Columbia Scholastic Press Association

Newspaper Design & Redesign

THIS SESSION IS NOW CLOSED, PLEASE CHOOSE DIGITAL DESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHY.

Using slides and instructor lecture format, this sequence begins with a review of basic design terminology and design techniques such as dominance, design hierarchy, modular design, grids, headline writing, font choice, marriage of elements and the importance of photography and cropping.

In the next section of this sequence, learning will move from theory to hands-on, as students will design a page demonstrating all of the aforementioned design techniques while displaying knowledge of design terminology. InDesign fluency not required but will be helpful to the student.

The core of this sequence will involve an actual redesign of the students’ newspapers. Students will redesign a front page, two section lead pages such as sports and entertainment, and another page of the students’ choosing. What the student is designing during this sequence should be the actual page templates they take back to their newsrooms to use during the upcoming school year.

Sequence assignments

• Students will participate in an instructor lead lecture detailing basic design terminology and basic design techniques.
• Students will view a variety of professional and student newspaper examples, verbally critiquing those using learned basic design terminology and basic design techniques.
• Students will design a page on a personal computer using InDesign software, demonstrating an understanding of design basics such as dominance, design hierarchy, modular design, grids, etc., as well as an understanding of InDesign.
• Students will redesign the nameplate of their own newspapers, moving on to an entire redesign of the front page and the newspaper.
• Students will redesign two section lead pages such as sports and entertainment.
• Students will redesign a page of their choice.

Sequence accomplishments

• Gain an understanding of basic design terminology and design technique
• Learn how to use InDesign software
• Learn how to edit a photograph using Photoshop software
• Learn the correct cutout format using Photoshop software
• Proper headline writing
• Use of dominance and design hierarchy
• The importance of photography as it relates to design
• Font choice
• Use of rhythm, tone, mood and balance in design
• Marriage of elements
• When consistency is required
• When contrast is required

Please note:
This sequence carries a registration limit of 15 participants, with no more than two (2) participants allowed from any one school. Also, students will be given priority over advisers when registering for this sequence.

Sequence Instructor

Pete LeBlanc will be beginning his 14^th year as the yearbook and newspaper adviser at Center High School in Antelope, Calif. The students LeBlanc advises on the Epic yearbook and The Blue & Gold newspapers have been honored with many Gold Crowns from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Pacemakers from the National Scholastic Press Association. LeBlanc also teaches two sections of New Media in the Media Communications Academy, and is co-adviser of the Channel 25 News. In addition to his teaching duties, LeBlanc will beginning his third season as the head freshman football coach and was named 2007 JEA Yearbook Adviser of the Year

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