REPORTING AND WRITING
ENTERPRISE JOURNALISM
I have taken specific action to tell the health stories of my community. I listened to emotional retellings of life-changing events and photographed my subjects in their elements. I reported on those moments to help my school community better understand their students and colleagues. I specifically told the stories of teachers dealing with the impacts of cancer. Click each headline to read more about the development of each story and to access a link to the articles.
NEWS
I have always seen newswriting as educating my peers on what occurs around them. During the pandemic, there was a lack of events and excitement at school. I searched for stories. Sharing that a new exhibit opened at the zoo and that the choir was holding weekly activities helped spread the idea that the world would ultimately return to normal — or find a new normal. To see the specifics about each article, click on the headlines for more information and the online link.
FEATURES
With the support of his family and many at Kingwood Park, senior Hunter Keelen persevered after the sudden death of his mother in 2019. This article taught me the importance of patience. I reached out to Hunter Keelen’s dad for an interview after I first talked with Hunter. Months went by without a response. Finally, I got a phone number to call. Mark Keelen showed me a whole different side of his son, and he shared the perspective of a concerned and supportive father. That interview rounded out the story, and I am so grateful I waited for Mark’s response. The interviews, along with three years of photos I took of Hunter, helped me develop the story and accurately represent Hunter.
This feature was part of my 4th place National Scholastic Press Association Writer of the Year portfolio in 2023. The article was awarded the Best of SNO distinction.
OPINIONS
Throughout high school, I have shared my opinions through entertainment reviews, personal columns and editorials. I recorded my opinion on our first outdoor pep rally in hopes of reforming the pep rally system to maximize involvement, and I reviewed impactful media. Click on the headlines below for more information and links to my pieces.
SPORTS
This game story covered the moment senior Emma Yeager broke the girls soccer career scoring record. This story was one of four pieces I created about Yeager. I photographed her as she broke the single season scoring record my freshman year. I followed her journey as she broke the career scoring record, ultimately photographing her record breaking goals my junior year. I stayed after the game to interview and photograph Yeager, her family and her coach. The trusting relationship I built with the Yeager family allowed me to get details no other news organization obtained. My work for this story was featured on VYPE.com.
This feature was part of my 4th place National Scholastic Press Association Writer of the Year portfolio in 2023. The article was awarded the Best of SNO distinction.
Maya Shea Ortiz 