Learning the
Lingo The language of journalism So...what’s a pica? A point is a measurement? No faces in the gutter! “Coming to terms” with yearbook journalism can help you become a better communicator and designer. The terms associated with scholastic yearbook journalism are universal to those who have served on publications staffs. To those new to yearbook journalism, however, the terms can seem foreign at times, but they are essential to know. You’ll be using this “language” of yearbook whenever you communicate with printing personnel, sales professionals and experienced staff members. The following terms are associated with yearbook production. Learn the meaning of each word and incorporate it into your vocabulary.
Learning the
Lingo • 1
Goal: At the end of this unit, students will define yearbook journalism terms. Objectives: 1. Staff members will define yearbook journalism terms on the final test. 2. Staff members will use yearbook journalism terms correctly when communicating to editors and adviser. Methodology: Adviser and editors will present yearbook journalism terms to staff members. The staff will study the examples in this curriculum and correctly define the terms on an exam. Evaluation: Staff members will complete the yearbook journalism terminology exam with at least 80 percent accuracy.
A language of its own The following are terms associated with yearbook production. Learn the meaning of each word and incorporate it into your vocabulary.
Cover - Protective covering for the pages in a book; usually designed to reflect the theme. Designs include printed (litho) or leather-like material, embossed (raised through application of a die), foil-stamped or silk-screened, to name a few.
Spine - The outside edge of the book that shows when it is placed on a shelf. It covers the bound pages inside the publication. On a yearbook, the spine contains the school’s name, city and state, year published and volume number.
Litho cover with foil
Learning the
Back cover
Spine/spine copy
Front cover
Lingo • 2
Linen grain Copper foil lines Copper foil lines
Litho cover with printed four-color photo
Syracuse Schools • Syracuse, KS
Clear coating - A process involving the application of a shiny, transparent substance to emphasize words, numbers or images on a cover or page in the book.
Embossed - Raised images, words or numbers created with a special die designed specifically for a school’s cover.
Foil - Shiny material applied to the cover. Grain - A raised texture applied to the cover. Learning the
Debossed - Portions of images, words or numbers depressed into cover material.
Embossed cover with foil and clear coating
Grain texture adds depth and dimension to the cover
Back cover
Spine/spine copy
Lingo • 3
Front cover
Detailed embossed (raised) image features the school’s entrance gates and wraps around the cover Debossed gold foil block features the name of the school and year it was founded
Red overtone rub emphasizes detailed embossing
The school’s logo is featured in a clear-coat application on the back of the book; the matte finish on the background contrasts with the shiny, clear coating
Baylor School • Chattanooga, TN
Litho - A cover or portion of a cover that runs through a printing press. Litho is short for lithography, a method of printing. A litho cover can include a matte finish, clear coating, graining, embossing, debossing and foil.
Grained litho cover with silver and blue foil
Silkscreen - A process involving ink or paint applied to a smooth surface.
Back cover
Spine/spine copy
Front cover
Learning the
Lingo • 4
Grain texture adds depth and dimension to the cover A litho strip displays moments from a variety of school activities and wraps from the front to the back of the book
Embossed letters emphasize school’s name; blue silkscreen on the words echoes colors from the photo montage
Dark, silver-streak leather contrasts with the litho strip
Embossed infinity sign symbolizes the book’s theme Silver foil highlights spine copy and Lifetouch logo
Choctaw High School • Choctaw, OK
Die cut - A hole cut through the cover and endsheet, revealing an image on the front endsheet.
Matte finish - A dull texture applied to the cover’s surface.
Learning the
Die-cut cover and endsheet
Lingo • 5
Back cover
Spine/spine copy
Front cover
White matte finish continues to the back White matte finish contrasts with black and gray words and numbers
Die-cut front endsheet
Die-cut through the cover reveals an image on the front endsheet and emphasizes theme
James Clemens High School • Madison, AL
Bleed - Image or background extending beyond the edge of the page.
Endsheet - The heavy paper that holds the printed book to the cover.
Table of contents - A listing of the book’s sections and the page numbers where the sections begin. The front endsheet offers an ideal place to include the table of contents.
