Yearbook Staff

Roles & Responsibilities

Adviser

My job as adviser of the Meridian Moments Yearbook is to carefully choose the best editor-in-chief then equip them to lead their staff.

I will:

• Take you to camp to begin brainstorming the next book.
• Provide materials needed for staff members to do their jobs.
• Be fiscally responsible.
• Be your biggest cheerleader and defender.
• Meet with you on Wednesdays from 2:30-4:30, one Saturday each month from 8-12, and additional days as needed if deadlines are not met.
• Take you to workshops and conferences if you’re meeting your deadlines.
• Meet with you often to evaluate your work and allow you to make necessary changes.
• Help guide you in the areas of journalistic law and ethics, fair and responsible reporting, accurate reporting, and editing.
• Communicate with the publisher/yearbook representative in conjunction with the editor-in-chief and/or the marketing manager (depending on the situation).

I will not:

• Make decisions for you.
• Complete spreads because staff didn’t get them done.
• Tolerate negativity towards each other.
• Gossip.
• Allow excessive absences or late work.
• Accept applications of those who have multiple discipline reports.
• Accept applications of those who have low grades due to missing work/quality of work.
• Allow students to remain on staff if they have discipline/grade issues.

 

Editor-in-Chief

The student ultimately responsible for overall development and content of the book. Among the duties:

• Recruits staff and assigns jobs with adviser
• Sets and enforces a production schedule
• Trains staff on Online Design
• Decides theme, design and coverage with adviser and other staff members (usually at camp)
• Plans ladder with adviser and staff members
• Creates the style guide for design consistency
• Organizes computer folders for templates
• Delegates staff assignments
• Edits every page and proof
• Leads staff meetings
• Trains and coaches staff
• Reports to adviser

 

Marketing Head

The leader of the book finances and ad sales campaigns.

• Balances the budget
• Provides a monthly report of income and expenses
• Organizes additional fundraising efforts if necessary
• Prepares billing statements
• Writes receipts
• Makes monthly deposits into the yearbook account
• Reports to editor-in-chief and adviser
• Leads efforts to sell more books than the previous year

 

Copy Editor

The proofreader of all copy before pages are due, checking for style and accuracy. Among the duties:

• Provides constructive feedback to improve writers’ work
• Establishes copywriting styles with editor-in-chief
• Compares copy on all pages to prevent repetitiveness
• Suggests coverage ideas to designers and photographers
• Reports to editor-in-chief

 

Staff Member

Each staff member is master of their own spreads. This means they’re responsible for every aspect from beginning to end.

• Cover assigned event before, during or after school
• Talks to teachers/sponsors about coverage for the year
• Knows when events are taking place and plans for photos, interviews and secondary coverage PRIOR to the event
• Shoot assigned event before, during or after school
• Immediately adds and tags these photos on Walsworth
• Write appropriate captions and body copy
• Reports to editor-in-chief
• Works to sell both yearbook ads and books throughout the year