joy portfolio

Journalist of the Year Application Questions

Has any of your work been used by the professional media? If yes, please explain.

My content has been used by the local newspaper, and a national website for digital media. The local Belleville News/Democrat newspaper has used my photos twice for athletic signings. I have written articles for JEADigitalMedia.org, in which I discuss the importance of the different concepts that are taught at the JEA national conven-tions.

What aspect of journalism and mass communication is your career goal?

A career path in journalism for me is no one particular medium, but all main types- print, video, and web. My bread-and-butter in high school has been working on con-vergence journalism. I jump-started convergence at my school, which started with the inclusion of online media.

Do you plan to enroll this year in a university journalism degree program?

I have already been accepted into the Mizzou University School of Journalism, where I will learn more about convergence journalism and the technology behind it. The specific major I have in mind is convergence media design or “Emerging Media” in Mizzou’s curriculum guide. This is where students create and test new ways to de-liver journalism to the public. This is what I was good at in high school, and it’s what I plan on completing as a career.

College that I am attending starting in Fall 2011:

Mizzou University

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Application Questions

Theysayhighschoolisthebestfouryearsofateenager’slife.Overthosefouryears,thereareplentyofstruggles.Istartedfreshmanyearwithahot-shotattitudeandanegothesizeofTexas.Iwasn’tpreparedfortheresponsibilitiesaheadofme,suchasclasswork.Ididn’tdohomework,andIfeltmyclassesweren’tchallengingmeenough.Whenthetimecameforreportcards,Iwaslackinginalldepart-ments.MyGPAwasbelowa2.0attheendoffreshmanyear,andsophomoreyearwasnobetter.Ibarelypassedallofmyclassesandwasplaguedwiththementalitythatschoolwasawasteoftime.However,thefirstsemesterofsophomoreyearpresentedsomethingnewtomethatIneverexperiencedbefore.OurschoolhadabroadcastprogramthatIstumbledintobyaccident,andIinstantlyrealizedthatIfoundsome-thingnewinmylife.Althoughmygradeswerebelowtheminimumforextracurricularinvolvement,mybroadcastteacher,Mrs.Strubhart,stillletmeparticipate,butonlyunderafewconditions.StrubhartmademepromisethatIwouldraisemygradesorshewouldkickmeout.However,shesawsomethinginmethen,andeversinceI’vetriedharderandhardertolearnallthatIcaninthefieldofbroadcastjournalism.Ididn’timmediatelyrealizeitthen,butIlearnedlaterthatitwouldbeafieldthatIwantedtopursueincol-legeandlaterinlife. Beforethebroadcastprogram,Iwasneverinvolvedinschoolactivities.IwenthomeandtriedtoavoidmyhomeworkasbestIcould.Afterjoiningbroadcast,Ifeltaneedtotryandapplymyself.SoonIwasstayinglaterthanmoststudentsjusttolearnmoreaboutcamerasortheaspectsofagoodfeaturestory.Theopportunitytoparticipateinsuchaprogramwassuchablessingtome.IstartedworkingmytailoffandthoughtaboutwhatIwoulddonextyear,buttherewasanunfortunateroadblock.Duetoabudget-ingissueintheschool,thebroadcastprogramwascutfromtheactivitieslist,leavingtheorganizationinshambles.Iwasabsolutelydevastated;Ihadfoundmypassion,butitwasjustasquicklytakenfromme.Ifeltsopassionatefortheprogramthatwhenthenewsbrokethatitwascancelled,IstartedtorallystudentsonFacebooktosignapetitiontobringitback.SeniorstaffmembersofthebroadcastclubwenttotheBoardofEducationtoshowcasetheiraccomplishmentsandwhattheprogramhasdoneforthem.Attheeighthgradefair,somemembersoftheclubandItriedtogetincomingfreshmeninterestedinaprogramlikebroadcast.Wetoldthemaboutthecoverageofeventsandpeopleyougettomeetwhileinjournalism,aswellastheopportunitiesitpresentsaftergraduation.Wedidhavetotellthemthattheclubwascutforthenextyear,though.Littledidweknow,amemberoftheBoardofEducationhadaneighthgraderwhostoppedbytheboothwehad,anditmadesuchanimpactthattheBoarddemandedtheprogramstayinplaceforthenextyear.Twoweeksbeforeschoolletout,theprogramwasreinstatedintothebudget.IwasecstaticandrelievedthatthePantherBeatwasbackandbroadcastwouldcontinueon.ItwasthenthatMrs.StrubhartaskedmewhetherornotIwantedtobethenextExecutiveProducer. ThedayafterschoolletoutforthesummeriswhensheaskedmetobetheExecutiveProducerforthebroadcastnextyear.Now,mostover-exaggerateandsaytheywouldbeshocked.Iwasinalegiti-matestateofshockformultiplereasons,onebeingthatIwasgoingtobeajunior,andeveryExecutiveProducerhadalwaysbeenasenior.Ialsowasn’tagoodstudent,soIdidn’tfeellikeIwouldbeagoodfit.Totheschool,mygradeswouldn’tpermitmetotakeonthejob,butIstilltookitonwithStrubhartbreath-ingdownmynecktoraisemyGPA.Forsomereasonoranother,thatstuckwithme.MyGPAwasjustonemoreresponsibilityIhadsincetheprogram’sreinstatement,andIwasresurrectingaseeminglydeadprogramstartingfromscratchwithanewstaff.Toaddtothestresslevels,Iwasjoiningtheschoolnewspa-per,The ProwlerthatsemestertomarkthefirsttransitiontoconvergencejournalismatO’FallonTownshipHighSchool.Itwasalottotakeoninonesemesterasajunior,butallofthestressofresponsibilityandaccountabilitypushedmetobecomebetterinallaspectsofmylife.

