Each student has a story to tell. Each school year is packed with the emotions, sounds and sights of myriad events. A yearbook can’t capture every detail; however, with planning and ingenuity, those stories that are told can represent both the uniqueness of the school year and the similar experience of “every student.”

Planning
Once the overall coverage of the yearbook has been determined and the ladder diagram is filled in, it is time to get down to individual spreads. Be sure every story is relevant, interesting and well-written.

The reporter and editor/adviser should meet to discuss:

• What will be the angle of the story? How can this story be different from previous years and speak to the unique experience of this student body?
• Who should be interviewed? Remember to talk to a variety of people.

The reporter, photographer and designer should meet to discuss:

• The angle of the story. The photographer needs to understand the story in order to take relevant photos. Encourage the photographer to be creative and take story-telling photos.
• The layout requirements. Identify both the amount of space reserved for copy and the number of photos required.

Doing the Leg Work
The key to writing engaging copy is to bring the event to the readers. This is done through conducting interviews and attending the event.

Conduct Interviews
Interviews are integral to any news story. They provide background information that brings to life the emotions of an event. A variety of sources and noteworthy details add credibility. Conduct interviews before, during and after the event. (For more information, read Interviewing.)

Attend the Event
A story is brought to life with colorful descriptions of sights, sounds, smells and tastes. The only way to convey these sensory images is for the reporter to personally attend the event.

• Stop and experience what is going on.
• Take good notes, don’t rely on memory.
• Arrive early and stay late.

For example, an event such as prom is much more than a theme, a band and the crowning of a king and queen. Dig in and find the story. Did anything noteworthy happen while the gym was being decorated? Did anything unexpected occur during the evening? What transpired after the last song played? Use this opportunity to gather quotes from a variety of people including the decorating committee, seniors, the band and chaperones.

Writing the Story
Research has been conducted, quotes have been gathered and the experience is still fresh in the mind of the reporter. Now it’s time to start writing the story.

The lead is the first sentence of the story. It sets the tone and gets the readers’ attention. Include the 5 W’s and H of journalistic writing (who, what, when, where, how and why).

Follow these guidelines when writing body copy for the yearbook:

• Write in the past tense and use the active voice.
• Introduce the story with an attention-grabbing lead.
• Keep your sentences and paragraphs short.
• Name an unexpected outcome from the event.
• Incorporate interesting and descriptive quotes.
• Follow the  Associated Press (AP) style  for grammar and punctuation.

Including Sidebars
Sidebars broaden the coverage and add more details to a spread.

• Fast Fact Bars are specific facts that relate to the main story or the focus of the spread. For example, a fast fact bar about the student council might include the number of students involved, the activities and fundraisers it sponsored, the officers’ names and a quote from a club member.
• Polls and Surveys can be informal “person on the street” polls or formal questionnaires. Compile the information to show trends or ratings of people’s favorites, opinions or events. Select colorful quotes and include photos of the people quoted.
• First-person is a short essay written by someone involved in an event.