YEARBOOK YEARBOOK APPLICATION BOOKLET 2021
A Note from Mrs. Glenn... Why Yearbook? Media literacy helps students become wiser consumers of media as well as responsible producers of their own media. Learning the processes of creating messages, gaining an audience and applying ethical decision-making helps to foster critical thinking. This type of thinking can eventually become second nature, but only if students are allowed to focus on strengthening process skills as much as content knowledge. Emphasizing media literacy through the production of media the yearbook also fosters collaboration skills that encourage respectful discourse and builds citizenship tools. Developing an ethical process in determining media content, interviewing sources, synthesizing information and visuals into a story, creating designs and layouts to increase readership and readability, while working in a team atmosphere, impacts students now and in the future. Journalism is more important to our democracy than ever. Membership in Illumination (yearbook) allows students to develop media literacy in a real-world context of creating consumable media for their peers. Their choices have consequences that impact the entire school community. Learning about media, media literacy, best practices and a rigorous curriculum in writing, design and photography allows them to think critically and function at Bloom Taxonomy’s highest levels of synthesis and analysis. As a Certified Journalism Educator, my charge is to impart media literacy and the other curricular and life lessons, enrollment in a publication’s class provides.
Contents: Application Timeline
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How to Apply
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Job Descriptions Designers pg. 6 Photographers pg. 7 Leadership Opportunities Editors in Chief pg. Managing Editors pg. Photo Editors pg. Section Editors pg. Sports pg. Academities pg. People pg. Senior Ads pg. Student Life pg.
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Application Timeline: Enrollment: Jan./Feb. 2021 Google form application: Open through April 7 Interviews for Editor in Chief: April 14, 15, 16 Leadership Announcements: May Banquet or via Instagram Videos Week of May 3
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How to Apply Step 1: Enroll in the course. Prerequisite requirement options: • 21C Journalism (Because designers have spread responsibilities they need to have had the discussions and experiences of journalists.)
• Photo 1 or Digital Imaging (Photographers can have a variety of experiences tha make prepare them to record the history of our school.)
Step 2: Fill out the application form online.
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Job Descriptions There are two positions in yearbook, designers and photographers. The two work together under the guidance of student editors. Designers • Brainstorm and work with assigned Section Editor to determine the spreads/sidebars/ads that need be done for the upcoming deadline. • Accept your assignments with enthusiasm. Once assigned: • Brainstorm how best to cover the topic assigned within your section. Contact spread subjects. Schedule and conduct interviews. Discuss photos needed with editors and reach out to photographers. • Design page using Adobe InDesign with the editor’s Style Guide as a road map. Determine the dominant photo. Decide where to put the headline and subheading. Write and place the story. Add other photos and sidebars and captions. • General expectations: Finish spread the week or weekend BEFORE the deadline. Rarely are spreads perfect. (Collaborating with editors is a fun part of the process.) Attend all Design Work Nights. Attend as many fun events as possible. Participate in Snack Fridays. pg. 6
Photographers • Learn how to use your camera. It is an amazing, and sometimes complicated, piece of machinery. The more you understand it, the more you’ll be able to take the pictures you want to take. • Understand how to check out and return your camera. It is provided by Blue Valley for you to use. It is your responsibility at all times. Sign the camera/equipment contract. Purchase a memory card (and possibly an extra). Know how to keep your camera charged. • Learn about the various lenses and which are best for varied situations. • Each photographer is expected to attend and shoot six events during the first semester and four during the second semester. • Download the Trello app to sign up for events and get details. • Learn and apply Tips for taking photos of varied events. • Learn and understand how to use the Google Drive File Stream to store, organize and edit photos (with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom). • Participate fully and happily in class lessons and activities. Photographers spend time outside of class to attend events, but class time is where the get and stay organized and learn how to get better. NEVER plan to do homework or study for a test during yearbook class. Assume we’ll be working on learning a new skill or technique or organizing, etc…
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Beyond the roles of designers and photographers, yearbook staffers can also apply for leadership positions. Yearbook enjoys a respected reputation at BV West, in the community and on a resume. Assuming a leadership role comes with great responsibility requiring elevated skill and dedication. The leadership roles require applicants to provide additional information. Applicants for Editor in Chief must also attend an interview. The interview will be conducted by a panel including the former Editors in Chief, the adviser and adults interested in the success of the program. Leadership roles: • Editor in Chief (usually 2-3) • Managing Editor (usually 1-2) • Photo Editor (usually 5) • Section Editor (usually 5)
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Leadership Positions Editors in Chief