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Self-Analytical

Attheendofthefirstsemesterofjunioryear,Iwasanticipatingthereportcardsthatwerebeingsentoutinthemail.Iwasalsoamidsttheplanningstagesofmakingamovieoutofthebi-yearlystudentreenactmentofateenageDUIforS.A.D.D.(StudentsAgainstDestructiveDecisions).Inaddition,Iwassingle-handilymaintainingthenewjournalismwebsiteforTheProwlercalledOTHSProwler.com.Some-how,theaddedstressofmaintainingOTHSProwler.comontopofbroadcastpushedmetodobetterintheclassroom.Whenthereportcardsfinallycame,Iwasshocked.Icrammedinallofthisworkintoonesemesteranditfinallyshowedresults.IendedthefirstsemesterwithaGPAof3.5withall“A’s”and“B’s”forthefirsttimeinaverylongtime.Myparents,teachers,andIfeltsoproudofthework.IfeltlikeitmeantIwasonatracktoabetterpositioninmylife.SecondsemestershowedsimilarresultsandIgainedafewaccoladesthatyear,suchasfirstplaceinthebroadcastPSAcategoryattheNationalJEAconvention,aswellasbeingpartofthesecondplacestatejournalismteam,whichwasthefirsttimethatOTHSjournal-ismhadgonetostate.IalsobecameanhonorarycommitteememberofJEADigitalMedia.org,whereIhavepostedmultiplearticlesontheirnationalwebsite. NowthatIamintomysenioryearofhighschool,I’vemaintainedacurrentGPAof3.5andIhavebroughtmycumulativeGPAfrom1.8upto2.78.NomatterwhatmyGPAiswhenIgraduate,Iat-tributemysuccesstothejournalismprogramsatmyschool.Iamnowapartofbroadcast,newspaper,andyearbookwithseniorpositionsineach.Withthesepositions,Ijump-startedconvergencejournalismthisyear,introducinganewconvergencemediasitetitledOTHStoday.com,withcontributionsfromallthreepublicationsaswellasteacherandcommunityinput.Includedinthesiteisthemonthlypackageshowfrombroadcast,showcasingthefeaturesandnewsofOTHS.Theshowalsoairedonthelocaltelevisionchanneltoroughly20,000residentsofO’Fallonandnearbytowns.Earlierintheyear,Iworkedtowardslive-streamingathleticgames,startingwithfootball.Sincesomefamilymemberscan’tmakeittogamesorsomejustwanttocatchthehighlights,broadcastfeltthattheyshouldhavetheabilitytowatchonline.Oneofourbiggerlive-streamshappenedwhenmyteamandIdidafavorforChicagoofthestate-semifinalsfootballgamebacktotheChicagoteam’shometownwithroughly14,000viewers.Inthemiddleofalloftheseprojects,Ispentthepastsemesterteachingthenewbroadcaststudentsalongwiththeassistantbroad-castcoordinatorintheInteractiveMediaclassduringmylunchhour.Therewassomethinginmethatmademewanttoteachnewpeoplewhattheprogramdoes,andIalsowantedtoconveysomeofmypassionontoothers.IfeelasifjournalismhasturnedmyluckaroundandhasshowedmesomethingthatI’mgoodat.Nomat-terwhathappens,IfeellikeIhavegottenasmuchoutoftheprogramasIhaveputin.Iputincountlesshourseachandeveryweekatschoolworkingonjournalism.Icanevenrememberbeingatschooluntiltwointhemorningjusttogetastatebasketballrecaponlineandreadyforbroadcasting.It’sbecauseofthisdedicationthatMizzouUniversitySchoolofJournalismsawmeandhasconditionallyacceptedmeintotheSchoolofJournalism.Mygradesalonedidn’tpermitmetogetintotheschool,butmyworkhasgottenmeintotheirprogramstartingmyfreshmanyearofcollege. MyacceptanceintoMizzoualonemademefeelasenseofaccomplishmentoverthepastthreeyears.Imadeplentyofmistakesmyfirstyearsofhighschool,though,andtheycamebacktobitemewhenitcametimetoapplyforcolleges.However,Ihavepulledthroughthetoughtimesandworkedonmygradesandmyworkinthejournalismprogramsatmyschool.IneverthoughtthatIwouldbesubmittinganapplicationforJournalistoftheYear.Myschool’sjournalismofferingsmademerealizemytruepassioninlife.I’vebeendedicatedtoworkingonthehardnewsstoriesinourcommunity,workingwiththepeopleofourschool,andstrivingtoleadourprogramstobeasexcellentandprofessionalastheycanbe.Graduat-ingwillbetoughonme,butitwillleadtomanymoreexcitingthingsincollegeandinmycareer.Thetwomostimportantthingstolearninjournalismareconstantcuriosityandthewilltolearn.Botharekeytobeingsuccessfulinthefield.InowbelievethatIwillbeleavingO’FallonTownshipHighSchoolwithbothkeycomponentsandmuch,muchmore.

