Journalism / Yearbook

Fall Semester

Students understand the purpose of journalism, the role of a yearbook, and the differences between news and feature writing. 

Students learn the elements of news and begin applying journalistic practices through short writing tasks and captions.

A yearbook theme tells the story of the school year and creates a unified look throughout the publication. Effective themes are developed by considering the school community, audience, and current trends.

Students analyze how a central theme tells the story of the school year, evaluating current trends, campus culture, and yearly events to develop a unified look and voice for the publication.

Effective yearbook coverage depends on strong interviewing techniques, purposeful research, accurate captions, and photographs that tell a story. 

Students use their created theme and knowledge of campus events to plan what needs to be covered for that year. 

Students learn how to plan relevant, open-ended questions to conduct successful student and staff interviews.

Students learn how composition, angles, and candid photography contribute to visual storytelling.

Students photograph and write captions that tell a complete story of the subject being covered.

Students apply journalistic writing and design principles directly to authentic yearbook spread production.

Students analyze how headlines, quotes, body copy, and visual elements work together to communicate stories clearly to an audience.

Students practice spatial organization by using accessible digital design tools to arrange pages and balance empty space with visual content.

Students learn layout design terminology to collaborate effectively on consistent page structures.

Yearbook production is an ongoing process that requires event coverage, interviewing, writing, editing, and collaboration. 

Students manage real-world publication deadlines by tracking events, organizing photo shoots, and writing copy in a timely manner. 

Students practice writing and editing processes to ensure accuracy, factual story telling, and thematic consistency across all assigned spreads.  

Students apply grammar and convention rules to proofread peers' copy for publishing.

Spring Semester

Students evaluate yearbook coverage and identify coverage gaps or unrepresented student groups.

Students conduct targeted follow-up reporting, photography, and writing tasks to complete missing stories.

Students refine captions, improve writing quality, and prepare the book for publication.

Editing and revisions are made for accuracy of information and grammar/conventions.

Publishing requires attention to detail, teamwork, and reflection. 

Students analyze and evaluate the strengths and challenges faced during the production cycle.

Students evaluate the effectiveness and aesthetic of the final product and analyze the yearbook production process.

Students celebrate team achievements and formally close out the heavy production phase of the year.

Publishing is an economic endeavor that requires marketing, promotion, and audience engagement. 

Through analyzing print, digital, and social media advertisements, students learn how visual design, persuasive techniques, and audience awareness work together to communicate a message.

Using these skills, students create their own advertisements and promotional campaigns for the yearbook while considering purpose, audience, and effective design principles.

Different forms of journalistic writing serve different purposes and audiences.

Students develop news, feature, and opinion writing using the full writing process and authentic publication opportunities while creating a companion publication to connect with the final yearbook..

Modern journalism extends beyond the yearbook into multiple media forms. Students create advanced projects such as newspapers, photography portfolios, broadcasts, or investigative pieces and reflect on their growth as journalists.