Die-cut front endsheet Learning the
Lingo • 6
Front endsheet is flooded with bright blue ink and features images representing each section of the book
Die-cut slices through the cover and front endsheet, revealing the cheerleader image printed on the front endsheet
Image that shows through the die cut on the front lid
Table of contents
James Clemens High School • Madison, AL
Bleed - An element that extends to the edge of a page. Bleeding elements draw attention to themselves. Typically, designers bleed only one element per side. Caption - Words or sentences describing photos.
COB/Cut-out-background photo - Pictures with backgrounds elminated; used to feature a person.
Double-page spread - Two facing pages covering one topic with related secondary modules.
Dominant photo - A picture that is obviously larger than all others on the spread; used to pull readers into pages.
Headline Title for story; contains primary (large) and secondary (smaller) words or phrases; introduces reader to story
Learning the
Gutter The space between two facing pages; avoid placing faces or text in the gutter
Lingo • 7
Dominant photo One photo obviously larger than all others on the page
Idents Names of those pictured and their relationship to topic covered on the spread; set in 8-point type
Graphic Art symbolic of theme or page content; used for a reason or purpose; in this instance, it leads readers across the spread and represents the book’s concept
Cut-out-background photo (COB) Picture in which background is eliminated from the image
Caption Mini-story identifying people pictured and explaining the action in the photo
Bleed Element that extends off the page
2 • Opening
Folio tabs Page content identification
Opening • 3
Copy/story The story on the spread that ties all elements together
Folios Page numbers, usually placed to the lower, outside corners
Eyeline - A horizontal line of planned space that guides readers across the double-page spread.
Folio tab - Small type describing spread topic or content placed near page number.
Folio - Page number; usually placed to the lower, outside corners of a double-page spread.
Gutter - The space between the two facing pages; avoid placing photos or text in the gutter.
Featured quote Quote from person placed next to it; usually set in slightly larger type; 12-point italic recommended
Headline - Title that introduces a story or topic; consists of primary (large type) and secondary (smaller type) components.
Inset photos Small pictures embedded into a larger image
Learning the
Lingo • 8
Headline Title for story; contains primary (large) and secondary (smaller) words or phrases; introduces reader to story
COB Picture in which background is eliminated from the image; also known as cut-out-background photo or cutout
Quote area Small, related photos placed in a series with quotes from or about those pictured Secondary module title Subordinate title for a small package that supplements the story
Secondary module Small package supplements the story; includes a subordinate title 24 • Rodeo
Idents Names of those pictured and their relationship to topic covered on the spread; set in 8-point type
Rodeo • 25
Idents - Names of persons pictured in smaller photo areas; includes person’s relationship to the topic covered on the spread.
Pica - Printer’s measurement; one-sixth of an inch; traditional internal margin between elements on a design. Point - One seventy-second of an inch; type is measured in points.
Secondary module - Small grouping of related content to supplement main story or topic.
Learning the
Inset photos - Photos embedded into or attached to a dominant picture
Lingo • 9
Scoreboard A list of teams played and scores from each game Bleed Element that extends off the page
Caption Mini-story identifying people pictured and explaining the action in the photo Quote area Comments from those pictured adding depth to secondary coverage module
Soccer • 25
24 • Soccer
Idents Names of those pictured and their relationship to topic covered on the spread set in 8-point type
Cut-out-background photo Picture in which background is eliminated from the image
Semi-transparent box Block with light opacity lets reader see caption and photo Eyeline One pica or more of space that carries readers’ eyes across the spread
Secondary module title - Small headline echoing the look of the primary headline; at least half as small or smaller than the primary headliine; introduces secondary coverage module. See example on page 8.
Title page - Page one of the yearbook; contains the school’s name, address, city, state, zip, volume number, phone number, fax number, website, school population, name of book and year.
