You may have thought the Yearbook club was an easy class and just for fun, but there’s a lot more work that goes into making the yearbook than people realize. But how does the yearbook get done on time? Students have different roles/jobs in the yearbook that require different things to get done. When students first join, they are staff/staffers. If a staffer shows that they are hardworking and dedicated, they get bumped up to editor. There is one last job, and that’s chief editor; this position can only be filled by a returning yearbooker.
What do staff in the yearbook do? Their job is to get their spread done. Everyone is assigned a spread (2 pages) at the beginning of the trimester. Each spread is a different topic: sports, student life, or academics. “A staff member’s job is making the page, putting the pictures in, writing the body paragraph, and interviewing people,” Said Senior Joshua Alviter. Staffers are who you see at games on the sidelines with cameras; part of their job is to take pictures of events/games that go on in the school. Every staffer has to shoot 2 events every 2 weeks as it is a part of their grade, but many of the yearbook staff shoot more than the required two events because they enjoy shooting. Alviter said, “My favorite part about shooting is when people ask if I can take pictures of them.”
If that’s a staffer’s job, then what do editors do? Well, editors kind of take on the same role as staffers, only they do more work. Editors will typically have two spreads they need to get done. Interviewing, planning, and writing are how they get their two spreads done. An editor’s job is also to help the staffers complete their spread, whether it is reading over their body copy, helping them come up with something for their spread, or covering for them. An editor’s job is always to be a helping hand and be there to support their fellow classmates. An editor’s job is also to help prepare camera bags for photographs, making sure everyone has the correct lenses for their event and double-checking that everyone has charged camera batteries.
Lastly, we have the chief editor’s job, and what do they do? Chief editors oversee everyone, making sure the work is done. The Chief’s job is to teach the class set by set on how to use the equipment, how to use and navigate the website used to create the yearbook, and manage everyone’s coverage.
“It’s a lot of work from beginning to end,” Says chief editor Wendy, “the first weeks I teach how to write body copy, captions, and how to create mods. I also show how to teach how to use camera equipment and how to handle and care for equipment. Then I assigned everyone their spread. This year, I asked everyone if they had a preference for what they would like and assigned based on that. Once everyone gets a spread, I help them complete spreads and help schedule events. And throughout the trimester, I edit and upload photos while completing my spreads.” It sounds like a lot of work, but to Wendy it’s fun and all part of the experience. “Yearbook is a fun class, and you make a lot of friends.”
Even though the yearbook can be a lot of work, everyone has fun doing it. Between taking pictures, writing body copy, and finishing pages, the work gets done because everyone helps each other and works together. If you are interested in the yearbook class or club, talk to your counselor or come join us every Friday to get more information. We meet in 250C!
