball is the co-director, a couple of the fine arts teachers are Ms. Bennett and Ms. Seigal.
4. The athletic director is Coach Peavey, other coaches include Coach Martin, Coach Sikes, Coach Gray, Coach Vasquez, Coach Rodriguez, Coach Garza, Coach Williams, Coach Valasquez, Coach Tombunga. Their offices are in the gym hall.
5.
6. Some AHA teachers include Mr. Reeves/ Newspaper 223, Ms. Arnim/ English 236, Mr. Doerr/ Yearbook 221.
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9.
10.
11.
12. Newspaper editors, Max/ Sports, Aaron/ AP, Rafael/ Opinions
13.
14. Robotics, NJHS, JROTC, Band, Orchestra
15. Mr. Akins, Clarissa
16. ESPN, Max Preps, CNN, Yahoo, Austin- American Statesmen, MSN
17. I plan on sacrificing a goat to Satan to make this year easier for me. I just need to find a goat. If the sacrifice works, then i wont have any pitfalls, but if i have to avoid them then i will do the work im supposed to do. Last year i did well at writing, which is something that will carry over this year.