Illumination editor-in-chief is a position of leadership for the yearbook staff and within BV West. The yearbook staff looks to the EICs as role models of attitude and behavior. EICs are also expected to keep the book on schedule for publication and ensure that social media is posted regularly. A positive image of the program among BV West students and staff is also the responsibility of the EICs. Students chosen as an editor-in-chief of Illumination have yearbook as one of their life top priorities. Family and school are more important than yearbook, however, every effort should be made to organize schoolwork and family conflicts so that EICs are in attendance at all yearbook events and deadlines are met. Specific responsibilities: (Spring/Summer 2021) • Work with other EIC’s and adviser to come up with a theme for the yearbook that reflects the unique personality of BV West in the upcoming school year. Solicit input from the returning staff. • Create a style manual for the staff. Include fonts and sizes (headlines, subheadings, body copy, captions) headline/ display font treatments, drop caps, folios, design elements, photo treatments, end of story logos and spacing. Example spreads should be designed and professional designs provided. Story requirements and AP Style rules for body copy should be included. • Plan work flow calendar. Include BV and BV West event calendars. Determine deadlines and workflow. Schedule Work Nights, Hell Week and fun events. (Summer) • Maintain Trello account. (Summer-Ongoing) • Meet with HJ artist to design cover at Edwardsville, KS. plant. (Summer / fall-may also require 2-3 trips) • Read “Teen Leadership Revolution: How Ordinary Teens Become Extraordinary Leaders.” (Purchase in August) pg. 9
Editors in Chief (con’t)
Specific responsibilities: (Fall 2021/Ongoing) • Design t-shirts and spirit wear for the staff. Create a yearbook logo that can be used throughout the school year. (Summer/Fall) • Divide up sections and photogs among EICs. • Prepare a daily calendar and lessons to be shared with the staff. Schedule the adviser to teach lessons, give demonstrations, and work with individuals or groups. (Explore potential guest speakers.) Create quizzes regarding design principles, Style Manual, theme, AP Style. (Ongoing) • EICs should begin and end class each day. Determine a routine for both. (Summer) • Create a ladder with the help of the design section editors. (Summer/Fall) • Design end sheets, opening, closing, dividers and index. (Start working on ideas Fall; complete March.) • Update and maintain index and “black list.” Leadership: (Ongoing) • Be a mentor, friend and inspiration to the rest of the staff. Display joy. Work hard. Admit when you’re tired, cranky or stressed and find ways to turn tough times into bonding opportunities by relying on fellow EICs and the adviser. Have fun. (Ongoing) • Organize fun events: summer, fall, Friday Snacks, Secret Snow Pals (with adviser), spring, Hell Week, deadline celebrations. • Create and maintain multiple GMs. (Text or Group Me is fine.) • Embrace your role as ambassador of the yearbook program. Be positive when discussing Room 233, other staffers or adviser. Be positive about the contributions other groups make to our school and encourage the photographers to post to social media. Live the phrase: a yearbook is a love letter to your school. (Ongoing) • 100% attendance is expected. EICs missing yearbook class or work sessions should be avoided. pg. 10
Managing Editor(s)
Managing Editors report directly to the EICs and the adviser. Communication is key to keeping the book on schedule for publication and ensuring that social media is posted regularly. Meeting deadlines and publicizing student activities fulfills our journalism function while also helping to create a positive image of the program among BV West students and staff. Embrace your role as an ambassador of positivity within the yearbook program and around the school. Live the phrase: a yearbook is a love letter to your school. Specific responsibilities: • Help EICs create style manual for upcoming year • Be the liaison between the EICs and the yearbook staff. Support the EICs by ALWAYS being positive with the staff about them and the book. Bring any concerns and compliments to the EICs in a kind, productive manner once or twice a month. Work with the EICs to get these on the calendar before school starts. (Ongoing) Aid photographers: • Create directions for using the camera, signing up for events, and posting to social media. • Maintain JUMBO displays around the school and distribution to photo subjects. • Contribute to Trello account as needed. Aid designers: • Create a Workflow chart (with photos) of staff. EICs, Managing Editors, Section Editors, Photo Editors, Designers, Photographers. Maintain social media: • Organize Instagram postings on shared calendar with Photo Editors • Organize Media Days with Sports and Academities section editors and the photo editors. • Organize with Section Editors to create hype posts of significant events to post on Instagram and Twitter. pg. 11
Photo Editor(s)
Love your assigned photogs. Make them feel special. Many of them are just starting out and are REALLY excited. Make them feel they belong! Create name plates for their cubby. Find out what they’re interested in and ask them about it. If they’re in a sport or an activity, go see them. (You don’t have to stay the whole time, just make sure they see you.) If they work at Chipotle or Target, go see them, even if you just get a drink. Work to keep the enthusiasm going while also teaching them how to use their cameras. Reward their work with little notes or cookies or gum or cupcakes or even a hug. Specific responsibilities: • Organizing all of the cameras. Each cubby should have a camera, charger, kit lens and cleaning kit. Maintain the notebook of photographer contracts. • Know your camera. Understand how it works and be able to teach others. • Understand the unique benefits of different lenses and which are more appropriate for various events. • Understand Google Drive File Stream and how to utilize it. • Help your assigned photographers sign up for events on Trello. • Create a Wall of Fame, HOTT File, prizes, certificates, money, OK not money, but SOME genuine form of recognition and praise for awesome photos. • Work with managing editors and the design Section Editors to divide up the Media Days for sports and other performing groups. • Create a schedule for posting to social media. • Model the use of class time as “work on yearbook” time. • Work with the managing editors and the Design Editors to communicate with spread designers to ensure awesome photos for every page. • Attend events with photogs during 1st quarter to help with angles, maintaining professionalism, camera adjustments, etc… pg. 12
