Yearbook Writing

The Planning Stages

MY WRITING FOLDER ON GOOGLE DRIVE:
Create a new Google Doc titled "Spread Topic Planning" - EX: "Opening Days Spread Planning"
Include the following headings: TOPIC (broad coverage), ANGLE (specific story), SOURCES (who to contact), QUESTIONS (interview prompts)

IDENTIFY THE ANGLE:
  • The goal is to tell a specific, engage story while informing and entertaining the audience
  • Instead of covering a broad topic, develop a concept or main idea for your writing
  • Brainstorm a list of possible angles, discuss these with your yearbook team, and decide on the most compelling one
  • Conduct multiple interviews to build the angle of your story - a good reporter identifies 6 or more sources​


​The Interview

WRITE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
  • Open-Ended Questions:
    • Has more than one answer
    • Could have a different response from every person you ask
    • Requires a respondent to describe actions and reactions
    • Is asked with the intention of collecting a quote
  • Close-Ended Questions:
    • Can be answered with "yes," "no," or two words
    • Is used to obtain facts, figures, and specifics
​
GUIDELINES FOR FORMAL INTERVIEW:
  • BE PREPARED: Draft a list of questions to guide the interview
  • INTRODUCE YOURSELF: Start with your name and your involvement with the yearbook staff and your purpose
  • HAVE A CONVERSATION: Take a conversational approach instead of going directly through the list of questions
  • MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT: Indicate that you are listening carefully
  • TAKE GOOD NOTES: Jot down key phrases in quotation marks to remember later - if you intend to use a direct quote, read it back to the person
  • GUIDE THE CONVERSATION: If your source gets off topic, redirect them to you list of questions
  • END THE INTERVIEW: Review your notes, double check names, dates, and facts, and verify your information is correct - thank them for their time

LINKS:
Herff Jones Survey Questions

Writing Body Copy & Captions

BODY COPY CRITERIA:
  • ​Compelling language
  • Specific and factual
  • Organized and easy to follow
  • Strong quotes
  • Grammatically correct
  • Written in 3rd person
  • Avoid personal opinion unless provided in a direct quote



​Writing Headlines

HEADLINES CRITERIA:
  • ​Primary headline grabs the viewer’s attention and connects to the spread content
  • Secondary headlines further define what is on each page
  • Subheaders support the overall message in the body copy
  • Present tense used
  • Effective placement and scale
  • All headlines are accurate, creative and set the appropriate mood for the spread
  • Design styles are consistent, attractive, and legible