WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA
SOCIAL MEDIA STORIES
I use social media to tell the stories of my community. I turn my projects into social media posts to promote the story to a wider audience. The simplified versions of stories make content more accessible to teens scrolling their phones. The staff’s two most liked timeline posts were articles I converted to posts: Staying Relentless (reaching 2,392 accounts) and Keelen carries on mom’s legacy (reaching 3,140 accounts). I simplified articles I wrote, found photos and used Adobe Express to design the posts. I also used social media to quickly publish news stories. After Emma Yeager broke the career scoring record, I created an Instagram timeline post to quickly spread the news. I used interviews and photos I took at the game hours earlier.
The Emma Yeager Instagram post was named first place ILPC IAA 5A Online Newspaper Social Media Story.
PHOTO SLIDESHOWS
Photo slideshows allow me to embody photojournalism. The football team played its rivals in the 2023 homecoming game. Kingwood Park led for the majority of the game. At halftime, Bobby West (pictured crying in the bottom right) was crowned homecoming king. In the final 13 seconds, Spartan player Payton Evans-Pickens (pictured in top middle) scored a touchdown to win the game for Porter. A game that started with successes was tainted by a sour defeat. I tried to tell the story of this emotional game in my slideshow.
This slideshow showed the story of the 2022 homecoming dance. I tried to represent the differing homecoming experiences. Homecoming can be a night of hanging out with friends, young love or dancing until one’s feet hurt. The whole story of the night doesn’t lie in the mosh pit, and the easily forgotten stories outside of the mosh pit are the ones I tried to tell.
LIVE COVERAGE
Using X for live coverage allows me to update those who cannot attend an event. The Powder Puff competition only happens once a year. I organized interviews, took photos and posted live coverage to update our audience about the results of the tournament. The videos show Powder Puff participants enjoyed being interviewed in the heat of the moment throughout the night.
MULTIMEDIA
I used multimedia projects to show different aspects of the same subject. Doctors said that if Luc Wehby survived his stroke he would likely not be able to move or talk again. He fought through recovery to regain his ability to walk, and he now plays golf. I conducted six interviews to write an article about Wehby’s situation. I also spent an afternoon with Wehby to capture photos and videos of him golfing. I created a video showing Wehby’s progress and an article about his stroke.
This project was named National Scholastic Press Association’s second place Multimedia Sports Story of the Year in 2022. It won first place Quill and Scroll Newspaper Sports Package. It also earned the Best of SNO distinction.
INSTAGRAM REEL
Instagram pushes reels to a larger audience than a typical timeline post. My girls basketball reel reached 18,707 people and my football reel reached 13,847 people. I updated the sports audience on the scores of games through reels. Reels helped increase the ways I published visual content. I made reels consistent throughout my coverage, and I taught the staff how to create reels to increase the staff’s sports social media coverage.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
I helped run social media campaigns for Our Esquina and the Houston Zoo. I conducted an Instagram takeover for the Houston Zoo by utilizing a diverse array of Instagram features to educate their audience about avian conservation. The takeover’s timeline posts received 3,025 likes. I was named Our Esquina’s first graphics director when they launched in 2021. I worked to increase Our Esquina’s Instagram presence using what I learned from running KP Media’s socials. I created graphics to promote their work, Latino athletes and notable events. Click the images below for more information and examples of what I have done with social media for each organization.
Maya Shea Ortiz 