the nspa pacemaker fall 2012

THE PACEMAKERRecognizing excellence in student media since 1927.

JEA/NSPA San Antonio Convention • Nov. 17, 2012

NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATIONLogan Aimone, Executive Director

This presentation is available at slideshare.net/loganaimoneand permission is given for educational use.

Wednesday, November 14, 12

INTRODUCTIONThe Pacemaker is the highest honor

in scholastic journalism. For decades, it hasrecognized trend-setters and go-getters, effort

and enterprise, achievement and talent.

Today, the Pacemaker continues to recognizethe best student journalism in the nation.


KEEP IN MIND…The images seen in this presentation are

Newspaper Pacemaker Finalists from the 2011-12academic year plus 2011 yearbooks and magazines.

Newspaper winners will be announcedat Saturday’s awards ceremony.

Inclusion of a publication in this presentationdoes not indicate status as a winner.

Do not read anything into whetheran example was included here.


WHO’S JUDGING?Pacemaker judges are professionals working in media as well as a range of experts familiar with student media.

Judges for the 2011-12 NSPA Pacemakers included working professionals, veteran advisers,

and teams from the Alaska Quarterly Reviewand The Sacramento Bee


WHO’S JUDGING?Judging is by team. We ask the media organization to compile a group with representation from various

departments (writer, editor, designer, photographer, etc.).

Entries are judged holistically. There is not a rubric with points attached to certain criteria.

Judging is by nature somewhat subjective based on established standards of scholastic journalism.


HOW DO THEY JUDGE?• The number of Pacemaker finalists and winners is

proportional to the number of entries.

• The number is not fixed each year, but about half of the finalists will be named winners.

• This is a contest, not a critique.

•NSPA asks judges to provide general feedback on the finalists. Some teams are more thorough. Comments will be shared on our website as part of the winners gallery and in our book, Best of the High School Press.


WHAT DO THEY JUDGE?• Content

•Quality of writing and editing

• Presentation: Layout and design

• Photography, art and graphics

• Reporting: Type and depth (newspaper)

• Editorial Leadership (newspaper)

•Overall concept or theme (yearbook, magazine)


CONTENT & COVERAGE• The publication should accurately reflect all aspects of student

life, from academics to sports, arts to community news.

•Newspapers should localize national or regional stories for their own campus communities. Wire or reprinted copy is discouraged.


CONTENT & COVERAGE

Localize! Top stories here are presented to show the impact on the campus and its students. Additionally, display text is used to convey information and entice the reader to enter the lead.

The OarsmanVenice HSLos Angeles


CONTENT & COVERAGE

A variety of trend stories and school news pieces connect readers with the world beyond the campus. Quick reads highlight news in brief.

The BroadviewConvent of the Sacred Heart HSSan Francisco


CONTENT & COVERAGE

A full-page story is a big risk, but this topic has impact. It tells the story of a former student now incarcerated. Among the fundamental purposes of the newspaper is to educate the reader.

EvanstonianEvanston Township HSEvanston, Ill.


CONTENT & COVERAGE

A newsmagazine has the opportunity to dedicate multiple pages to one topic — in this case $1.2 million in wasted school funds.

The MuseDreyfoos School of the ArtsWest Palm Beach, Fla.


CONTENT & COVERAGE

Cover the stories in a way that matters to your readers. In this case, the impact of a SAT rule change is explained. The students at this Jewish school take the SAT on Sunday rather than the traditional Saturday.

The Boiling PointShalhevet HSLos Angeles


CONTENT & COVERAGE

Story, images and student quotes combine to cover the start-of-school activities.

FentonianFenton HSFenton, Mich.


CONTENT & COVERAGE

Depth coverage about relationships and religion also has a place in the yearbook.

LairShawnee Mission Northwest HSShawnee, Kan.


CONTENT & COVERAGE

Cheating? At a private school? This book portrays the year truthfully and as it really happened.

TeresianSt. Teresa’s AcademyKansas City


WRITING & REPORTING•Writing should be crisp. Reporting must be thorough.

