Yearbook Writing / Journalism:
The goal of this component of our course is to develop a deeper level of content for your book. You and your generation have much to say about the state of the world, the opportunities open for them and the issues that students face in this modern era. Part of your responsibility to providing acurrate coverage for our book is developing a strong written component. Look to this page for ideas and strategies for your own reporting.
"What Do I Write About?"
With so much happening day to day and week to week it can be overwhelming to find a beginning point. Review some writing prompts below to find a focus for your own story/article/message/interview:
Timeliness: If something happened this year, it is more newsworthy than something that occurred in other time frames. If something has happened recently, or within the time frame of your book, be it spring or fall delivery, then it meets that criterion. So what has happened this year? Did you get some new teachers? Did some retire? Did you have an exchange student? Was there an election that changed your school board? Help your students remember annual events such as the first day of school, Homecoming and graduation, as well as those unique to this particular year such as an anniversary or a tragedy.
Prominence: Who are the movers and shakers in your school? Who are the decision-makers? The stakeholders? When these people are in the news, you have met that standard. Help your staff identify those people of prominence in your school: the student body president, the valedictorian, the lead actor in the musical, the leading scorer on the basketball team, the head librarian, principal, the school board, the superintendent and perhaps the student publications editor. When these people do things, those things are newsworthy. Certainly they warrant mention in your book.
Proximity: When things happen in or around your school, they are meaningful to your readers. Closeness matters. An event away from your school certainly might be meaningful to your readers, such as the Scholastic Bowl team winning a state title at a site hours away. However, when your staff covers happenings in your building or in your community, they are acknowledging that people are interested in what happens close to them. Some great spreads have been done about the community, about places students work, about places they hang out, about places with history. Obviously, your school itself is special, too. Consider recording what the building is like at this moment in time, since it will change.
Impact: What has made a difference to your school this year? How many people have been affected by it? What are people talking about? Help your students recognize those issues or events that have impact this year. In this era it is often the effects of the budget, and how the school has had to change to meet that budget. National topics often find their way into the high school agenda, including health and adolescent issues. It could be a celebration or a tragedy; it could be a new law or policy adopted by the school. It could be a change in tradition or a return to something traditional. Any of these may be worthy topics for spreads. If they have made a difference to your students, faculty, staff and school community, they are newsworthy.
Novelty (or human interest): What’s unique about this year? Is it fashion? Is it new technology? Is it a new trend? A new dance or event? Is it the school’s anniversary or the anniversary of something special that happened at your school? Or it is just something interesting? What has appealed to the emotions of your school community this year? This, perhaps, is the most fun category as it allows your staff to cover stories about people in an emotional way. It’s the behind-the-scenes kind of piece that draws the readers in, and makes the yearbook unique to your school.
Need more ideas? Here is a link to more writing prompts:
Link: Over 1,000 Writing Prompts for Students
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