John Jay Journalism

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Yes! Yearbooks matter!
They arrive Sept. 26.
Students, your 2009 yearbook, with the theme "Let the Secrets Unfold," should arrive Sept. 26. Those with unpaid balances need to pay for their books before picking them up. There are 13 books still available for $65. See Mr. Serna in room F126 for the book that includes the entire school year from the very first pep rally to prom and senior graduation. As such, the book cannot be delivered in the spring.

BUY ONLINE WITH A CREDIT CARD
For the 2009-2010 school year, you can buy the 2010 issue of Hoofprints online with a credit card; click here to purchase your yearbook, with the theme "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow." Although two package options exist, you can select only the yearbook for $58. Simply go to the "Make My Own" option in the bottom right hand corner of the Web page. The yearbook price will go up to $63 from January to April and then to $68 for the remaining books in May. Buy your yearbook early. All yearbooks will need to be fully paid before the end of the school year.

Also, don't forget about buying a Recognition Ad, available in full-page, half-page, quarter-page or one-eighth page. See Mr. Serna for a contract. You can also make payments until fully paid. For details and the price list, click here.

Some students still need to pick up their 2008 yearbook in room F126. Don't miss out on preserving your high-school memories. If the 2008 yearbooks are not picked up by the end of September, they will be returned to stock, and purchasers will forfeit the money paid. Also, some limited copies of yearbooks from previous years, some from as far back as 1985, can be purchased. See Mr. Serna, or call 397-2815 for a listing.

"Photographs may be more memorable than moving images because they are a neat slice of time, not a flow. ... Each still photograph is a privileged moment, turned into a slim object that one can keep and look at again." ~ Susan Sontag

Journalism students will collect, write and edit news stories, characterized by a direct presentation of facts or description of events without interpretation, and feature-oriented articles, which take an in-depth look behind the news, for publication in The Statesman newspaper and Hoofprints yearbook. Students will learn how to look for and develop stories, conduct interviews, write lead sentences, headlines, sub-headlines, and craft a well-organized story with integrated quotes.

Newspapers, with their news stories, photos and feature articles, provide the "slice of time" that Sontag speaks of; furthermore, The Statesman provides a slice of Jay life, which becomes a documented record. While details from events may differ after time, a photo, caption and short factual article helps everyone remember those special moments and people.

Yearbooks, through their photos and feature articles, also provide Sontag's "slice of time." Moreover, Hoofprints, Jay's yearbook, provides a more pictorial slice of student life, which becomes more than a historical record. With time, memories fade; however, a photo, caption and short article, help recall those special occasions, classmates and teachers.

Jay's Yearbook Journalism curriculum will integrate feature writing, designing pages and photographing students and faculty to help students build on their journalistic and artistic skills. Students will write regularly, design an entire yearbook, Hoofprints, and search out the images needed to illustrate the articles and theme of the yearbook.

Our goal: To work together as a team — students, parents, advisor and administrators — to achieve success in Yearbook production and begin to prepare students for careers in journalism, photojournalism, magazine design and college. Students are encouraged to seek out their own story leads, as well as produce feature and news-style writing on specific assignments. Many assignments, such as sports and club activities, happen after school and Yearbook staff need to cover these events to supplement the academic portion of the Yearbook. Students will need strong parental support. Every section of the Yearbook is crucial to providing an accurate time capsule of John Jay during 2007-2008.

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Journalism 1: Just the Facts
1st Period
     Journalistic Writing — We will learn the basics of news and feature writing by taking to heart the 5W's and H: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. By studying and using these core principles, J-1 students will explore events (many, if not all subjects, will be of their own choosing) and report on them to the general public. However, before any reporting can take place, J-1 students will experience how to conduct in-depth interviews to gather all the possible information from sources (the people directly or indirectly involved) and research any other related information. J-1 students will also touch on the basics of basics digital photography that includes obtaining the correct caption information and basics.
     In this introductory Journalism course, writers will publish their completed news articles in John Jay High School's newspaper, The Statesman, and feature stories in the 2009 edition of Hoofprints, Jay's yearbook. We will adhere to the production schedules and J-1 students will learn to meet deadlines needed to obtain the elements of Jay's publications, which include The Chronicle newsletter that is mailed out to households throughout Jay.
     Along the way, we will read news and feature stories, learn from them how authors use words to bring us into their worlds. Our research will include Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and National Geographic online magazines, as well as the San Antonio Express-News, Austin American-Statesman and The Dallas Morning News, to name a few. Students will also attempt to sell ads for the newspaper and yearbook. Marketing techniques, which are part of advertising a product, will be introduced, discussed and implemented.

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Advanced Photojournalism: Capturing Photos for The Statesman and Hoofprints
2nd and 8th Periods
Newspaper and Yearbook Photography — We will concentrate on acquiring the best digital images for use in John Jay High School's newspaper, The Statesman, and also for the 2009 edition of Hoofprints, Jay's yearbook. In addition to focusing on the elements of sports, feature and portrait photography, this course will delve into the digital darkroom with Photoshop. Additionally, photojournalism students will learn the 5W's and H: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. By learning to answer these, we will begin the journalistic style of caption writing, which will involve the recursiveness of the writing process.
Our assignments will involve acquiring feature photos of students, sports photography and "Student on the Campus" lifestyle images. Other objectives will include using voice, some descriptive language, dialogue, in the form of quotes, and concentrating on a good lead for short feature stories. Along the way, we will read news and feature stories, learn from them how authors use words to bring us into their worlds; we will ultimately produce our own stories. Our photo research will include Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and National Geographic online magazines, as well as the San Antonio Express-News, Austin American-Statesman and The Dallas Morning News, to name a few.

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Advanced Journalism Yearbook: Producing Hoofprints
7th Period
     Yearbook Production— We will focus on theme, feature writing (concentrating on the 5W's and H: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How), basics in photography that includes obtaining the correct caption information and basics in layout and design with the InDesign CS program.
     In this course, setting deadlines and adhering to them is tantamount to succeeding with a great product — a visually appealing and well-written Yearbook. We will determine the production schedule needed to obtain the elements of this year's edition of Hoofprints. Additionally, staff positions and assignments will be determined to obtain the most efficient features and photography. Along the way, we will read news and feature stories, learn from them how authors use words to bring us into their worlds; we will ultimately produce our own stories. Our image research will include Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and National Geographic online magazines, as well as the San Antonio Express-News, Austin American-Statesman and The Dallas Morning News, to name a few.
     Students will also attempt to sell ads for the yearbook. Marketing techniques, which are part of advertising a product, will be introduced, discussed and implemented.

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Advanced Journalism Newspaper: Producing The Statesman
3rd Period
     Newspaper Production — We will focus on news and feature writing (concentrating on the 5W's and H: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How), basics in photography that includes obtaining the correct caption information and basics in layout and design with the InDesign CS program to produce the school newspaper, The Statesman. In addition, we will focus on the elements of sports, feature and portrait photography to highlight articles.
     Our assignments will involve acquiring feature photos of students, sports photography and "Student on the Campus" lifestyle images. Other objectives will include using voice, some descriptive language, dialogue, in the form of quotes, and concentrating on a good lead for short feature stories. Along the way, we will read news and feature stories, learn from them how authors use words to bring us into their worlds. Our research will include Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and National Geographic online magazines, as well as the San Antonio Express-News, Austin American-Statesman and The Dallas Morning News, to name a few.
     Students will also attempt to sell ads for the newspaper. Marketing techniques, which are part of advertising a product, will be introduced, discussed and implemented.