• Copy should be clean and edited for consistent style.

• Look at NSPA Story of the Year winners for examples of excellence: http://www.studentpress.org/nspa/winners/story12.html


http://www.studentpress.org/nspa/winners/story10.html

http://www.studentpress.org/nspa/winners/story10.html

PRESENTATION:LAYOUT & DESIGN

• The publication should have a clean and contemporary look.

• Visual hierarchy is established.


PRESENTATION

A textbook example of modular layout with multiple entry points for the reader. The page demonstrates a clear hierarchy — emphasized by the flag along the rail. Color discipline is also evident here.

The LowellLowell HSSan Francisco


PRESENTATION

Another strong textbook example of modular layout. This one adheres to a grid but breaks the rules in a couple of places. Initial letters to begin the stories help guide the reader’s eye to the leads.

The RockRock Bridge HSColumbia, Mo.


PRESENTATION

A strong illustrative visual is used effectively to convey the story about rising gas prices. The page offers multiple points of entry for the reader.

tjTODAYThomas Jefferson HSAlexandria, Va.


PRESENTATION

With a nod to traditional design, this page looks toward a new direction and blazes a trail. This paper manages to simultaneously balance both traditional and contemporary looks — successfully.

The Marshfield TimesMarshfield HSCoos Bay, Ore.


PRESENTATION

White space has impact.

The boxed story and bold, simple headline set the appropriate tone for a story on bullying.

The Little HawkIowa City HSIowa City, Iowa


PRESENTATION

This spread about state fair food could be in any type of print media. And, it serves the reader.

AgromeckNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, N.C.


PRESENTATION

Event coverage is grouped in modules. Type is contemporary, as are tight crops.

LaconianSalem HSSalem, Va.


LAYOUT & DESIGN

Traditional layout still works, and here it’s tweaked just enough to make it contemporary and fresh.

StampedeJ.W. Mitchell HSNew Port Richey, Fla.


PHOTOGRAPHY, ART & GRAPHICS

• Visuals enhance the verbal content and draw in the reader.

•Quality of photos and art is technically excellent.


PHOTO, ART & GRAPHICS

A large, tightly cropped dominant photo above the fold has impact on the page and conveys the emotion of the story it accompanies. Other images on the page support the storytelling.

Granite Bay GazetteGranite Bay HSGranite Bay, Calif.



A clever use of Photoshop can take a challenging story and communicate the idea simply and with few, if any, words.

The CommunicatorCommunity HSAnn Arbor, Mich.



Reversed text and simple graphic tell the story well in this cover illustration. Text is handled subtly and is placed to the edges to allow the image room for impact.

El EstoqueMonta Vista HSCupertino, Calif.



A powerful image, technically excellent and cropped well should be the goal of every media staff. Dominant and secondary images work together to coordinate storytelling. Note the overall appearance that evokes a website.

The SouthernerGrady HSAtlanta



Clever cover illustrations are essential in newsmagazine design as they must convey a large topic and not a single news event. The “DIY” testing concept is illustrated with a hand-folded piece of origami from a Scantron sheet, the quintessential symbol of standardized testing.

HiLineCarmel HSCarmel, Ind.



Text bubbles (repeated throughout), vertical text, halftone screens. It’s all very trendy.

TeleiosMount Paran Christian SchoolKennesaw, Ga.



Photo from unusual angle + graphic effects = a very dynamic spread.

AerieBrentwood SchoolLos Angeles, Calif.



The whole book is clean and understated. This environmental portrait sets a tone, too.

MarksmenSt. Mark’s School of TexasDallas, Texas



Traditional layout gets kicked up a notch with a retro-cool two-tone screen in the upper left.

LegendBoone HSOrlando, Fla.


REPORTING:TYPE & DEPTH

•Major stories should show evidence of multiple sources.

• Series or in-depth pieces should be prominent.


REPORTING

Enterprising news dominates Page One with stories about college tuition, student government budget and educational facilities.

The HubDavis HSDavis, Calif.


REPORTING

The Stagg LineA.A. Stagg HSStockton, Calif.