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Self-Analytical

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PHOTO

OTHSProwler.com

The OTHSProwler.com Web site launched mid-September of 2009 in an effort to bring convergence journalism to our high school. My Adviser at the time, Ms. Mary Dempsey, came to me as a sophomore with the idea for a new medium for news. It was then that OTHSProwler.com was conceived.

Over the summer, I familiarized myself with Wordpress, the content management system (CMS) for our Web site. We started with the company SchoolNewspapersOnline.com, which gave us affordable options for starting the site from scratch. I felt like this was a better way to go, considering I wasn’t completely up to par with Web design. Soon enough, the first semester of my junior year started, and OTHSProwler.com went live.

As the year progressed, the content and the fluidity of the site improved. Within the first five months of the site being live, it won an “excellent” award at the SSP Convention in the Greater Saint Louis area. I felt accomplished, as I was the only person working on the site at the time.

OTHSProwler.com is no longer live. It was, however, replaced with a new site early in 2011, OTHStoday.com. The Prowler Web site lacked the true “convergence” feel. It really was just an online portal to the newspaper articles that the paper put out. I am proud of the work that I put into it, but I am not sad to see it go so quick.

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Variety of journalistic experience

Publication:OTHSProwler.comProduction Date:2009-2010

OTHStoday.com

When OTHSProwler.com went under, I was already hard at work on OTHStoday.com The plan was to build on what I already knew, and improve what we lacked in the old site.

Content is now updated daily from all three publications. The yearbook provides the weekly photography, the newspaper provides the hard hitting stories, and the broadcast delivers the daily announcements along with some features and

promos.

I wanted to create a more social feel in OTHStoday.com, so I integrated our Twitter and Facebook entities straight into the front page. The content from our Twitter stream acts as breaking news, our Facebook page is for the public opinions, etc.

