Do you have any tips to keep drama and confusion out of the yearbook staff room?

Why is it that in some staff rooms there seems to be more drama and more confusion than others?

Try these three things to make yearbook as easy as

Tip 1: Recruit great staffers.
This seems obvious, right? No one looks to recruit lousy staffers. The key, though, is to determine how you define a “great staffer.” Personally, I place a high priority on recruiting kids with positive attitudes and solid work ethics. Sure, I look for strong writers and photographers, but not every kid who writes well makes a good staffer. It’s much easier to teach writing and photography than attitude or work ethic. If I can find a kid who is fun to be with and consistently gives their best, I can work their skills.

I also explain this to my colleagues when I ask them to recommend students. On the form I send to my colleagues, below descriptors like “strong writer” and “responsible,” I have the following sentence: “A positive attitude is a must. Deadlines can be stressful, so no grumps, please.”

Tip 2: Collect a library of amazing yearbooks as well a few… not-so-amazing yearbooks.
It’s important to have yearbooks that exemplify the best in design, coverage, photography and writing. When I teach design, for example, I show examples of effective use of typography or photo packages. When I teach the craft of writing a lead, I read examples from other books. Magazines are another fabulous resource, but students need to see the work of other students. Show them what is possible by showing them examples of what a group of committed staffers can create.

Conversely, get a few books that do not reflect thebest of yearbook journalism. The amazing books show staffers what strong design, coverage, photography and writing are, while the weaker books show why they are important. For example, when I teach the basics of design, I show my staffers numerous examples of beautifully designed spreads. But it’s often not until I show them a spread from a book that lacks strong design that they fully grasp the power of design. They say things like, “I don’t know where to look first.” At which point, I say, “Exactly, and that’s the purpose of good design.” Don’t underestimate the power of a weak book.

Tip 3: Give everyone the Opportunity to be an editor.
Once you have taught the basics of design, writing and photography and your staff has had ample practice, put their new-found knowledge to the test by letting staffers take on the role of editor.

Give staffers poorly written theme copy and instruct them to re-write, with details specific to your school. Give them feature copy with dull quotes and instruct them to re-write the copy and weave in “quotable quotes” from a variety of students.

Give them a layout design that needs work and instruct them to come up with 10 changes that would improve the layout. Give them a spread full of posed photos and have staffers replace the photos with candids. You get the idea.

The point is, this opportunity to “edit” gives staffers the opportunity to see that they now possess a body of knowledge that they did not only a few weeks ago. It’s empowering for them, and it will make the rest of the year easier for you.

Strategic selection, exposure and opportunity definitely contribute to a more enjoyable year.

Contributed by Landon Wrather, Yearbook Adviser
Mountain View High School, Mesa, AZ
Yearbook Discoveries Volume 15 Issue 1