News and Notes: 6.3.11 The End

Can you believe it's the end of the year already? Thanks for making this yearbook great and one of the hottest selling books of all time (yes, fewer numbers sold, but greater percentage picked up than EVER!).

Seniors: Good luck with all of your events, graduation practice and the big event next Saturday!

Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors:
     Your final will be an audit of the current yearbook. If you did not purchase a yearbook, you will need to borrow one from a friend. There are NO books to loan you. The purpose of an audit it to analyze the type and quality of coverage using a variety of benchmarks. For this assignment, you will be creating a report, complete with graphs and charts, to bring to your final.
     First, review the demographics of Hercules High School by going to DataQuest.
     Next, for level select SCHOOL, for subject select ENROLLMENT.
     Click Submit
     Next, make sure 2010-2011 is selected at the year, then type in HERCULES.
     Make sure Hercules High is selected
     Review Enrollment by ethnicity, grade and gender.
     **NOTE: The numbers for freshmen in all categories is off (as is our total enrollment), but the percentages are roughly correct. For the purposes of this assignment, the percentages are close enough.


     Now you are ready to begin your audit. Go through the 2011 yearbook and examine the way we cover our campus and its students. Create a chart for each of the following:

• number of stories for student life, academics, class and sports
• number of clubs covered versus the number of clubs at the school
  
• number of stories featuring males, number of stories featuring females
• number of stories featuring freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors. 
• number of stories featuring students of various ethnicities: African American, Hispanic, Asian, Filipino, White (these are our major groups...in some instances, this section might not be complete because you don't know the ethnicity of a student).
• number of stories citing an expert or authority figure on our campus, number of stories citing an expert or authority figure NOT on our campus (and where they are from).
  
• one more chart of your choosing that must be significantly different from those listed above. It must be something about the stories and the way they are covered. 

Charts may be combined. For example, you might have ONE chart that shows the number of stories featuring each grade level (that would probably be a bar graph). You may put more than one chart on a page. Clearly label all charts.

Now for the hard part. Analyze our coverage. Compare our coverage to our demographics. What are we doing well? Who are we covering well? Who is being left out of the paper? What are we not doing well in terms of coverage? AND what should we do about it (this would be an action plan to remedy any areas of poor coverage)? Solutions may be creative, but must be reasonable. The analysis should be 2-3 pages long, not including the charts.

Put your audit portfolio neatly bound in a folder in the following order:

1. Cover page that includes your name and the title of the assignment "Olympus Audit, 2011"
2. Charts as described above
3. Analysis as described above 

This assignment must be typed and turned in as a hard copy. You cannot turn it in late. Bring this audit portfolio to class on Monday (9:30-11:30) NOTE: A period students will meet TUESDAY from 7:20-9:15 and be prepared to discuss it. We will be formulating a plan to move our yearbook forward to meet the information needs of more of our readers.

News and Notes: 6.2.11

GREAT JOB on distribution yesterday! WooHoo! Almost ALL of the books were picked up in less than two hours!

Presentations today. We'll finish tomorrow.

It's DISTRIBUTION DAY!

Man (or woman) your stations! We need signs. We need wrappers (not to be confused with rappers). We need bouncers and checkers. We need BOX CARRIERS!

If you can stay during first period, please let Wojo know. Thanks.

News and Notes: 5.31.11

Presentations today. We will gather around the computers.

You will also help with distribution sign making and the like.

From Joyce:

Hi bookies! I hope you are all excited to get the book tonight. Its
amazing. Dont forget your potluck. Bring pens for yearbook signing and
bring a game if you want to play it, like Twister or something. We can
also go to the park by my house. See you at 5! - joyce

 Please remember that staff members get their books at the staff party. If you cannot be there, you will have to wait until distribution tomorrow.

News and Notes: 5.27.11

Today is the last day to complete your Professional Development requirement for the quarter.

Finish your projects. Presentations begin Monday.

Yearbook distribution is Wednesday. Wear your staff shirt (either Got Yearbook? or 10X More) to participate in the events of the day.

News and Notes: 5.26.11

Mr. Brown will be here to collect the registration forms and answer any questions you might have about the writing class.

All Professional Development must be completed by Friday, May 27. Be sure this is done in a timely manner.

Continue working on your projects. Presentations will start on Tuesday with seniors.

News and Notes: 5.25.11

Today is Career Day. Consult the board for the schedule.

Don't forget:

• Worknight is today! (This is also, unfortunately, the same night the ladies softball team goes to the playoffs!). If you still need to work on your project, you are welcome to come in. Computer space may be limited.
• All Professional Development must be finished by Friday, May 27.
• We have just three weeks of school left. A period your final is Tuesday, June 7 from 7:20-9:15 (it was either that or have you come in at 9:30 on the last day of school). First period, your final is Monday, June 6 from 9:30-11:30. This does NOT include seniors.