I also made it possible for all of the content on OTHStoday available on the go, with full access to the photos and videos from the moible site, as well as news articles updated every day. No matter where you are, ac-cessing OTHStoday.com anywhere

is as easy as 1,2,3. The Web site took roughly two to three weeks to put together from scratch. My abilities online made it easier to accomplish this feat, and it’s still progressing every week. It has even made it to the judging of the online Pacemak-ers from JEA for 2011.

I feel like this is convergence 2.0 for my high school, and the features offered in OTHStoday far surpass that of OTHSProwler.com. It’s an ongoing effort to re-brand media at OTHS, and the Web site is where I felt convergence journalism needs to start.

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Skilled and creative use of media content

Publication:OTHStoday.comProduction Date:2011

November Facebook Center Spread

As a part of my first year in newspaper, I was assigned the designing of the center spread. For the issue, we were focusing on social networking, so my partner and I decided to make both pages look like the homepage of Facebook.

For the design, we custom-made the graphics to mimic Facebook, as well as create our own “wall” for question of the month. The overall

design took a week to create, and finalizing took two days.

I was proud of the whole November issue, but we got a lot of feedback on the design of the center spread. Everyone enjoyed the content on the page and how it looked like actual “Facebook.”

In the center spread, I had two stories featured; one discussed the future of social media, and the other foreshadowed future high schools without textbooks.I spoke with the Director of

Technology at my high school about the issue, as well as a few teachers opposed to the idea.

Overall, the two pages were interestingly laid out and provided a fresh look in the November issue of The Prowler.

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Skilled and creative use of media content

Publication:The ProwlerProduction Date:2010

December Issue Front Page Photos

In the December issue of The Prowler, I took the first page photos for the annual Madrigals dinner that my school hosts.

With the singing and entertainment all over the freshmen campus audi-torium, there was plenty of action to capture. From the band playing, to the King and Queen perform-ing their solos, the mood was very uplifting.

I was the only photographer for the event due to short timing. I got a call to be there in ten minutes from the director of the event, so I packed up two of the school’s SLR cameras and made my way towards the freshman campus.

I was working on the monthly show for broadcast at the main campus when the call came, so it wasn’t too bad of a rush.

One of my cameras recorded video, so I took quick b-roll of the indi-vidual acts and gave them to the daily show producer the next day to feature on the show.

It was a fast and unexpected pho-toshoot, and it came out with great results.

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December Issue Back Page Photos

In the same month as the Madrigals dinner, I shot photos of the Fall Play. This time there wasn’t as big of a rush to get to the location, but there was urgency in acquiring the photographs.

The Prowler staff was getting ready for the arrival of the new OTHSto-day Web site, but OTHSProwler.com was still in use, and we needed content fast. There has always been a problem with getting timely content on the site, especially with a five person newspaper staff. As you can see, the photos were used on the back page of The Prowler, but they were also used in a slideshow for the Web.

Unfortunately, the slideshow has gone away with the old Web site, but we had my photos, as well as two other photographers’ photos on the site within the week. It was something we had very little time to put together, considering the first showing of the play was the follow-ing day.

In the paper, a fellow staff member wrote a quick wrap up to accompa-ny the photos to round out Decem-ber issue’s photostory.

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Dress Code Opinion Story

Starting the 2010-2011 school year, OTHS instituted a new dress code with changes to three major attire-related discrepancies. Many students retaliated with sour opinions, but the changes were justified.

In my very blunt opinion, I expressed my feelings towards the students that thought the new rules were “dumb” or “overprotective.” I also detailed some alternatives to some of the attire that people might have that could be school appropriate.

This was my favorite of many opinion pieces that I wrote over my eleven issues of The Prowler. The teachers that came up to me told me that “I just get it,” and they “wish other students had the same views” that I did.

It was very interesting to hear the feedback, but moreover I was happy that it got the student population thinking. Rules are rules, and even in opinion stories.

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Financial Crisis Update

One of the most sensitive subjects of the 2010-2011 school year centered around the school budget. In an effort to shed light on the hot topic, I spoke with many leading individuals in O’Fallon to share their opinions.

The price increases this year made many students upset and teacher cuts increased classes drastically. I felt obligated to get the truth out about the cuts and what the administration was going to do about them.

