Podcast planning and prep. Assigned 4/28, due 4/30 - Minor

Today you will meet with your teams to plan your Podcast. You will have this class period to come up with your plan before you go into the office area to create your product. You will have about 30 minutes per team to record your efforts.

I will also expect your team to edit the product using one of the following products:

iMovie - available on your computer now - audio and can be used for video

Adobe Premiere - also available, may need to be downloaded - audio and can be used for video

Audacity - would need to be downloaded - audio only

Do you have one that you like to use? Let me know and I am open to that happening.

We will spend some time next class looking at iMovie so you are prepared to work on that portion of the assignment. You will continue to work with your team during that process so each member of the team can provide input on the final product.

Now, let's come up with a plan of attack to make this podcast happen. 

Here are the steps (the website I used to come up with this plan https://www.buzzsprout.com/blog/write-podcast-script-examples):

1. Brainstorm and come up with a theme-based subject. This is pretty open, so pick something you are all interested in. For example, your podcast could be about food, gaming, sports, or any hobby.

In fact this is the exact place to start; your interests and hobbies as a collective. The more passionate about the topic you are, the better it will be.

Come up with a list of ideas and then narrow it down to 2-3 and put it to a vote. If you need a tie-breaker, I will be the tiebreaker for your team.

2. Now decide what your goals are. Do you want to be factual and help your listeners be more informed from hearing about your subject. This would be very journalistically sound. But perhaps you want to be less structured, you could set it up as a Q&A with a single host asking questions that the others answer. Or you could come up with a longer list of questions and ask them at random so all 4 members would be able to respond.

3. Decide if you want to cover your topic broadly, or in a more specific manner. For example, if you wanted to talk about the latest shows on television, you could generally talk about multiple shows available across several platforms and discuss what you liked and didn't like about that group of shows, OR you could narrow your focus to one show and dig deep on the plot, characters, etc of that specific season.

4. Equal time. Since you will have 4 people on your team, you will need to make sure that everyone gets roughly the same time talking. You will be expected to have 3-5 minutes total, so think about what that turns into. Think about this as you work your way through the next step.

5. Script out your podcast. This should really be an outline, but you can be more detailed if it helps your team out. One thing you want to avoid is rambling. This should include the following:

Intro - briefly discuss the topic and introduce the speakers/guests

A sponsor message - this is where you would tell your listeners that this Podcast is a Dispatch Product and a short sentence about the Dispatch.

Consider using a Segue between segments. This can be a sound effect, a phrase or even a musical note.

Summary - near the end, you should recap the topic and give your listeners the key points they should takeaway from your podcast.

Outro - this could be an announcement, a teaser for the next podcast, a closing jingle, resources to share with your listeners to get more information, or even just a set of Good-byes from the hosts.

Some podcasts include a Call to Action for their listeners. For example, if your group decided your topic was climate change, you could come up with a plan to enlist your listeners into some sort of actionable plan. Or you could solicit your listeners for what your next topic could be, or the guests they want to hear next time. You could give contact information here.

6. Think about the best form for your work. Should this be single host with 3 guests, a Q&A, a rountable discussion, a tutorial or how-to or even freestyle (this could be tougher to do, but is totally possible with the right topics and a guide to keep you moving forward)?

Some final suggestions:

Keep it simple. With a group of 4, planning is crucial. Don't be too loose, but don't be to scripted. I strongly suggest you do some practice. I will allow you to work in groups around the room and in the hallway, office and back room so you can spend time together with your topic. You will have ALL of this period to work together. Someone should take/keep GOOD notes.

You will be expected to turn in your notes at the end of this unit for a grade for this portion. That grade will be as a group, and you will each earn the same grade for your planning paperwork. I will be happy to hold on to it for you. I will provide folders and yellow notepads for notes/script planning.

TEAMS

1 - Paul, Rider, Emma, Connor - New Texas Laws

2 - Lillian, Taylor, Baya, Max - The summer I turned pretty

3 - Addison, Angie, Eleanor - tourist spots in Austin

4 - Win, Schone, Evan, Kiran - Teens and the law

5 - Ethan, Archer, Jake, Myka - Sea Shepards

6 - Noelle, Sawyer, Dax, Angel - NFL draft

Next class, we will go over the Podcaster machine in small groups. This will also be your time to go through a couple of Dry Runs. You should have a decent idea of what you are doing by the end of next class. The following class we will start the recording process.

