Yearbook distribution is the most anticipated day for a yearbook staff and an exciting day for the student body. We know this. In my first years of advising, distribution was simply distributing the yearbook. We set up a few tables in front of a bench next to my classroom and the yearbooks were picked up.…
With a phone attached to their hands, most people come in thinking they’re good photojournalists. But I believe there’s another level that we all want students to reach in our publications. Here are some of the strategies I’ve used to help them reach that level. Show quality photojournalistic images often Thirty minutes to showtime and…
Everyone hopes for a year of smooth sailing, with an exceptional staff and an appreciative community. That rarely matches reality. Sometimes a curveball changes the program. It could be planned or hit you out of nowhere. Advisers who faced drastic culture shifts in their classroom offered sound advice. Understand your audience Not my yearbook After…
Yearbooks are an integral part of any school year. However, as one of the only organizations at school whose very existence depends upon sales, keeping your program financially healthy presents a unique challenge. Keep your yearbook program in the black with these five yearbook marketing ideas. 1. Train a marketing manager Who knows how to…
Over the last several years, I became known by the title of Ask Mike. This is mainly due to the questions I get when traveling around the country or through my podcast called Ask Mike. Now it’s time to answer some of those questions. D’Angilo in Kansas writes: Hey Mike, when we look at our…
In the world of yearbook, there is the short game and the long game. The short game includes everyday stuff like “What are we doing in class today?” “Who’s taking photos tonight at the volleyball game?” “How did your interview with Mr. Lottes go?” The long game for the adviser is always played in the…
Spring can be a busy time for yearbook staffs and advisers. For many staffs, the current year’s book is wrapping up, and the race for the final deadline is consuming. Meanwhile, the focus also has to slowly start to shift to next year. There’s prep work that needs to get done before summer arrives. The…