Interviewing and gathering research took a total of five months to complete, start-ing in the summer of 2010. I

studied budgets, analyzed the curriculum requirements, and discussed the economy with Principal Bickel. I was also honored that Superintendent Benway granted an interview with me about such a sensitive subject, of which she is receiv-ing a lot of fire from the com-munity.

From the teachers who spoke to me about my article, they told me that I told them things they didn’t know about the school budget. Students came to me in disbelief that things at our school were so drastically different than they thought.

During one of the many com-munity forums that Dr. Ben-way held, some conserned par-

ents started a heated discussion about reducing sport funding. A parent with a son on the football team felt like it was a great scholarship opportunity, but other parents with students not on the team felt like it was a large drain in the budget.

This is the most memorable story that I covered in high school journalism. I felt very proud of the outcome and what it offered to the community.

I also completed a video aspect of the story, including inter-views with Dr. Benway and concerned students and staff. To watch the full segement, visit jakehamilton.net.

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Courageous and resposible handling of sensitive issues

Publication:The Prowler, PantherBeatBroadcastProduction Date:2010-2011

Front Page Yearbook Spread

For the 2010 school yearbook, there was a special design request for the very first pages of the book. This was the first year that OTHS had two campuses, and us “yearbookers” needed to include the new building in the memories.

I was tasked with taking photos of the two campuses and making them fit together in a collage. I was proud of these photos and their prominence in the new book, especially the fancy photoshopping that needed to be done on some of the photos.

In two of the photos, there were security cameras that were ruining the aethstetic of the image, and I had to get rid

of them. The hardest was the bottom right, considering that one could see the pattern of the bricks in detail.

However, it took me thirty minutes to pull it off, and it is hardly noticeable that there was ever a camera. One security guard even questioned whether it was even there still.

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Publication:ThePantherYearbookProduction Date:2010

Yearbook Basketball Photography

One thing I love about being a photographer is the events that I cover for the school. Basketball is definitely one of them.

With an all-star team with nationally known players like Roosevelt Jones, I take pride in the photos that I take of them.

In February of 2011, I shot photos of a game where OTHS introduced new members into the Hall of Fame. During half-time, I met some amazing

athletes and took their photos to be preserved in memory forever.

Another thing to note: while taking these photos, I was also helping supervise the live-stream of the game over the internet by the broadcast club.

26Publication:ThePantherYearbook,OTHStoday.comProduction Date:2011


Yearbook Photoshelter

Along with OTHStoday.com, yearbook photography took to the web as an integrated feature within OTHStoday. Photoshelter, a photography service for showcasing and selling photography online, became a part of the yearbook

routine early 2011.

At every photography meeting, the photographers select photos from the archive to upload to the photoshelter account. Ranging from sports to live events, one can find all of the best photos from OTHS.

In a collective effort to make OTHStoday.com economically self sufficient, selling photos on the site will hopefully offset the cost of running the site.

Photoshelter is only one aspect of the new site, but it plays a very important part in the whole experience.

21Publication:OTHStoday.comProduction Date:2011


Texting & Driving PSA

Every year, OTHS participates in the Fall JEA convention. Every student going participates in one of the write-off competitions, and in 2009, I chose to do the broadcast PSA section. For the topic of the PSA, I chose to do the super hot topic of texting and driving, which only months before the convention became illegal in Illinois.

For the actual video, we asked our school resource officer to play a role in the production and arrest the teenager who commits a hit-and-run because of texting while behind the wheel. The video runs exactly sixty seconds, as permitted by the competition.

I was awarded “Superior” at the national JEA level for the PSA, and “Best in Show” at the regional level.

To watch the PSA, refer to the DVD accompanied by the portfolio.

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Courageous and resposible handling of sensitive issues

Publication:PantherBeatBroadcastProduction Date:2009

Mock DUI: “A Day of Regret”

In one of the more grander projects for broadcast, I was leading the filming of the new SADD movie, which was about the student recreation of a teenage DUI.

With a total running time of 43 minutes, one can see what

foreshadowed the event, the live recreation of the accident on campus, and the funeral of an individual, and booking of the intoxicated driver.