Podcast Preview. Assigned4/24, due 4/28 - Minor

 Podcast Preview

Now we are going to spend a few classes learning more about Podcasting. In this unit we will have a preview activity and a group project where you will team up with a few people to create a short 2-3 minute podcast. 

This unit will be a little more complex that other group projects we have done because I only have one Podcast production machine for you to use. Which means, we will have to schedule times for people to make these podcasts. I am going to dedicate THREE 30 minute time slots per day for your team to create in the office area of my room. So it will take around 3-4 classes for everyone to get their recording done. We will still be working on new things, so when it is your teams turn, you need to get in there and get this recording done. AND you will still need to do the daily assignment for that day. I will spread out the assignments but we still have things to get to.

Now let's get to it....

On your Google Site, please create a new subpage called Podcast Preview.

Go to this website and answer the questions below (REMEMBER IF THESE LINKS DON'T WORK - KEEP MOVING AND TRY TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS - USE GOOGLE IF YOU HAVE TO!!):

https://www.thepodcasthost.com/listening/what-is-a-podcast/

1. What is a Podcast?

2. What are some of the advantages of Podcast has over traditional radio?

3. Where do most people listen to a Podcast, according to the website?

4. What are a couple of differences between a professional Podcast versus a homemade version?

5. What is the difference between a Podcast and a Podcast Episode?

Now go to this website and answer the following questions:

What is a Podcast?

6. What are the four most common types of Podcasts?

7. In a sentence or two, please describe each of the four common types of Podcasts. Make sure to give a specific example for each that someone could listen to.

8. List the top-10 Podcasts for 2022

9. Where can you access Podcasts? List 2-3 places where you can find them.

Finally, let's figure out how to actually start coming up with a plan to make a Podcast. Go to this website and answer the questions below:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/blog/how-to-start-a-podcast

10. List the 10 steps the website suggests you follow to create a Podcast.

11. Refer back to the FOUR common types of Podcasts. Which one do you think would be best for you to use for a short 2-3 minute Podcast that you will create with 2 other people? Tell me which one you would use.

11. Think of FIVE topics/themes you think would be interesting to use for a Podcast that you will suggest to your team. Be sure to be specific and zero in on something that you could talk about with other people for 2-3 minutes.

12. Think of THREE names for your Podcast based on a few of your potential topics.

13. What types of equipment do you think you will need to make a Podcast?

When I return we will finish off Newspaper design with the second project and then we will immediately move into Podcasting. You will be working in groups to create a podcast.

Back up links in case something doesn't work:

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-do-podcasts-work#learn-more

https://www.podcastinsights.com/start-a-podcast/

WRKxFMLY work day. Posted 4/21, due 4/23 - MAJOR and Minor

 Today and Thursday, you have the entire period to work on photos and captions for the WRXxFMLY project. Remember, you must have the following completed by the end of class on Thursday:

1. 20 photos uploaded to WRXxFMLY website

2. 5 photos WITH CAPTIONS submitted for judging. 

That is it. It is a free 100 for both assignments for just doing it. I will NOT be judging these for quality or depth. I am happy to help you pick photos, I can make suggestions for the captions, etc. But all you have to do is turn in the work. 

If you need a camera today, I will have them ready to go.

It is really that simple, seriously!!

WRKXFMLY - Mr. Winter will be here TODAY. Posted 4/16 - no grade assigned

We are on the closing steps for the WRKxFMLY project. To complete this assignment you need to have the following completed for your grades.

MINOR grade - 20-25 photos posted on your WRKxFMLY website.

MAJOR GRADE - 5 photos SUBMITTED with Captions

The deadline for this work is Thursday, April 23. We will have another assignment on Thursday, April 23rd, so please plan accordingly.

Mr. Winter will be here today to help you with evaluating photos, offering advice on captions, and answering any other questions you might have. I will also be walking around to help as well.

Here is his presentation for today:

Critique Day

Newspaper Design Check-list and turn-in instructions PLUS REFLECTION. Assigned 4/14, due 4/16 - MAJOR

Do you have the following:

1. A headline for every story
2. A caption for every photo
3. Are there any big white spaces?
4. Have you written all the headlines? Do they fill the entire space required? If not you will have to write more - make the headline fit the ENTIRE space allocated.
5. Have you used FILL TEXT to completely fill all white spaces in text boxes where stories go?
6. Do all captions have a photo by?
7. Do all stories have a byline?
8. If you used art (any .jpeg without a caption that I wrote for it), does it have an art by?
9. Are the entire stories there? Please read the story and make sure it doesn't cut off somewhere weird.
10. Did you put a story stop into place at the end of every story?
11. Did you view your page in Preview mode? You should and take a look at what you are actually turning in.