Page One features stories that affect readers: the rise of bus fare and credit recovery options for students. A rail of quick-read stories helps get more news on the page.


REPORTING

Exposing students to ideas and stories outside their high school world is a role of the student press. The Urban Legend brings the schools mission into focus with this story about connecting students with global educational experiences.

The Urban LegendThe Urban School of San FranciscoSan Francisco


REPORTING

Tackling an issue that is commonly known but rarely reported, the Highlights staff prominently puts plagiarism front and center.

HighlightsBeverly Hills HSBeverly Hills, Calif.


EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP•Opinion pages should be alive with a variety of content: staff

editorials, cartoons, letters and personal columns.

• Content should be consequential.


EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP

In addition to the strong coverage of the issue of parenting, what stands out here is the teaser for the staff editorial — the thesis is presented on Page One with the full story teased inside. That’s innovative and gives prominence to the staff ’s view.

2011 WINNERThe StandardThe American School in LondonLondon, England



A pro-con piece is presented well. In this case, the topic is relevant and has two distinct viewpoints. Consider adding a section where each student writer offers rebuttal to the other’s argument.

2011 WINNERThe SouthernerHenry W. Grady HSAtlanta, Ga.



A variety of art (cartoons and illustrations) as well as mugs break up these pages of text.

2010 WINNERThe FalconerTorrey Pines HSSan Diego, Calif.



A praise editorial is a nice change of pace. Many student voices are evident.

2010 WINNERThe Stagg LineA.A. Stagg HSStockton, Calif.


CONCEPT / THEME• Concept unifies coverage and content.

• Theme is relevant to current year or issue and provides structure for storytelling.


CONCEPT/THEME

Snapshots

TitanianSan Marino HSSan Marino, Calif.


CONCEPT/THEME

Visual continuity is extended inside. White borders give the “snapshot” feel.

TitanianSan Marino HSSan Marino, Calif.


CONCEPT/THEME

Where amazing happens

DetailsWhitney HSRocklin, Calif.


CONCEPT/THEME

Type and color is on trend. A “5W’s” idea of “what” and “who” extends the theme.

DetailsWhitney HSRocklin, Calif.


SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER•Does your publication provide a sense of place?

•When reading the publication, does the reader learn about the campus, the culture, the students and faculty?

•Or, does the coverage feel generic?


SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER•Does the work feel contemporary?

• The publication ought to look like it was produced this year.

•Don’t start over each year, but the type and graphics need to evolve.

• Look to trend-setting magazines, advertisements and other current printed materials for inspiration.


SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER•Do the stories matter?

• Place the stories in context for the reader.

• Set the agenda through investigations and enterprise pieces.

• Localize regional, national and international stories. Focus on the campus.


SOME WAYS TO IMPROVE

•Work on the content. Dig around your campus and community for real stories. Don’t overplay or sensationalize. Cover all aspects and all groups.

• Pay attention to photography and graphics. These two areas help your publication stand out from others. Think of the best way to tell a story for readers to read and understand.



•Details make the difference. Typography, white space, style — these are what set Pacemakers apart.

•Have a strong editorial voice. Make the editorial pages a lively forum on substantive topics.



•Make every story polished. Write tight. Readers will read long if it’s good. Put columnists on a word count diet.

•Take your own photos or use common works. Find images to use under a Creative Commons license or similar permission to use. Attribute correctly. WikiCommons and Flickr both have free images.



•Consider the alternatives. Look to alternate story forms in addition to the traditional story or copy block. Not only will your content attract more readers, the stories that need traditional treatment will stand out, too.

•Don’t just copy the leaders. They aren’t copying you. They’re finding a new and innovative ways to present information. They’re setting the pace.


WHAT’S NEXT?

The 2012 Pacemaker winnerswill be announced Saturday afternoon.

Enter your student media in the 2012-13 contests. Watch your email and our website

for deadlines and entry forms.


QUESTIONS?

Thanks!

E-mail: [email protected]: slideshare.net/loganaimone


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the nspa pacemaker fall 2012

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