Section Editor(s) General
Design editors make the yearbook happen. These staffers are the creative geniuses, shoulders to cry on, daily motivators and task masters. They carry out the EICs vision and make it come alive for their staff. As middle management, this group fulfills a leadership and worker function. The attitudes and work ethic of the section editors impacts the rest of the staff. Meets deadlines by working with the photo editors and their section. Specific responsibilities: • Study the Style Manual. Create “reminder cards” for your staffers with fonts and sizes, spacing, etc. and put them on their desk/table or computers. Quiz each other until it is automatic. • Create a mini-Work Flow chart for your section that supports the EICs deadlines. • Attend all Work Nights. • Update Trello with descriptions as soon as work begins on a spread. List people being interviewed and pictures needed. If a specific dominant will need to be taken, tell ME1 and the Photo Editors. Once the spread is done, be sure to put a screenshot of it on Trello. • Whenever absent from class, be sure to designate someone else in the section to check in with everyone else and/ or the EICs. • Model the use of class time as “work on yearbook” time. Regularly doing your homework or working on other classes is frowned upon. Your section will model what you do. • Teach your section about good design. Show them spreads or pages from magazines or web sites, cool photos or logos. Work hard to balance helping, encouraging and inspiring as opposed to criticizing, changing or stifling their creativity. It can be a tough thing, use the managing editors and EICs. They’ve been in your shoes. • Love your section. Make them feel special. Many of them are just starting out and are REALLY excited. Make them feel they belong! Create name plates for their “spot.” pg. 13
Section Editor(s) Specific
Each section editor has unique situations and responsibilities based on coverage. Sports and Academities: • Work with Managing Editors and the photo editors for Media Days. Attend, get names and quotes. (This will also help with your coverage and sources.) • Determine your ladder with the EICs. Be sure to balance “tradition” with the theme of the book. (What coverage would you want if you were in a sport or club? How would you want the yearbook to report on your year?) What were we “light” on last year? Who got a lot of coverage last year? Can we balance that this year? • Sports-Stay caught up with your team photos. Fall sports team photos (with side coverage and scores) should be done by the end of November. Winter sports team spreads should be done by the end of February. Spring sports will need to be finished during Hell Week. • Academities-look at your deadlines and save space/time to work on the Group Photos. (Pics are scheduled for the first full week of January.) Determine with Sports the format for the year. How will names be recorded? What is the sidebar format?
People: • Work with the adviser in the summer to publicize when seniors are supposed to take their senior photos. • Work with the adviser in the summer and at the beginning of the school year to publicize underclassman photos. • Create a ladder that allows adequate space for the student body and staff. Find out the class sizes as soon as school starts. • Assign sidebars to designers. • Work with the adviser to make sure ALL grades are “flowed” before Thanksgiving. • IF the EICs want to include Senior Superlatives, we should make sure that they’re incredibly unique to our school, the theme, and extremely well done. pg. 14
Senior Ads: • Work with the adviser in the summer to publicize the Senior Ads. We’ll send emails to senior families, but we should also publicize it on social media. • Work with EIC’s and the adviser to determine unique Senior Ad style for this senior class. • Create your ladder. Assume there will be ½ page Senior Ads for all of the yearbook seniors. As others buy ads, add them to pages on Trello. Try to even out boys and girls on spreads, as well as, ad sizes. • Assign ads to your designers but also give them specific deadlines. • Check the yearbook email every day we have class. (If we have more than 3 days without having class, be sure to check the account at home.) Respond to every email, even if it is just to say thank you. • Send PDFs of completed ads as quickly as possible after they are finished. Be sure to add verbiage that says “if approval is not received within 2 weeks, our staff will assume the ad is approved. It will be placed in the yearbook and submitted to the printer.” Student Life: • Determine your ladder with the EICs. Consider every part of what it means to be a student who attends BV West. • Student Life is critical in relating the theme of the yearbook to the student body. Your spreads are often the inspiration for other page designs throughout the book. • Consider coverage carefully. Each year is unique and that uniqueness should be reflected not only by the topics covered by Student Life but by the designs as well. • Use as many candid photos as possible. Photo shoots are allowed but should not be relied on. If candid photos can be used to relay an idea or concept, they should be. • Assign spreads to each of your designers for each deadline. Create workflow for them that includes mini deadlines to ensure progress is being made.
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“A yearbook yearbook is is a a love love “A letter that that a a school school letter writes to to itself itself.” .” writes -Pat Conroy Conroy -Pat