Some of the things I saw last class that I wanted to point out to you to fix/work on today:

Make sure that every headline is written fully so that it fills the entire space. Make sure those headline boxes in InDesign are made big enough to cover the entire space required.

Make sure you use FILL text to completely fill all text boxes/blocks.

Make sure you have story stops (the little colored boxes) at the end of every story.

Look and see that you can draw a box around all elements that go with the same coverage, i.e. headline, story, photo/art, caption. You should be able to draw a box around it.

Make sure that you have NOT gone outside the pink/purple lines, but also make sure that all of your objects are touching pink/purple lines.

When you are done:

When you have your newspaper design done, please follow the instructions listed below to turn your projects in. FOLLOW THEM SPECIFICALLY AND EXACTLY. It may look complex and it isn't simple, but if you follow them carefully you will need no help from me.

You must have your page open in InDesign (NOT photoshop)

>File>Adobe PDF presets>Smallest File Size

>Rename your magazine cover as follows: Last name_first name_Newspaper Design 2_period #

Make sure to save it in your folder ON THE DESKTOP.

>Click export (if any messages come up about outside the clipping area or anything else like that during the .pdf creation process, click okay)

After you create a .PDF at the smallest file size put that file into your Google Drive and make sure it is share so BOWIE HIGH SCHOOL can VIEW it. Then get the link, and put it on your Google Site on a new subpage called Newspaper Design #2 using the embed function. Once you complete that, open your PDF in Photoshop and make it into a PNG by SAVING AS and converting it into a .PNG. Then put that PNG file on your Google Site on the same subpage called Newspaper Design #2. Hit PUBLISH!!!

ALSO  -  I want to post this on your Google Site. To do this you have to convert the .pdf into a .PNG file. This is 25% of your grade.

1. Open Photoshop
2. Open the .pdf of your newspaper design 2 (NOT the .indd, it won't work)
3. When the .pdf converter pop-up box appears, click okay
4. >File>Save as

5. Click - ON YOUR COMPUTER
6. Change the format into .PNG - this is located near the bottom of the pop-up box
7. Click save

8. It should default to large file size, if not change it and click OK
9. If you get any other pop-up boxes, click okay 
10. Post it on your Google Site on a new subpage called Newspaper Design #2

REFLECTION

Please take the time to look closely at your Newspaper Design #2 and complete the following reflection. On your Google Site, please make a new subpage called Newspaper Design #2 Reflection and answer the following questions there:

1. How many headlines are on your page and is there one for each story?

2. How many captions are on your page and is there one for each photo?

3. Are there any big white spaces on your page, especially ones that are "trapped" between objects and not planned white space that would be along the outsides of the page?

4. Did you include a byline for every story, photo and graphic?

5. Did you put a story stop on each story?

6. Did you view your page in Preview mode? You should and take a look at what you are actually turning in.

7. Tell me two frustrations you had while trying to complete this task?

8. Tell me two things you enjoyed about completing this task?

9. Rate your page on a scale of 1-10. Compare your page to a real Dispatch page as you rate yourself. Do you think your page compares to what current page editors have created this year?

10. Rate this assignments difficulty versus other practical applications we have done i.e. magazine covers, King Pica, etc. Was this easier or harder? Explain your answers.

For those people who are moving onto Newspaper next year and will be in Dispatch staff, please write a paragraph explaining what you thought about this process and tell me if this is something you might be interested in learning more about.

Newspaper Design #2. Assigned 4/9, due 4/14 - MAJOR

We completed Newspaper Design a few classes ago. For that assignment, you had all the pieces with the appropriate content already in place. All you had to do was move the boxes with their content into the correct place on the page. Today, we are going to make another page, but this time, you will have to not only place the boxes where you want them, you will also have to decide what content you want to appear on your page.

Your new InDesign file has a blank page, just like the last one. On the pasteboard around that blank page are a bunch of what we call TEMPLATE OBJECTS. Those objects have all the boxes you need to make your own page from scratch. To use these template objects, instead of just grabbing them and moving them around like you did for Newspaper Design #1, this time you will have to COPY and PASTE each object that you want. In the past this has been the HARDEST step for my intro students. So I am going to repeat these instructions over and over today as you work. COPY and PASTE what you want, don't grab TEMPLATE OBJECTS and move them around. Once you make a copy, you can move the copy around.

