Yearbook Playbook

Photo by: BettyAnn Whitten

GET INSPIRED FOR NEXT YEAR Is it too early to be thinking about next year’s yearbook? Never! This is the best time to start brainstorming for your next yearbook. It is a clean slate and a chance to do something completely different. After giving your staff some time off to celebrate, hit the ground running on next year with training and theme projects. • Evaluate your current yearbook and set goals for the following school year. • Send your book for a professional critique through the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) or your state scholastic press association. Theme Project: Consider doing a “theme” project for next year’s book with this year’s staff. • Working individually or in teams, allow this year’s students to cast a vision for next year’s book by creating their own theme package. • Using their theme concept, they can design a cover, title page, opening/divider spreads, content spreads and more. Workshop: Attend a summer workshop or camp! These can be an invaluable experience for your staff to stretch their yearbook knowledge, get inspired and get a jumpstart on next year’s yearbook. Plan for summer coverage. This helps to start the year with some content already in hand. • Discuss possible coverage topics for the summer. • Assign staff to these topics. Webinars: Visit walsworthyearbooks.com/webinars to get caught up on the fabulous series of webinars Walsworth offers! Pay special attention to those regarding yearbook marketing, yearbook distribution and theme inspiration for next year’s book. Podcasts: Check out WYPN - Walsworth Yearbooks Podcast Network - at walsworthyearbooks.com/podcasts . Listen to the “Ask Mike” and “Yearbook Chat with Jim’’ podcasts to get valuable insight into the world of scholastic journalism.

Yearbooks last forever. Congratulations on being a part of history.

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