Recruiting Yearbook Staffs

METHODS FOR RECRUITING STUDENTS

A good program attracts good students. If you are in the process of trying to build your yearbook program, invite students to be in on creating a legacy at your school. Where do you find students who might be interested? • They will be in any prerequisite class for yearbook. • Check with photography, art and tech teachers for students who enjoy taking pictures, understand color and other design elements or love creating on the computer. • Check with marketing or business teachers for students who show a flair for marketing and advertising. • Check with English and creative writing teachers for writers. • Ask counselors for student recommendations. • Ask other teachers for recommendations of students who are creative, organized, always on time and always at school. • Ask current yearbook staff members for recommendations. If you allow freshmen on your staff • Aim recruiting materials specifically at them. After a few years of being on staff, they will be good leaders their senior year. • Attend the curriculum night at the middle or junior high feeder schools and be among the high school teachers and club sponsors explaining courses and organizations before students sign up for classes • Ask 8 th grade teachers for reccomendations

Get the word out in a variety of ways that you are looking for yearbook staff members for next year. 1. Create recruiting materials. Use posters, flyers, stickers, locker notes and social media graphics around school and on the yearbook’s social media accounts. You can create your own or use Walsworth’s recruiting materials. 2. Use video . Have students create a recruitment video. Air it on your school’s daily announcements and on your yearbook’s social media. Get broadcast students to assist, if you have a broadcast class at school. 3. Send emails to teachers and guidance counselors. Ask them to send you the names of students who excel in their classes or who are dedicated to their studies and involved in school. 4. Have current yearbook staff brainstorm. Let your staff come up with names of students to invite to apply. Tell them to think about students in their classes who seem creative and engaged. 5. Host meetings and set up tables. Hold an after-school meeting to explain the yearbook process to interested students. Make sure you have a table at the sign-up for classes night at the feeder middle school or junior high. 6. Set up booths. If your school holds an electives fair, set up a booth. Show past yearbooks, explain any awards that have been earned and hand out flyers with job descriptions. Use the recruiting materials that Walsworth provides or create your own. You can even have Walsworth create a customized banner for you, like the one pictured for Burges High School in El Paso, Texas.

Photos courtesy of Burges High School

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