There are additional requirements and I will share those with you below.

For now, let's get the pieces you need to complete this task. Click the link below and COPY the entire folder into your folder on the DESKTOP.

NEWSPAPER DESIGN 2

Once everyone has this downloaded, we will open the files together.

Inside the file you are going to find a number of different types of files like an .Indd file, some .docx files, and lots of .jpegs. These files are the CONTENT you will need to use to create your Newspaper Page. You will find images, art, and a pair of Word Files, that have the stories and captions you will need for your page. 

Here is the kicker - you have too much content, and as the editor of this page, you will need to decide what CONTENT you want to use on your page. You have lots of choices.

The first thing you need to do is to use your knowledge of NEWS VALUES to determine which stories you want to use on your NEWS page. Then you will decide what ART/GRAPHICS/PHOTOS you want to use with those stories. Every story on your page must have some sort of visual with it. All visuals must have a credit line and all stories must  have a byline. These items are called a PACKAGE of items.

All elements in a PACKAGE, must be placed near each other in a pleasing MODULAR DESIGN.

Once you have your stories and related visual content selected, now its time to move on to InDesign to create the page.

You are welcome to use a Dispatch newspaper as a sample for your new page. You can access every Dispatch newspapers here: https://thedispatchonline.net/11845/print/print-edition-2021-2022/

I strongly recommend that you use one of the Dispatch pages to help you create this new page.

Begin by COPY and PASTING a main HEADLINE where you want to place it.

Then COPY and PASTE a story box and put it under the headline. You will have to change the size of the story box so it fits right. Just click a white circle on the bottom and make it longer.

COPY and PASTE a photo box that is the size you want (make sure to look at the photo you chose, is it wide or tall? Make the box the approximate shape as the photo you chose - in general you should only have to adjust the height....as there are template pieces in the appropriate widths). You will have to change the size of the story box so it fits right. Just click a white circle on the bottom and make it taller or shorter

I will show you basic steps before you get started. It will take a little time to go through it, but you will have plenty of time over the next few classes to complete this assignment. On the second day, I will be circulating around class to help you with your designs so they look like your sample page. I do NOT expect perfection, but I do want you to get it as close as possible to what you are using as your inspiration. I strongly recommend you use a Page 2, a Page 3, or even Page 4-5 or a sports page. Do not pick a guide page that is page 1 or 8-9 or a photo essay.

Newspaper Design Concepts. Assigned 4/2, due 4/7 at the end of the period - Minor

 Before we start the fNewspaper Design Project #2, we need to know some terms and find some examples of what actually makes up a newspaper page. Many of you will be joining us in newspaper next year, and you are supposed to be focusing on the "visual" side of things. That starts with photography, but it also involves design, infographics, illustrations, podcasting and videography.

When we are talking about newspaper design, it can get extremely complex, but there are basic things you should know and understand before you can get more in-depth. For those of you moving on, these terms and understanding their uses, will really help you as you transition to the production classes. For those of you who are not, these basic terms are used in other places, like yearbook, graphic design and even into the real world. So all of you will benefit from understanding these concepts.

Below are a list of terms you should know. Your job today is to find examples of each of these concepts, take a screen shot of these ideas and share them on your Google Site in a new subpage called Newspaper Design Concepts. You will need to label each image with the correct term.

You will need to find these using the Dispatch newspaper. You can access the print edition of the newspaper here: https://thedispatchonline.net/category/print/

To access each issue, you will need to click on the link and go to Issuu.com and view them as full screen. If you are unsure how to take a screen shot, it's easy - hold down the SHIFT, COMMAND and the #4. That will create a "bullseye" cursor. Now you just click and drag over the item you want to take a screen shot of. This image will either go into the Download folder or to your desktop. Make sure to move these into your Digital Media folder on the desktop. Put them in a new folder called Newspaper Design Concepts.

This is a long list, and I have specified exactly what I am looking for in each term description. In some cases I am asking for a whole page but some screen shots will be portions of the paper, so do not take one big shot and expect me to understand what you are showing me. Find these SPECIFIC elements and take the screen shot. You are welcome to use preview editor and draw lines to what you are trying to show me, if that helps you.