Learning the
Lingo • 10
Title page First page of the yearbook; introduces theme with theme logo and photos symbolizing the theme; one of two pages in the book designed as single pages
Dominant photo One photo obviously larger than all others on the page
Essential information Information that identifies the book’s source; includes school name, street address with city, state and Zip Code; volume number, phone number, fax number, website, school population and name of book and year
Overlapped photos Small pictures slightly overlapping each other, forming a small module of secondary coverage
Idents Names of those pictured and their relationship to topic covered on the spread set in 8-point type
Name:
Terminology
Review
Identify the following yearbook journalism terms:
6. A one-pica internal margin is called
1. The space between facing pages is called the
7. The type of cover printed on a printing press is called
2. The outside margin framing the double-page spread is called the
3. Name and explain how to use the three types of internal margins:
14. A dull finish applied to a litho cover is called
9. A texture on a cover’s surface is also called a
15. The list of the book’s sections and page numbers where sections begin is called
4. The type of internal margin used to show a relationship between photos is called 5. The type of internal margin used to highlight or separate elements is called
8. A raised area, created with a die, on an otherwise flat cover is called
13. The heavy paper that holds the cover to the book is called
10. A shiny, metallic substance stamped on a cover or heavy endsheet surface is called
16. Extending an element to the edge of a page is also called a
11. A shiny, transparent application used to emphasize words, numbers or images on a cover is called
17. A photo with the background eliminated is called
18. Two facing pages are also called a
12. A hole cut through the cover is called a
Terminology Chapter Adviser Resource • page 1
Terminology
Review (continued from previous page)
19. The large words introducing the story are called the
26. Page numbers are also called
20. An art symbol of the theme is called a
27. Page content placed near page numbers is also called
21. A mini-story identifying people pictured and explaining the action in the photo is called a
28. Small pictures embedded into a larger photo are called
29. A small package that supplements a story is called a 22. A story is also called 30. One-sixth of an inch, in printer’s terms, equals one 23. The largest photo on the double-page spread is called the 24. A horizontal line of planned space that guides readers across the double-page spread is called 25. Names of photo subjects and their relationship to the topic covered on the spread are called
33. The first page of the yearbook is called the 34. Name at least four items that must be included on the title page:
31. One seventy-second of an inch, in printer’s terms, equals one 32. A list of teams played and final scores used on all sports spreads is called a
Terminology Chapter Adviser Resource • page 2
Teacher’s Key Teacher’s answers for terminology
Review
Identify the following yearbook journalism terms:
6. A one-pica internal margin is called
1. The space between facing pages is called the
Traditional spacing
Gutter
2. The outside margin framing the double-page spread is called the
7. The type of cover printed on a printing press is called
Litho cover
13. The heavy paper that holds the cover to the book is called
Endsheet
External margin
8. A raised area, created with a die, on an otherwise flat cover is called
14. A dull finish applied to a litho cover is called
3. Name the three types of internal margins:
Embossed
Matte
Traditional spacing
9. A texture on a cover’s surface is also called a
Tight spacing
Grain
15. The list of the book’s sections and page numbers where sections begin is called
Expanded spacing 4. The type of internal margin used to show a relationship between photos is called
Tight spacing
10. A shiny, metallic substance stamped on a cover or heavy endsheet surface is called
Foil
Table of contents or Contents 16. Extending an element to the edge of a page is also called a
Bleed
11. A shiny, transparent application used to emphasize words, numbers or images on a cover is called
17. A photo with the background eliminated is called
5. The type of internal margin used to highlight or separate elements is called
Clear coating
Cut-out-background, cutout or COB
Expanded spacing
12. A hole cut through the cover is called a
Double-page spread or spread
Die cut
18. Two facing pages are also called a
Terminology Chapter Adviser Resource • page 3
Terminology
Review
(continued from previous page)
19. The large words introducing the story are called the
26. Page numbers are also called
Headline or primary headline
Folios
20. An art symbol of the theme is called a
27. Page content placed near page numbers is also called
Graphic
Folio tab
21. A mini-story identifying people pictured and explaining the action in the photo is called a
28. Small pictures embedded into a larger photo are called
Caption or expanded caption
Inset photos 29. A small package that supplements a story is called a
22. A story is also called
Copy or body copy
Secondary module 30. One-sixth of an inch, in printer’s terms, equals one
23. The largest photo on the double-page spread is called the
Dominant photo 24. A horizontal line of planned space that guides readers across the double-page spread is called
Eyeline 25. Names of photo subjects and their relationship to the topic covered on the spread are called
Idents or identifications
Pica 31. One seventy-second of an inch, in printer’s terms, equals one
33. The first page of the yearbook is called the
Title page 34. Name at least four items that must be included on the title page:
School’s name School’s address School’s phone number and/or fax number Year of publication Also, volume number and theme logo
Point 32. A list of teams played and final scores used on all sports spreads is called a
Scoreboard Terminology Chapter Adviser Resource • page 4