Months of planning and 70 hours of editing went into this production, and we were ac-companied by Hollywood producer Jeff Burgman of Happy Madison Productions.

Jeff supplied some video equipment and expertise in editing to make it even better. The local police, fire, and EMS departments also used the video for a state training video, which has saved thou-sands of tax dollars for the community.

To watch a trailer of the movie, refer to the supplied DVD.

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Inquiring mind and investigative persistence

Towatchthevideoinitsentirety,visitjakehamilton.netPublication:PantherBeatBroadcastProduction Date:2010


Mock DUI Interviews

Along with the DUI movie, I interviewed the Assistant State Attorney about the legal aspects of a teenage DUI, including the financial and social repercussions of such

an event.

On the same DVD, I videotaped a victim of a DUI. Kate Riney, the wife of a local police officer, watched her husband go through count-less surgeries and multiple brain problems because of an

individual who chose to drive drunk.

Included in the portfolio are samples of the videos, located on the DVD in the front pocket.

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Milburn Campus “MTV Cribs”

For the opening of the new freshman campus for OTHS, I was asked to do a video of the state-of-the-art build-ing. I did just that, but with a slight spin.

I took an MTV approach and

produced a “Cribs” edition special-made for O’Fallon. I called it the “MTV Cribs: Milburn Edition.”

I walked through the campus and it’s features with Principal Guthrie, showcasing the highlyanticipated auditorium. The auditorium costed almost two million dollars, making it

the perfect place for all future shows and events.At the end, Mr. Guthrie even threw me out of the building in a spoof towards the real MTV show.

To watch a clip of the four minute tour, refer the en-closed DVD.

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Veteran’s Day Promo Video

One of my shorter videos and more memorable would be the Veteran’s Day promotional video. It was a last-minute production with literally one day of edit time. However, I felt that it was very important and even timely.

This video was a part of the monthly show, which came out a couple days before Veteran’s Day. It was a short clip about what the day represents, as well as showing some of the veterans that roam the halls of our school.

Ranging from teachers, to technician, to administrators, there were plenty of veterans

at OTHS that not many knew about.

Due to time constraints, I couldn’t air all of the veterans, but just a select few. Regard-less, I felt that the video was timely and shed light on a sometimes overlooked day in America.

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Belleville/Wheaton-Warenville South Live Stream

In the winter of 2010, the state semi-finals football game was going to be taking place at a local high school against a big Chicago team. Chicago asked the OTHS Broadcast Club to live-stream the event, and it turned out much better than

anyone expected.

I personally coordinated with principals and superintendents across the state to get this to happen. Over the course of four days, I set up a broadcast that was viewed by 14,000 people across Illinois.

Country clubs and bars were sold out in Chicago, and even

new venues were added to in-corporate the growing number of fans.

OTHS is now known across the state for having a live- stream out to the fans, with interviews of coaches after the game, players of the winning Chicago team, and full color commentary throughout.

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Publication:iHigh.comProduction Date:2010

Panther Beat Monthly Feature Show

The newest and biggest change to broadcast that I made was the inclusion of the monthly feature show. I wanted to have a show where there was qual-ity content for students and staff to view. Even the community gets to watch it in the comfort of their own living room.

Starting in 2010, the OTHS Broadcast Club sent out its first monthly show to the local public access channel, and we’ve been getting positive comments ever since.

Once a month, students get to see what’s really happening at their school. Parents are now “in the know” with school events and activities. It’s even more integrated if you view it on OTHStoday.com.

I wanted to start this show, even though we still do a daily broadcast four days a week. It was something I felt was necessary to do. The monthly show gives so much freedom to the producer of the individual videos to get the right content for every niche in the school. It’s one thing I hope continues even after I leave.

To watch a clip of the first monthly show, refer to the included DVD.

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Towatchthevideoinitsentirety,visitjakehamilton.netPublication:PantherBeatBroadcastProduction Date:2010-2011

For more information, visit

jakehamilton.netmore videos, photos, and exclusive content

email:[email protected]

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INFORMATION

For more information, visit

jakehamilton.netmore videos, photos, and exclusive content

email:[email protected]

joy portfolio

Documents

convergence journalism

aspect of journalism

emerging media

convergence media design

deliver journalism

digital media

professional media

high school