As you look for these items in the Dispatch, please take the time to look at the design of each page you look at. Notice where these elements appear. Look at the way the pages are designed in terms of where headlines appear and where the photos and captions are placed. How does the copy wrap around photos. What about art? Where does the copy go on some art pieces? What about bylines and photo credit lines? There are very specific rules about the placement of all of these items. You will be using the Dispatch as your guide when you create your second newspaper page in the next project.

Above the fold: the top half of any page.

Art: photos, illustrations, line art, cartoons, graphics, charts, etc.

Attribution: assigning information to a source, e.g., he said. Any attribution will be fine.

Banner: headline that stretches across entire newspaper page. Reserved for the big news.

Box: 1- or 2-point lines, known as rules, enclosing a story alone or story and art. Used to draw attention to art and story. Also called packaging.

Byline: name of author of story. (Different from credit line, which is the name of the photographer.)

Caption: text accompanying a photograph; also called, cutline (but rarely used)

Center spread: two facing pages at the center of a magazine or newspaper.

Column: section of text that runs from top to bottom of the page. Also, regular editorial feature in a publication, usually with a byline. Please find me BOTH of these. They both appear in our newspaper.

Copy: article, story, other written material.

Credit line: name of photographer who took the accompanying picture, the artist who drew the illustration or the person who made the informational graphic. Placed immediately under the photo or art, often in 6- or 8-point type.

Deck: wording following a headline but preceding the text or body copy. Expands on the meaning of the title, explaining its significance. 

Double truck: newspaper term for spread, or the two facing pages.

Drop cap: large decorative initial capital letter that extends below the top line of a paragraph it begins.

Editorial: article of comment or opinion usually on the editorial/opinion page.

Flag: name of the newspaper across the top of page one. Sometimes called the logo or nameplate.

Folio: page numbers. Also can refer to date, price, publisher, sometimes volume and number of newspaper that usually is in relatively small type and positioned below the flag or nameplate.

Gutter: blank space between two facing pages or adjacent columns of type.

Hairline: very thin rule or line. 

Head, Headline, Hed: tells readers what the story is about. Similar to a title but includes a verb.

Information graphic: information presented largely as a picture or visual, e.g., bar and pie charts, tables, time-series lines, maps, illustrations.

Jump line: a few words that tell the reader that the story is continued on another page. Continued on... and Please turn to... are the most common jump lines. Please find the jump to AND the jumped from labels.

Lead: the first paragraph, which in hard news stories is the first sentence of the story. Tells the reader what the news is. In longer feature stories, lead can be a block of paragraphs that set the stage or put the reader in the scene.

leading: space between lines of type, usually measured from baseline to baseline. 

Masthead: information about the publication run on an inside page. Usually includes publishers, editors, directors, address, etc.

Modular Design: all elements in a package can be placed inside of a square box (this box may not be a physical box, but you can draw an invisible box around all the related content), creating "modular" boxes that can be moved around as a square package.

Mug shot: a picture of the head and shoulders of a person. Usually run relatively small. In a newspaper usually a half-column wide by 1.5 inches deep or one column wide by 3 inches deep. 

Nameline: a name that appears underneath a mugshot, identifying the person in the picture.

Op-ed page: short for opposite the editorial page. Page that features columnists' opinions often about social, political issues.

Package: A set of items that all go together to complete a group of items that tell the entire story, this includes all art, graphics, photos, story, headline, captions in a presentation. Designed in Modular fashion.

Photo essay: series of photographs that make a single point.

Pic: short for picture.

Reverse: images appear in white on a dark or colored background. Must be used only for a few words. Difficult to read.

Run-around: body copy that wraps around an inset piece of art.

Sidebar: a related story intended to run with a major story on same topic. 

Standing heads, standing sigs or standing signatures: title and/or graphic that signals a regular column (e.g., Dear Abby), regular features (Editorials), a special series of stories or a particular breaking news story topic (e.g., The Summit, Plane Crash). Usually positioned above the head or near the top of a story.

Subhead, drop head: headline that elaborates on the main head. Set in smaller type size than the main head. Positioned below the main head.

Teasers: a headline, phrase or sentence, sometimes accompanied by art, that advertises stories inside the paper. Usually positioned at the top of the cover.

Text: body copy.

Tombstone head: similar size and style headlines, side by side. Usually to be avoided.

White space: space on a page not occupied by type, pictures or other elements. Floating or trapped white space is to be avoided.